Should I get a lash lift or extensions?
Decide by what your own lashes already have. A lash lift curls and lifts the lashes you were born with, but it can't add length or fullness. Extensions add fibers, so they can give you length, fullness and a darker lash line your natural lashes don't have.
- Choose a lash lift if your lashes have good length but grow straight or point down, you want them to look more open without a curler, and you'd rather not book fills.
- Choose a lash lift and tint if your lashes are long but light, and you want them to show without mascara.
- Choose extensions if you want more length, fullness or darkness than your natural lashes give you, and regular fills fit your routine.
Lash lift. Your own lashes, lifted and curled from the root. Nothing is added, and it lasts about six to eight weeks.
Extensions. Longer, fuller fibers added to your own lashes, for length, fullness and darkness. Refreshed about every two weeks.
If your lashes are decently long, you don't like wearing mascara and you want whatever is easiest to keep up, that's a lift. Long, straight lashes are exactly what it's for.
Lash lift vs. extensions at a glance
| At a glance | Lash lift | Lash extensions |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Curls and lifts your natural lashes from the root | Adds fibers to your natural lashes for length, fullness and darkness |
| How long it lasts | Six to eight weeks | Fibers shed with your natural lashes; regular fills keep the set full |
| Upkeep | Keep dry and skip steam, saunas and mascara for 24–48 hours; skip the curler | Keep dry for 24 hours, oil-free cleanser, brush each morning, no mascara, regular fills |
| Appointment | 45 minutes, or 60 minutes with tint | 180 minutes for a full set; 60 minutes for a classic refresh |
| Price | $60, or $75 with tint | $235 for a volume full set; $55 for a classic refresh |
| Best for | Lashes with good length that grow straight or point down | Anyone who wants more length or fullness than their lashes have |
Prices and times come from Desiree's current menu.
What does a lash lift do?
Desiree's menu says it plainly:
Create a lift and curl to your natural lashes. Lasts 6–8 weeks.From Desiree’s menu: Lash Lift
A lift works with what you have. It sets your natural lashes into an upward curve, so they frame the eye without a curler or mascara. Add a tint and they look darker too: Lash Lift and Tint includes a tint in the color of your choice.
People notice the difference. In a survey of women in their 20s to 50s, respondents said a lash lift changed their eye image and gave them clearer-looking eyes (Lee and Do, 2021).
Aftercare is short: keep your lashes dry and skip steam, saunas and mascara for 24 to 48 hours, and put the curler away. If you've reacted to lash tint before, a patch test 24 to 48 hours ahead is the safe route. Want brows done in the same visit? Brow Lamination and Tint, Lash Lift and Tint pairs a lift with fuller, fluffier brows; lamination, tint or shaping explains the brow side.
What do lash extensions add?
Extensions are the only one of the two that adds lash. They can be soft or bold: Desiree's Volume Lash Full Set runs "from a soft fluff to a glamorous look," and her Classic Lash Fill (60 min) can be booked without a set already on, for a lighter look on your natural lashes.
They ask more of your routine. Keep them dry for the first 24 hours, use oil-free cleansers and makeup removers, brush them gently each morning and skip mascara. The full list is in our aftercare guide, and our guide to classic, hybrid and volume lashes explains the styles.
Why do extensions need fills when a lift doesn't?
Each extension is attached to a natural lash, and natural lashes shed on their own schedule. A full lash cycle takes about 4 to 11 months (Aumond and Bitton, 2018), and because every lash is at a different point in it, people typically lose and replace 1 to 4 lashes a day (Sullivan et al., 2023). So some extensions are always on their way out.
That's why Desiree's menu describes Classic Lash Fill (60 min) as "The recommended appointment time for a 2 week refresh on your lashes," and suggests a longer appointment such as Hybrid Lash Fill (90 min) if it's been two to three weeks or you've shed more than usual. A lift has nothing to refill. It grows out with your lashes, and you book again when you want the curl back. More on timing in when to book a lash fill.
Not sure, or switching from extensions?
Moving from extensions to a lift? Come in with your current set for Lash Extension Removal, and don't pull or pick them off at home, which can take natural lashes with them. After removal, give your lashes a few days off; a lash bath or a lift is a good next step.
Still on the fence? Ask Desiree in your own words; a line like this one is plenty:
My lashes are long but straight, and I don't like wearing mascara. Would a lift or extensions suit me better?
If your eyes get sensitive or you've reacted to lash glue or tint before, tell Desiree first. If you notice redness, swelling, pain or any change in vision after an eye-area service, contact Desiree and see a doctor.
Quick answers
- Is a lash lift cheaper than lash extensions?
- Yes, over time. A Lash Lift is $60 and lasts six to eight weeks with no fills. Extensions start with a full set and then need regular fills to stay full, starting with a refresh at about two weeks. On the current menu, a full set is $170 to $275 booked online, or $150 for the classic full set by call or text.
- Can a lash lift make short lashes look longer?
- A lift can't add length. It curls the lashes you already have so more of them shows. If your lashes are short or sparse and you want them to look longer or fuller, extensions are the better choice. Send close-ups first if you'd like a second opinion before booking.
- Can lash extensions look natural?
- Yes. Desiree's Classic Lash Fill (60 min) can be booked without a set already on, for a lighter look on your natural lashes, and her volume sets range "from a soft fluff to a glamorous look." Tell her the look you want and what you'd rather avoid, and she designs the set around it at your visit.
- How long does a lash lift last?
- Desiree's menu says a lash lift "Lasts 6 - 8 weeks." To help it last, keep your lashes dry and skip steam, saunas and mascara for the first 24 to 48 hours, and skip the lash curler. There are no fills; book again when you want the curl back.
Who’s behind the answers
About the studio
Central Oasis is a lash and brow studio in Northeast Portland, led by Desiree, the lash and brow artist. Every service description in this diary quotes her own menu, word for word.
Book it
- Lash Lift$60 · 45 minutesBook Lash Lift (opens Square in a new tab)
- Lash Lift and Tint$75 · 60 minutesBook Lash Lift and Tint (opens Square in a new tab)
- Volume Lash Full Set$235 · 180 minutesBook Volume Lash Full Set (opens Square in a new tab)
Nothing is charged online; you pay at your visit.
Sources
- Lee YY, Do J-Y (2021). Customer Perception and Preferences of Lash Lift. Journal of Health and Beauty 15(2):161–175.A survey of women in their 20s to 50s in which respondents felt a lash lift changed their eye image and gave clearer-looking eyes.
- Aumond S, Bitton E (2018). The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review. Journal of Optometry.A review of eyelash biology; it supports the 4-to-11-month full lash cycle, which is why extensions shed and need fills.
- Sullivan DA, da Costa AX, Del Duca E, et al. (2023). TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of cosmetics on the ocular surface. The Ocular Surface.An international report on cosmetics and eye health; it supports that people typically lose and replace 1 to 4 lashes a day.
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