LASH LOOKS

With the lash industry evolving in the last decade to include more treatment options than ever, we asked the professionals about the latest trends

Being able to extend the lashes with something other than mascara first became possible in 1911, when Canadian inventor Anna Taylor patented the first ever artificial eyelashes. Her invention included glue-on lashes, or strip lashes, thought to be made from human hair.

It was in the early 2000s that false eyelashes really took off, thanks to celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, who wore lashes made from red fox fur to the Oscars in 2001, and Madonna, who wore mink and diamond lashes on tour in 2004.

In the last decade, lash enhancements have evolved to include an array of treatment options, leading to a rising number of professionals training in and providing them.

“I have worked in the lash industry since 2009, and I’ve witnessed the growth in the sector over the past 10 years,” says Karen Grehan, owner of Lash Doll’s Beauty & Training Academy in Ratoath, Co Meath. “Not only has the ‘lash boom’ expanded the options available to clients, it has also led to a huge number of beauty professionals wanting to train as lash technicians in order to meet their clients’ desires for these treatments. As educators, we’re committed to providing top-tier training that equips our students with the skills needed to excel in this field.”

“The lash industry is continuously evolving, offering clients more options than ever before,” agrees Orlagh O’Reilly, educator with Suzanne Egan Academy in Dublin. “In the past decade, we’ve witnessed a significant shift towards more personalised styles of individual eyelash extensions, with an increasing number of professionals specialising in this service. The explosion of extensions has led to advancements, such as colour matching, allowing for more tailored looks.Additionally, client education has empowerd clients to make informed decisions about their lash enhancements, hygiene and choices around what looks work best for them. The rise of good-quality at-home lash kits has also pushed lash artists to up their game, making lash extension services even better than ever.”

Au natural

With extensions being among the biggest trends in lashes, the experts have been seeing a demand for a more natural look in recent times. “We are seeing a return to classic extensions as the ‘skinimalism’ trend spreads to lash extensions,” says Novalash business manager Lauren Nesbit. “Clients are going for more natural, light-textured looks, alongside more natural looking skin and make-up.” They are also moving away from wearing the volume lashes used to achieve the fuller, heavier style, commonly referred to as Russian lashes, she adds

“As a salon owner, I can fully attest to the changing trends in the lash industry,” says Grehan. “Clients are definitely going for a more natural look. The minimalist approach to beauty has influenced their preferences as they opt for classic/hybrid lashes and lash lifts to subtly enhance their own natural lashes.

“However, we have to remember that beauty trends change and evolve constantly. Clients’ choices can depend on a number of things. For example, some prefer a natural enhancement, while others prefer a more dramatic look for special occasions. The natural look is currently popular, but there is still a demand for fuller lash styles, especially among younger clients.”

“The trend toward a natural look is very much in line with the broader ‘skinimalism’ movement,” says O’Reilly. “Clients are increasingly opting for classic lashes that subtly enhance their eyes, rather than going for the fuller, mega-volume styles that can sometimes take over the face. This minimalist approach is also reflected in lash lift and tint services.”

Lift and tint

The lash lift is an ideal treatment for clients looking for the natural look, with the pandemic contributing to its rise in popularity, according to Lisa Stone, educator for Refectocil. “These days, clients are going for something a bit more low maintenance, and lash lifts and tints are a great way to create that effortless, but well-groomed look, which is a part of the minimalist trend.”

“Lash lifts, combined with a brow lamination, are the perfect marriage,” says Debbie Law, educator for Nouveau Lashes. “It’s all about enhancing what the client already has.”

‘The natural look is currently popular, but there is still a demand for fuller lash styles, especially among younger clients’

“I've seen a huge increase in the popularity of lash lifts among clients,” says Grehan. “This treatment is a gamechanger as it offers a low-maintenance alternative to extensions, while still achieving impressive results. It enhances the natural lashes, giving them a fuller, lifted appearance, without adding any additional lashes, making it the perfect option for clients who prefer a quicker beauty routine.”

“The advancements in the lash lift industry have revolutionised the service,” says O’Reilly. “Innovative products that are available now include InLei Lash Filler Molecular 4, which enhances lashes at a molecular level. That is a breakthrough we haven’t seen before. In addition, customisation options for lash lifts have expanded, with clients now having more control over the style and intensity of their lifts. From shield choice to colour-matching options, lash lifts have never been more personalised.”

Meanwhile, coloured lashes are an ongoing trend. “Nobody leaves my seat without a little pop of colour,” says Law. “For me, it’s more about complementing the client’s natural eye colour and making it pop.”

Stone uses a lot of red, blue and purple extensions to highlight and complement the eye. “We recommend little hints or flecks of colour mapped into the edges of the lash for a more subtle look,” she says.

Serum solutions

With the minimalist approach to skin and make-up spilling over to lashes, lash serums have become popular. Many of these products contain prostaglandins, a group of lipids that includes isopropyl cloprostenate. Prostaglandins were originally used to treat glaucoma, and a surprising side effect was the growth of long and thick lashes. This caught the attention of the beauty industry.

While many clients use lash growth serums with great success, there are some that experience unwanted side effects such as styes or an increase in the appearance of dark circles. Therefore, it is important to understand the ingredients in serums before recommending them.

“It's crucial to be careful about the products you recommend,” warns O’Reilly. “A good lash serum should not only promote length, but also enhance the overall quality of the hair. For instance, if a client has short lashes that are brittle and thin, we don’t want them coming in for a lash lift with long lashes that are still brittle and thin. Ingredients and product quality are key factors to consider when guiding clients toward the best options. I love Grande Lash-MD serum – I’ve seen great result on clients who use it.”

“With more clients opting for the natural look and getting treatments such as lash lifts, lash serums have become a go-to for growing and thickening the natural lashes,” says Grehan. “We have our own Lash Doll’s serum, which is designed to strengthen and lengthen natural lashes, giving them a fuller, healthier appearance over time. It’s excellent for maintaining lash lifts, but also great for clients who just want to maintain their natural lash health.”

Ultimately, trends come and go, so all of our experts recommend lash mapping for each individual client, rather than going down a one-map-fits-all route.