Korean Lash Lifts vs Traditional Lash Lifts… What's the difference?
Have you ever asked ChatGPT “where can I get the best lash lift near me”?
If you have, then I’m sure like the rest of us you’ve seen the words “Korean Lash Lift” popping up all over your search. Not only as a search but through your socials and at every beauty salon you stumble across. Clients are all asking for it, lash techs are all wanting to train in it and every influencer online is calling it the healthier, cleaner version of a traditional lash lift.
So what is it that makes the Korean lash lift so superior, and why would you choose it over a traditional tried and tested lash lift.
The answer is simple. Technique.
Lets break it down. Korean lash lifts are born out of the need for perfect precision and consistent results. It focuses on lifting the lash in a natural but enhanced looking way from the very root of the hair and flowing all the way through to the tip.
Where a traditional lash lift focuses on curling the lash in the shape of a C, Korean methods focus on lifting and lengthening the lashes directly from the root, giving a fuller, fluffier effect. Almost like you’re constantly wearing mascara, but without the hassle of having to remove it at the end of every day.
Traditional lash lifts use a cysteamine or thioglycolate based product which can be harsher on your lashes and a lot less forgiving. This coupled with needing glue to adhere your lashes to the shield or rod, can often give an inconsistent result. Just because your best friend Jane had a killer result, doesn’t mean you will.
When using the traditional method, the lashes are glued to the shield or rod to keep them in place where you want to set them. This forms a barrier that the solutions then have to break through, in order to break down the disulfide bonds in your lashes, and make them pliable. Without breaking down these bonds, they can’t be effectively placed and set into the correct position, therefore not achieving the curl or lift consistently.
This is where the Korean method is superior. No strong glues that form barriers. Just a gentle powder adhesive mixed in with the first solution. While the solution is working to break down those bonds, the adhesive is very gently helping them to stay in place and achieve that pliability. Once the bonds are broken down, the lashes can then be molded to the shield without the need for any further glues or balms. By using this method, the setting solution that locks them in place is able to penetrate into the lash and start to rebuild those keratin bonds. Repairing these bonds is the most important part. This is what holds the lashes in their new desired shape.
In any lash lift, timing is everything. If you’ve been having regular lash lifts, your bonds are already weaker and need shorter time. Fine lashes process quickly as they have less bonds to break, course lashes have more bonds, therefore take longer. The time the solutions are on lashes will ultimately make or break your results.
So we’ve done our research and decided Korean lash lifts are the way to go. Amazing. You won’t regret it. But what happens after? Are there rules?
Well, just like a traditional lash lift there are some minor rules. Don’t get your lashes wet, and try to avoid getting product in them for the first 24-48 hours. Don’t rub your eyes if you can help it. These things won’t undo your lash lift, but they can compromise its integrity, making you need another one sooner.
But what can I do to ensure my lashes are supported??
I’m so glad you asked…
Aftercare is such an important step in any lash lift. Your lashes have been broken down and reset, so for the first 24-48 hours they need some support. While the keratin structure settles, your lashes are temporarily more porous and will thank you endlessly for some extra hydration and conditioning.
Enter our Elleebana post lash lift serum. Made by chemists, specifically for supporting lashes post lift.
So next time you book a lash lift, remember Korean is the way to go!
