Lash Lifts Are Now a Thing—Should You Try It?
Could this treatment give you the fluttery fringe you’ve always wanted? (Photo: Getty Images)
If you’re anything like us, you’re on a constant quest for longer, fuller lashes. So when makeup artists Karrueche Tran and Hrush Achemyan (who works with the Kardashian-Jenner clan) started posting the gorgeous results of their “eyelash lifts” on Instagram, we couldn’t help but take notice.
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Not familiar with it? Here’s the 411: Lots of A-listers get their fix from Los Angeles-based eyelash artist Elysee Zhadikpur, a “master trainer” for YUMI Lashes. The procedure, which Elysee calls a “keratin lash lift” on Instagram, will set you back $150 and lasts eight to 12 weeks. It involves putting pads on a person’s eyelids and under their eyes, then applying keratin to the lashes. Ninety minutes later, you’ve got eyelashes that look darker, fuller, and curvier.
It sounds and looks totally awesome. But…is it safe?
Jacqueline R. Carrasco, M.D., an oculoplastic surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, isn’t sure. “If you’re using a chemical to paint the lashes, there are definitely risks of allergic reactions,” she says. You could be prone to developing dermatitis (a skin condition that causes redness, swelling, and even blisters) and inflammation, especially if keratin gets in the eye or on the surrounding skin.
Plus, keratin lash lifts—specifically Yumi Lashes—involve proprietary formulations, so experts aren’t able analyze the ingredients and determine whether or not they are 100 percent safe, adds Michael J. Earley, Ph.D., doctor of optometry and associate dean of academic affairs at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. “Although we have not observed specific incidents in which patients have had bad experiences with keratin lash lifts, we advise our patients to use caution when applying unknown formulations in or around the eyes,” he says.
While Carrasco says the results look nice, she urges caution, too: “I’d be wary at this point,” she says.
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The bottom line: It’s probably best to stick with your good old lash curler and mascara, for now.
More from Women’s Health:
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6 Eyebrow-Raising Beauty Treatments Gwyneth Paltrow Swears By
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By Korin Miller
