If mascara really is over, what do we wear instead?
Have you heard the one about mascara being over? In a pincer movement driven by TikTok on one side and the runway on the other, lashes have been unanimously declared dead… or at least better brown than black. It’s part of a take-me-as-I-am movement that has also suggested undereye concealer might be a waste of everyone’s time, but in the main it’s all about the look, since a face that’s highly decorated in one way (a blazing red lip or an iridescent eye, for example) can look dated and overdone with a thick coat of mascara. C’est chic, less lash.
I can see the appeal. I’m a smudger and can list on one hand the formulations that haven’t given me the undereye equivalent of a five o'clock shadow by mid-morning (Glossier, Victoria Beckham and now Clarins’ excellent new one, if you’d like to know). That said, the architecture of a flicky-out lash is immensely flattering (especially at an edge when features start to droop down a little) and my own lashes are flat, downward-pointing and completely deaf to the charms of a curler. Which is why I am currently devoted to a DIY lash extension system known as Lashify, for an elegant, face-flattering lift with none of the transfer, flaking or clumpiness of mascara.
‘But can you actually do those,’ asked my colourist Zoë Irwin when I saw her a couple of months ago. Yes, I can and sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. I’ll explain.
What is Lashify?
Lashify was founded by Sahara Lotti, an LA-based screenwriter and actor on a mission to find a kinder alternative to salon extensions, which had started to leave her lashes feeling brittle and breaking off. It's a unique brand of DIY eyelash extensions that can last for up to a week, though mine can go for ten days or more.
They’re a red carpet hit, worn by everyone from Olivia Colman and Poppy Delevingne to Emma Stone, Sydney Sweeney and Lupita Nyong’o and they recently landed at Selfridges in London, where you can try them IRL under the helpful eye of a consultant.
The lashes, which are made of delicate manmade Korean silk, come in small clusters. Lotti’s first prototype, she says, was inspired by a pair of strip lashes she cut into tiny pieces... but unlike any lashes at that time, Lotti's sections attach to the underside of your own lashes. ("They lift your lashes and shape your eyes in a way you can only do from underneath," she says.) This also means you can’t see the join and they don’t interfere with makeup application or removal.
You can sleep in them, swim in them and wash your hair wearing them. I wear contact lenses and use eye drops and neither are a problem. I’ve even had facials while wearing my Lashify extensions, and as long as I warn my therapist that’s not a problem either.
But the real difference between Lashify and any other kind of DIY lash is that Lashify is ‘a whole system’, says Lotti. Even before she’d perfected the lashes themselves, she’d created a patented applicator tool known as the Fuse Control Wand. Held one way it allows you to grip the lash clusters between a pair of slinky tips and deposit them exactly where you want them to go. Then flip the tool around to clamp a freshly-applied set in place or to extend the life of your lashes with a quick squeeze every few days.
What comes in a Lashify Control Kit?
Lashify’s classic starter set contains the wand, a double-sided glue (known as bond), a waterproof sealing serum, samples of two different lash cleansing fluids, a set of ‘Wandom’ silicone covers to slip onto your applicator wand for a more comfortable squeeze and two sets of Gossamer lashes: choose from Amplify (the most natural), Bold or Curl.
Control Kit
Which Lashify add-ons are recommended?
The Lashify world is endless and fascinating. Beyond your control kit you can buy lashes in different lengths, styles and colours and a range of accessories, including a squeezy rubber puff that helps glue to dry faster… and yes, robes, socks and doggy toys (what can I say; the Lashify community is a dedicated one).
If you’re as hooked as I am, you’ll find yourself repeat ordering your favourite lashes as well as an occasional foray into a new style, but the most useful additions to your first kit are without doubt the full sizes of Melt-Away and Pre-Cleanse (one to remove old lashes; the other to prep your own lashes before applying a new set).
How do you apply Lashify lashes?
The basic routine is as follows: prep with Pre-Cleanse to remove excess oils then apply the black-coloured bond to the roots of your lashes using a mascara-like brush. Dot the white bond all the way along the underside of your lashes a few millimetres away from your waterline then wait until the white bond has turned clear and both feel tacky rather than wet. Use your Fuse Control Wand to pick up section by section and gently lift up into place – get the angle right and it will feel as if your lashes float into position almost magnetically. Work from the outside in and when your full set is applied, squeeze with your wand flipped the other way round and seal with a clear coat of Water Poof sealer.
Are Lashify lash extensions easy to use?
Yes and no. Or rather, no... then suddenly yes. The first time I tried, it took over an hour to half-successfully apply my Lashify extensions. Now I can get the whole thing done in 15 to 30 minutes. I highly recommend an online tutorial to get you started (a free 15-minute 1:1 is included with your control kit) and there are multiple free tutorials online and via Lashify on Instagram.
There are also countless hacks swapped between the 133k members of the Lashify Life Facebook group, including a recommendation to soak used lashes in rubbing alcohol to remove the old glue and make them ready to reuse, though Lotti stresses this is anecdotal and not the official Lashify line.
What is a Lashify 'map'?
A Lashify Lash Map is your pick ‘n’ mix of different lengths and styles, to create a look that suits your face shape and eye size or to create different effects. My blend of C and A in sizes 10-12 was mapped out for me at the Selfridges counter, while Lotti's recommendation for my slightly hooded lids is a set of chocolate brown I-Line lashes, which are designed to look as if you're also wearing a flicked-out liquid liner. Then there’s Brick Stacking, Length Stacking and Volume Stacking, ombre colour schemes…
I-Line™ Chocolate Gossamer Lash
How long do Lashify lash extensions really last?
The more you use them, the better you get at applying and the longer your Lashify lashes will last (keeping them away from hot water and oily skincare also helps). I give mine a quick squeeze with the wand every couple of days and usually have to remove them myself after ten to 14 days, ready for a fresh set (because they do start looking a little ragged if left on for too long).
Where to buy Lashify lash extensions
Visit London's Selfridges to have your personal lash map created and applied by an expert and to compare the different styles at the Lashify counter in the ground floor beauty hall. Online, you'll find the largest range of lashes on the Lashify website.
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