The Ultimate Guide to Combining Lash Lifts with Other Beauty Treatments
Lash lifts have become a cornerstone of modern beauty, offering a low-maintenance, high-impact solution for naturally enhanced lashes. But in a world where our beauty routines are often a multi-step process, a common question arises: can a lash lift coexist with other treatments? The answer is a resounding yes, but the key to success lies in timing, technique, and a deep understanding of how different services interact. This guide is your definitive resource for strategically combining a lash lift with everything from microblading to facials, ensuring stunning results without compromise. We’ll cut through the confusion and provide clear, actionable steps for a harmonious and effective beauty regimen.
Part 1: The Foundation – Understanding the Lash Lift Process
Before we dive into combinations, it’s crucial to have a firm grasp of what a lash lift entails. A lash lift is essentially a perm for your natural eyelashes. It involves three key stages:
- Lifting: A silicone shield is placed on your eyelid, and your lashes are carefully brushed up and adhered to it.
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Perming Solution: A perming solution is applied, breaking down the bonds in your lashes to allow them to be reshaped.
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Setting Solution: A setting lotion is applied to re-bond the lashes in their new, curled position.
The entire process takes about 60-90 minutes, and the results last for 6-8 weeks. The critical takeaway is that the first 24-48 hours post-treatment are crucial for the lift to set. During this time, you must avoid water, steam, and oil-based products on your lashes to prevent them from “dropping.”
Part 2: Combining a Lash Lift with Eyebrow Treatments
Eyebrows frame the face, and lashes open the eyes. It’s a natural pairing, but timing is everything.
Lash Lifts and Brow Lamination
The Strategy: Always perform the brow lamination first.
Why: Brow lamination uses similar chemical solutions to a lash lift. Applying the brow lamination solution first allows you to meticulously clean the lash area afterward without the risk of the brow solution running into the freshly lifted lashes. The lifting solution on the lashes is much more delicate and prone to being disturbed by other chemicals.
Actionable Steps:
- Brow Lamination First: Your technician should complete the full brow lamination process, including the perming and setting solutions.
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Thorough Cleansing: After the brows are complete and the final solution is applied and removed, the technician must use a fresh, dry cotton pad to clean the eyelid and lash line area thoroughly. This removes any potential residue that could impact the lash lift.
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Lash Lift Second: Once the brow area is completely clean and dry, proceed with the lash lift. This two-step approach ensures both treatments set correctly and don’t interfere with each other.
Example: Sarah wants to get a brow lamination and a lash lift. Her technician first applies the brow lamination solutions, shaping her brows perfectly. After the final setting solution is wiped away, the technician uses a clean, damp cloth to meticulously clean the skin around her eyes, removing any residue. Only then does she begin the lash lift, applying the shields and solutions to Sarah’s now-perfectly-clean lashes.
Lash Lifts and Microblading/Microshading
The Strategy: Schedule your lash lift at least two weeks before your microblading or two weeks after the brows have fully healed.
Why: The microblading process creates tiny incisions in the skin. The skin around the eyes is sensitive, and the chemicals from a lash lift can irritate the freshly tattooed area, leading to potential infection or poor color retention. Conversely, the numbing cream and aftercare products used for microblading can also interfere with the lash lift solution.
Actionable Steps:
- Pre-Microblading: Book your lash lift for at least two weeks before your microblading appointment. This gives your lashes ample time to settle and your artist can work on a clean, untouched canvas.
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Post-Microblading: If you’ve already had microblading, wait until the brows have fully scabbed and healed, typically 10-14 days. Ensure there is no residual peeling or sensitivity. At this point, the skin is sealed, and you can safely get a lash lift.
Example: Mark is planning to get his brows microbladed. He schedules his lash lift for two weeks before his microblading session. This way, his lashes are perfectly curled and his eyes are free from any chemical residue when he goes in for his brow appointment. The microblading artist can work without worrying about cross-contamination or irritation.
Part 3: Combining a Lash Lift with Facial Treatments
Facials and lash lifts often go hand-in-hand for a complete head-to-toe rejuvenation. But the heat and products used in a facial can be a problem.
Lash Lifts and Standard Facials
The Strategy: Get the lash lift first, then wait 24-48 hours before your facial.
Why: A typical facial involves steam, cleansing, and a variety of lotions and oils. All of these can weaken the lash lift during the crucial setting period. The steam can relax the curl, and the oils can break down the bond of the lift.
Actionable Steps:
- Lash Lift First: Get your lash lift done.
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The Waiting Game: Wait a full 24-48 hours. This is the non-negotiable window for the lash lift to set properly.
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Facial Second: After the waiting period, you can safely get your facial. Inform your esthetician that you’ve recently had a lash lift and ask them to be mindful of the eye area, especially if they use any oil-based products.
Example: Jenny gets her lash lift on a Monday afternoon. She makes sure to book her facial for Wednesday morning, giving the lash lift 40 hours to set completely. When she arrives for her facial, she reminds her esthetician to use oil-free products around her eyes and to avoid directing the steam specifically onto her lashes.
Lash Lifts and Chemical Peels or Microdermabrasion
The Strategy: Schedule your lash lift at least one week before a chemical peel or microdermabrasion, or at least two weeks after.
Why: These intensive treatments use strong acids or physical exfoliation that can cause irritation, redness, and sensitivity, especially around the delicate eye area. The chemicals from a lash lift on top of this could lead to a severe reaction. The aftercare for these treatments also involves gentle cleansing and avoiding specific products, which can conflict with lash lift aftercare.
Actionable Steps:
- Lash Lift Pre-Peel: Get your lash lift done. Wait at least seven days before your peel or microdermabrasion appointment. This ensures any minor irritation has subsided and your lashes are fully set.
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Post-Peel: If you’ve already had the peel, wait for the skin to fully heal and the peeling process to be complete, which can take 10-14 days. The skin must be completely free of flaking and sensitivity before a lash lift.
Example: Chris is planning a series of chemical peels. He gets his lash lift done and enjoys the results for a week before his first peel. His esthetician can then perform the peel without worrying about the integrity of his lash lift or causing irritation around his eyes.
Part 4: Combining a Lash Lift with Hair Treatments
Hair and lash treatments don’t often seem related, but the chemicals and heat can cause problems.
Lash Lifts and Hair Coloring or Toning
The Strategy: Get your lash lift done on a separate day from your hair coloring appointment.
Why: Hair dyes and toners contain strong chemicals that can cause irritation if they get into the eyes. A lash lift sensitizes the eye area, making it more susceptible to irritation from these chemicals. The heat from a hairdryer can also affect the curl of the lashes if the lift is still in its setting phase.
Actionable Steps:
- Separate Appointments: Book your hair appointment and lash lift for different days.
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The Day After: If you absolutely must have them close together, get the lash lift first. Wait a full 24-48 hours for the lift to set before you get your hair colored.
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Communicate: Inform your hairstylist that you’ve recently had a lash lift. This will make them more careful to keep products and heat away from your face.
Example: Danielle has her lash lift on a Thursday. She has a hair coloring appointment on Saturday. This ensures the lift has fully set, and the chemicals from her hair dye won’t interfere with her lashes. Her hairstylist is mindful to keep the dye off her forehead and to direct the hairdryer away from her eyes.
Part 5: Combining a Lash Lift with Makeup and Other Services
The combination of a lash lift with other services isn’t just about professional treatments—it’s also about daily life.
Lash Lifts and Spray Tans
The Strategy: Get your spray tan first, or get your lash lift on a separate day entirely.
Why: The spray tan solution contains a chemical called DHA, which can react with the lash lift solution and cause a discoloration or weaken the bond. The moisture and steam from the spray tan booth can also relax the curl of the lashes if the lift is in its setting period.
Actionable Steps:
- Spray Tan First: Get your spray tan. Make sure the tan is fully developed and you’ve showered the excess bronzer off before your lash lift appointment. This ensures no DHA residue will come into contact with the lash lift solutions.
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Avoid the Eyes: If you must get them on the same day, get the spray tan first and ask the technician to shield your eyes completely. Then, wait at least 24 hours before your lash lift.
Example: Jessica gets a spray tan on a Friday afternoon. She makes sure to shower and cleanse her face thoroughly the next morning before her lash lift appointment. This prevents any potential chemical reactions and ensures her tan and her lashes both look perfect.
Lash Lifts and Eyelash Extensions (The Rebuttal)
The Strategy: Do not combine lash lifts and eyelash extensions.
Why: This is a common point of confusion. A lash lift permanently curls the natural lashes. Eyelash extensions are applied to straight lashes. When you apply an extension to a curled lash, the adhesive has a smaller surface area to bond to, and the extension will not sit correctly. The two treatments are mutually exclusive and are designed to achieve different results. A lash lift is for enhancing natural lashes, while extensions add length and volume.
Actionable Steps:
- Choose One: Decide if you want to enhance your natural lashes with a lift or add length/volume with extensions.
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Removal First: If you currently have extensions, they must be professionally removed before you can get a lash lift.
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Wait for Growth: If you’ve had a lash lift and want extensions, you must wait for the curl to grow out and for new, straight lashes to grow in, which takes about 6-8 weeks.
Example: Emily has a lash lift and loves the results. Six weeks later, she decides she wants to try extensions for a special event. Her technician tells her she must wait until her lifted lashes have grown out and been replaced by new, straight lashes before she can get extensions.
Part 6: The Ultimate Timeline – A Sample Plan
To tie everything together, here is a sample timeline for a comprehensive beauty week.
- Monday: Hair coloring and blow dry.
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Tuesday: Morning facial (with oil-free products), evening spray tan.
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Wednesday: Morning brow lamination, followed immediately by a lash lift.
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Friday: A light, oil-free makeup application for a night out.
This timeline ensures that each treatment has a chance to set and heal without interfering with the others. The lash lift and brow lamination are done together on a single day, minimizing the number of times you have to visit a salon and ensuring the technician can manage the process correctly.
Conclusion: The Art of Strategic Beauty
Combining beauty treatments is not about cramming as many services into a single day as possible. It is a strategic art form that requires careful planning and a deep understanding of how each treatment affects the others. The goal is to maximize the benefits of each service while minimizing the risks of damage or poor results. By following the actionable guidelines in this guide—timing your treatments, communicating with your professionals, and understanding the science behind the products—you can create a flawless, harmonious, and long-lasting beauty routine that highlights your natural beauty without a single compromise. This isn’t about just getting a lash lift; it’s about making it a seamless part of your overall, beautifully curated look.