What is a Lash Lift? (LVL & Eyelash Lamination)
If you’re at all interested in the latest beauty treatments, you’ll have no doubt heard the buzz about lash lifts. Perhaps you’re thinking about offering lash lifts to your beauty clients and want to find out a little more?
In this guide, we’ll tell you all you need to know about this sought-after lash treatment and take you through the whole lash lift process, including whether it’s suitable for your lash type.
What is a lash lift?
A lash lift is a semi-permanent beauty treatment that shapes the natural lash, lifting and curling the eyelashes so they look longer, curlier, thicker and darker. Also known as LVL or eyelash lamination, the lash treatment lets you skip the eyelash curlers and mascara in the morning, giving a beautiful natural look that opens up the eye.
Lash lifts also make a popular alternative beauty treatment to eyelash extensions, requiring less time in the lash artist’s chair, lower maintenance and a smaller outlay in terms of budget, too.
The treatment involves applying a number of different lotions, and shaping the lashes against a rod using lash lift adhesive to achieve the desired lift and curl. The process is often accompanied by a nourishing treatment, lash tint, or both, for darker, glossier, healthier lashes.
Lash Plump is a leading nourishing treatment that can uniquely be applied after Lotion 1 when the lash cuticles are open and most receptive to the treatment. Alternatively Flawless Keratin Tint is a trail-blazing product that saves lash artists time by combining a lash tint, cream developer and keratin treatment in 1 simple step.
How long does a lash lift last?
A lash lift lasts for 6 to 8 weeks, depending on where you are in your natural lash growth cycle. Unlike with eyelash extensions, no infills or salon appointments are required within this time period to maintain the look, although you must avoid getting your newly-lifted lashes wet for the first 24 hours.
How long the effect of the lift lasts depends on your lash type and lash health, and how well you take care of your lashes. While a lash lift is suitable for all lash types, its effects will last longer on strong and healthy lashes. To make your lash lift last as long as possible avoid waterproof mascara (regular mascara is fine), and all oil-based make-up and cleansing products.
Different levels of lash lift
During your journey as a lash artist, you will undoubtedly come across many different names and/or versions of a lash lift. We’re here to talk you through them and what the differences are.
LVL lash lift
LVL lash lifts are simply one brand of lash lift, LVL standing for Length, Volume and Lift. An LVL treatment will include a nourishing treatment and a tint as standard, whereas it is possible to get a basic lash lift that omits these steps.
However, at Flawless we always recommend a keratin treatment as part of the lash lift process in order to deliver the most beautiful and long-lasting results for your clients. This can be done either with our Lash Plump treatment, or our innovative Keratin Tint that nourishes, tints and develops all in one easy step.
At-home lash lift
You may have come across at-home lash lifting kits for sale on the internet as people are eager to try these treatments out themselves - on the cheap. A DIY at-home lash lift is absolutely not recommended as the treatment must be performed by a trained professional, and certainly never on oneself even if you are highly trained.
Due to the use of chemicals there is a real risk of causing serious damage, and not just to your eyelashes - to your skin and even your precious eyesight as well. This is even more of a concern with kits bought on the internet which may not come from reputable or well-regulated suppliers.
Lash lift and lash lamination: what's the difference?
Lash lamination is the name for a lash lift that includes a nourishing treatment such as Lash Plump to feed the natural lash with vitamins and keratin. Other terms for a lash lift you might hear include permanent lash curling, and sometimes, a lash perm, although we at Flawless avoid this term as it is associated with a more old-fashioned process using more harsh chemicals.
Best Lash Lift Products from Flawless Lashes by Loreta
We have our very own range of lash lift products, designed for professional eyelash technicians so they can give gorgeous, long-lasting lash lifts for their clients.
We recommend:
- Lift Rods – These silicone rods are designed to fit comfortably on your clients’ eyelids. Use with lash lift glue to comb lashes into the shape you desire.
- Lash Lift Glue – Our adhesive is water-soluble and used to stick lashes onto the silicone lift rod.
- Lift Tool – This is perfect for styling and separating the lashes
- Lotion One – Coat 1 to 2mm of the lashes from the roots upwards to open up the hair cuticles in preparation for Lotion Two.
- Lotion Two – Makes eyelashes more malleable so you can position them in the desired shape.
- Lotion Three – Removes any last traces of glue and lotion
- Lash Plump – Also known by names including lash botox and lash filler, Flawless Lash Plump feeds the natural lashes with keratin, vitamins, hyaluronic acid and nourishing oils to make them healthier, stronger and thicker
- Keratin Tint - combines both tint, cream developer and nourishing keratin treatment – dispensed simultaneously with just a pump of our ingenious bottle.