Women have always sought longer and fuller lashes. In recent years, many advances have been made not only with mascaras, but also with extensions and now treatments that promise a lash growth spurt.

Women are coveting the long, full lashes that suggest youth and brighten the eye. Mascara and a good curler and/or lash strips are still the go-to quick fixes for sparse lashes and come at little or no risk to the eye and lashes. Besides an occasional allergic reaction with more sensitive people, these methods are foolproof and safe. While only semi-permanent, eyelash extensions promise lush lashes that can skip the curler and mascara altogether. However, this method does not come without possible side effects.

An obvious suggestion for minimizing any problems resulting from extensions is to research your choices in specialists who will be applying them. In general, the healthier your lashes are to begin with, the less prone you are to adverse reactions. For some women, eyelash extensions only exacerbate the problem of sparse or thinning lashes. It is possible that in either case, the stress to the natural lash from being bonded over and over to a synthetic hair can cause permanent, irreversible damage resulting in little or no growth.  This side effect is not that common since techniques have been perfected and those who are most likely at risk for this sort of damage (such as those with alopecia in other places) have refrained from or found alternatives to extensions.

Because of the frequency of re-application needed (about every 4-6 weeks) as determined by each individual’s lash growth cycle, the cost of maintaining plump lashes in this way can be quite high. As an alternative, women are now seeking more permanent measures that give them their money’s worth by stimulating the natural hair to grow on its own, eliminating the need for synthetic hair being glued one by one. Although this is very rare, the downside to these products, such as Latisse, is the possibility of permanently darkened irises in lighter shades of brown eyes. In addition, the catch with these solutions is that once you stop using them, the lashes slowly go back to what they were before.

These latest products are very exciting and have gained a cult following while proving to be a much safer, effective, and cost efficient solution for limp lifeless lashes. For those not yet ready to take the plunge, trustworthy mascara and lash curler are still better alternatives to extensions.

This article was contributed by Sara Franzese, a professional make-up artist.

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