False lashes were our best friends back in the noughties. We’re getting nostalgic just thinking about those little tubes of glue. But waking up with said lashes on the pillow or finding them halfway up to our eyebrows mid-party? Not such a fond memory. So we’ve embraced semi-permanent eyelash treatments like LVL lashes and keratin lash lifts with open arms. They look natural – way more so than those false lashes – and you’ll soon forget they’re anything but. If you’re getting lost in the lingo, here’s the difference between the two.
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1 In the blue corner: LVL
LVL stands for length, volume and lift. (Also, it kind of works as an acronym for Lovely and Long – whichever's easier to remember.) The treatment starts with a bit of straightening at the root, before curling the entire lash. It's finished with a tint to help put every last lash on show. Think of it like a semi-permanent version of mascara.
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2 In the red corner: keratin
A keratin lash lift uses (no prizes for guessing) keratin – a protein that's naturally found in hair and nails, which gives it strength. The therapist places a plastic rod above your lashline before applying a keratin mask over the top. This curls the lashes around the rod. This sits for eight minutes, before being washed off and replaced with a serum to lock in the goodness.
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3 The verdict
Keratin's totally natural, but if you prefer the idea of going protein and product-free, we'd recommend the LVL. It does use setting serums and lotions, but your therapist will test you first to make sure you don't react.
The keratin lash lift, on the other hand, adds a tiny bit of extra brawn, if you will, to keep that curl looking extra sleek. Either way, the results are pretty similar – you'll end up with lashes that practically graze your cheeks when you bat them.
One thing we would say, is that both these treatments simply enhance what you've already got, rather than physically adding any extra length or curl. So if your lashes aren't naturally that long and you're looking a bit further afield, have a think about eyelash extensions.