Choose Between Two Options

• $750 for a 1-day eyelash extension class ($1,250 value)
• $1,250 for a 2.5-day permanent makeup class ($2,500 value)

Eyelash Enhancement: How Committed to Get?

Even without opening your makeup bag, there are several different ways to enhance your lids. Learn the difference between some of the most popular with Groupon’s guide.

Strip lashes: Often referred to as false lashes, strip lashes are the most temporary of all lash enhancements. Composed of synthetic, lash-like threads that are attached to one curved strip, these are adhered to the edge of the eye-line and must be reapplied daily or after every time you run through a sprinkler. Though they’re easy to apply, they can feel heavy, and they’re often noticeably fake when viewed up close, making them a better fit for special occasions than for everyday wear.

Cluster lashes: These semipermanent beauties are glued to the natural lashes in v-shaped clusters. They sometimes have small knots at the tip to provide more space for the adhesive, though many choose to eschew the slight visibility of the knots in favor of more natural looking, albeit more temporary, clusters. With knots, these accent pieces may last up to a week and can survive gentle activity and showers.

Individual extensions: Called permanent because they fall off only when the natural lashes are shed, individual extensions are adhered one by one to lashes across the lid. Materials vary widely—sanitized human hair, mink fur, fox hair, and synthetic lashes are all popular, and all have tradeoffs in weight, cost, and verisimilitude—but it’s the adhesive that gives them their longer life span. A full set usually takes one to three hours to apply and requires touch-ups to account for the different growth cycles of individual natural lashes. Since several extensions may be applied to each natural lash, looks can be created ranging from a subtle mascara effect to Bambi-begging-for-a-saltlick.

Lash transplant: The only truly permanent form of lash enhancement is transplantation via a surgical procedure. It’s an expensive route that’s typically recommended for those who cannot medically grow natural lashes. During the procedure, entire follicles are excised from the back of the head and grafted onto the lash line—and because they continue to produce scalp hairs in their new home, the “lashes” they produce will need to be trimmed for the rest of the patient’s life and, if the patient has straight hair, curled daily.