When it comes to having something done to my lashes, I think I’ve done it all. I’ve tried perming—way back in high school when my mom brought me to a salon and convinced me it was going to look good on me, because I was blessed with long eyelashes (that are straight). I did a couple of sessions, before I eventually lost interest (despite how pretty it made my lashes look!
) because the procedure itself took more than an hour. Not to mention, the chemical smell of the perming solution was really strong and I didn’t like it!Fast forward to a few years ago when I also tried lash extensions a couple of times. The first time I did it, I got so excited and wanted to go extra, so I told the specialist to make it the thickest they had—and I ended up looking so weird because lesson learned the hard way: extra thick lashes without any eyebrow or eye makeup make you look foolish. And maintaining it was such a challenge—I would purposely avoid wetting my eyes to make sure the extensions stayed for as long as possible. Instead, I would clean my lids carefully with cotton swabs, water, and soap! It was even harder when the lash extensions started to fall off one by one, because it made my lids really itchy and uncomfortable.
After those two stints, I decided to just diligently curl my lashes and apply mascara whenever I wanted to add an extra oomph to my look for the day. That is, until I discovered the wonders of a lash lift! I first saw it on Laura Lehmann, when we had brunch early this year, so that I could interview her for Calyxta’s March 2018 cover story. Her lashes looked so long and luscious, and when I complimented her about it, she told me she had keratin lash lift and tint done. Researching more about it, I discovered that a lot of celebrities are doing it to make their lashes look naturally curled and thick! For those who want to learn more about what a lash lift is, Cosmopolitan wrote a really informative article here.
As mentioned in the article, it’s an alternative to lash extensions and falsies for a curled lash effect. The formula used is much safer compared to perming, plus the keratin supposedly helps strengthen your lashes. A keratin lash lift with tint not just curls your lashes, but also makes them look thicker.
Since my brunch with Laura, I had been really considering getting a lash lift done—but I wanted to wait for a good opportunity. So last August, a week before I left for my first Europe trip, I decided to go for it! I booked an appointment with Plush Beauty by Inna Valera, who happens to be a good friend. Though there are a lot of other more well-known places to get it done, I really trust Inna because she invests in her materials and only sources them from Australia and the US. She also trains and continues to improve her skills under some of the best practitioners in Southeast Asia—one of her most popular services is actually 6D Microblading! Though that’s something I’m not yet considering for myself because I’m fortunately blessed with thick brows, what I plan to continue doing is Inna’s Lash Lift. She can customize your lift based on your lash length and eye shape, to make sure it complements your overall look. The whole session took less than an hour to finish (in fact, the Cupcake just waited for me in Eastwood Mall while I was getting it done), there was no downtime, and my lashes looked so amazing after!
Even later that day, when the Cupcake proposed to me and I bawled my eyes out, my lashes weren’t affected at all. So it made the proposal photos even better! Hahaha!
You can check out photos from my trip below as well:
So far, it’s been a month, and my lashes are still curled. What I do to maintain them is I just apply clear brow gel everyday to make them look extra lifted. Though Inna assures that I can do regular makeup and apply mascara because it won’t affect the curl at all, I think even without mascara, they look good. It literally cuts down my beauty routine in the morning because all I need to do is apply my Glossier Boy Brow, Glossier Cloud Paint, and Sunnies Face lipstick—and I’m good to go! Definitely worth paying PhP 2,500 for one session, which could last for as long as two months.
For those wondering, aside from 6D Microblading and Lash Lift, Inna also offers Ombre Brows, Lip Tint, and Lash Extensions. Her studio is located in 17B One Eastwood Avenue Tower 1 (in front of Cyberzone), though you’ll need to book an appointment first because she doesn’t accept walk-ins. Just text her at 09454423405 or e-mail her at annatheavalera@gmail.com.
If you guys have any questions about the procedure I had done, just let me know in the comments and I’ll answer them right away!