I'm Never Getting Lash Extensions Again Thanks to This Genius At-Home Product (2024)

When it comes to long lashes, some might call me an obsessive—though Iprefer the term "devoted fan." So when I met with the founder of a company called Lashifywho promised me her at-home lash-extension product, the Control Kit, was groundbreaking, my thin, barely-there lashes and I were more than intrigued.

Spoiler alert: I'm never getting lash extensions again.

Pros + Cons

Pros:

• Adds natural-looking volume and length
• Easy to apply
• Choose from different curls and lengths

Cons:

• Pricey
• More time-consuming than applying falsies
• May not last long

The Bottom Line: Worth it for luxe at-home lashes

Lashify Control Kit has everything you need to easily apply natural-looking, glamorous lash extensions yourself without heading to the salon. While their lasting power is hit or miss depending on your activity levels—and they come at a high price tag—you can't beat the convenience and luxury of high-quality lash extensions at home once you get the hang of applying them.

About My Lashes

Like an hourglass figure or the ability to save any of my Chipotle bowl for later, long, fluttery lashes are something I gave up onhaving a long time ago. But acceptance does not mean admitting defeat, so over the years, I've tried everything under the sun to fake a doe-eyed look. Lash serums? Done that—I found that they helped with length but not with volume. Eyelash extensions? Had them for a year and a half and then was so traumatized by the broken, stubby state of my bare lashes when I got them off that I've rarely gotten them since, even though I love the way they look.Every mascara under the sun, all promising me the world? Most of them fell far short of their promises. (BenefitBadgal Bang, $27 was one of the few that didn't disappoint).

The Story Behind Lashify

Lashify's founder, Sahara Lotti, was a lash-extension devotee like myself but was tired of going back for refills every few weeks and spending upward of $100 each time—not to mention seeing the damage it was doing toher natural lashes. Determined to find an alternative, she went straight to the motherland of beauty innovation: South Korea. There, she found a manufacturerthat was able to create the lightest, wispiest lashes on the market (seriously, they don't weigh anything), which she dubbed Gossamers (see below). Next, she just had to figure out a way for the average woman to learn how to apply them, which is how she developed Lashify's unique fusing wand andbonding adhesive.

What Comes in the Control Kit: Lash sizes and more

Lashify's hero product is called the Control Kit. It's sleek and about the size of a Chanel Wallet on a Chain bag, though much less expensive. But like a Chanel bag, having it in my possessionhas given mea great amount of joy. The Kit has every tool and product you need to create a natural, full look. All kits come with a Fuse Control Wand, two Gossamer lash sets, a WhisperLight Flexible Bonding agent, and a waterproof lash extender.

The wisps are available in "Amplify," "Bold," "Curl," "Drama," "Extreme," and "Fluffy." Each of these types also come in six different lengths: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. They range from "extra short" to "XX long" respectively. So, a "Fluffy" gossamer set with 16mm would give you extreme fullness with a soft finish. On the other hand, "Amplify" gossamer lashes in 10mm would just add a little extra something to your everyday look that is much more muted than the "Drama" or "Extreme." You get the idea.

You can also buy lash sets separately when you need a refill. They come in little clusters and, at first glance, look similar to the individual lash clustersyou can buy at the drugstore (or spiders, according to my brother's alarmed reaction when I brought them with me on a recent trip home).

How to Apply

So here's how it works. In the Control Kit, there's a dual-sided bonding adhesive. One side is white (which is stronger) and the other black (which you can use to touch up your lashes throughout the three-to-five-day period you have them on). I wiggle the adhesive brush (which looks like a super-skinny plastic mascara wand) at the base of my lashes to disperse the adhesive, then use the tweezer-like fusing wand to pick up a Gossamer and place it at the base of my lashes from below.

Once you're happy with the look, you "fuse" the lashes to your actual lashes using the Fusing Wand (it's sort of like curling your lashes, except you're holding the wand sideways when you clamp down).You have about a minute or two to work with it before the adhesive dries, so there is that slight time pressure. As someone who gets her best work done under a time crunch, I find it slightly exhilarating.

If you're struggling, Lotti does daily Instagram Live tutorials onLashify's Instagram page so you can get a visual of how exactly to use the kit and get her tips. (Trust me, it's way more helpful than reading through my instructions).

How I Do My Lashes

The part I love most about this product is that you are in charge of customizing the lash look you end up with. I like a very natural,slightly feline look, so I usually place two "Amplify" 12mm or 14mm Gossamers on the outer edge of my eye, then a "Curl" 12mm, then a "Curl" 10mm in the very inner corners.The end result is a super-natural, fanned-out effect.

I like to finish off the look by filling in my waterline with a black gel eyeliner and then flicking out a tiny baby wing in each corner with liquid liner—I found that this really makes it so that the Gossamers look super natural.

Application Time

It takes a little while to get the hang of the technique, but I felt pretty confident in my ability to use Lashify after the second or third time practicing. Nowadays, it takes me less than 30 minutes to do a full set of lashes, and less if I'm just filling in.

The Results: Practically effortless glamour

It's truly game-changing for me that I can get the natural, fluttery look of lash extensions without having to lie down with my eyes shut for over an hour, giving someone else the power to determine the final look. It's an empowering feeling, to be in charge of your lash destiny! (Lashify, feel free to use that as your new tagline).

Before Lashify

As you can see in themakeup-freephoto above, my natural lashes are practically invisible without the help of mascara. Seriously, though—where are they?

After Lashify

Ah, there they are. But they're not my real lashes—they're Lashify. See how realistic they look, though? It's almost like I'm one of those people who can just tint her lashes and call it a day (what must that be like…).

The thing that sets Lashify's lashes apart is how light-as-air and realistic-looking they are. Anyone who's worn false lashes knows that theclassic ones all have that telltale strip at the base of your lash (dead giveaway), and even the individual-cluster lashes are thicker and more plastic-looking than anyone's natural lashes. Not the case with Lashify Gossamers. First of all, you apply these frombelowyour lash line at the base of your lashes, so you literally can't see where your natural lashes start and the Gossamers begin.Second of all, unlike normal falsies, they can actually last three to five days, thanks to Lashify's"fusing" technique. And lastly, they come in three different curls, with varying densities that all look freakishly natural and real.

How Long Do Lashify Lashes Last?

The lashes definitely look the best on the first day, and I've learned that it's hit-or-miss on how long they last. The other day, the Gossamers felt like they were coming loose after just one day (nothing a quick fusing couldn't fix), but I've also goneto a bachelorette in New Orleans with them on, lost my kit under mysterious circ*mstances on the first day, and still been happy with how they looked on day four (andlet's just say they'd been through, ahem,a lot by that point).

How to Maintain Your Lashify Lashes

Because you're probably wondering: Yes,you can shower with them in—I just try my best to avoid getting too much water or shampoo on my face to keep them looking as airy and fluffy as possible after they dry. I've discovered that they tend to start falling apart and clumping together slightly if they get wet more than once, and I'll have to swap in new Gossamers if I want to keep them looking fresh.

As with all false lash products, handle these as gently as possible to maintain them.

A Note on Removal

Keep in mind the Control Kit does not come with what you need to remove your Lashify lashes. You'll need a bottle of Melt Away ($21), Lashify's lash remover, to remove lashes after they've been fused on. Soak a cotton pad and gently press on your lashes before sliding them off. Be sure not to tug or rub when removing to avoid damaging your real lashes.

Fortunately, the Gossamers are so light and easy to remove that they leave zero damage to my actual lashes. I just make sure to use a growth serum (GrandeLash, $68, andTalika Lipocils, $60, are my faves) on my days off to make sure my natural lashes are in good shape.

The Verdict: Beautiful, natural-looking lashes

I would say that if you like to use a strip lash on special occasions but are pretty happy with the natural state of your lashes on a daily basis, or if you wantyour lashes to look super-bold and clearly faux,Lashify is probably not for you. But if you are obsessed with lash extensions and want an alternative that won't damage your lashes or just want long lashes that actually look like they could be real, then Lashify just might change everything. I know it did for me.

The Value: Worth the price

Yes, the Control Kit is pricey at $145, but you can create at least two or three full sets of lashes from everything included, which is pretty amazing considering you have to shell out $100+ for just one full set of lash extensions.

A lot of people might be wondering, But why would you pay $145 for false lashes when you can get them for $3 at a drugstore? Well, first of all, comparing Lashify to drugstore false lashes is like comparing Veuve Clicquot to Sprite. Do they both have bubbles? Yes. Are they both sort of sweet-tasting? Yes. But anyone can tell you that's where the similarities end. Yes, you could go to the drugstore and get false strip lashes or even individual lashes, but the final effect won't look half as mind-blowingly natural as how Lashify looks.

Plus, if you're a full-blown obsessive, you can sign up for the Lashify X program, where you pay $40 a month and get four sets of Gossamers of your choosing. So technically, you'd only have to pay for a Control Kit once, then just buy the Gossamers each time since the adhesive lasts forever and you only ever need one fusing wand.

Similar Products: You have options

While there aren't many at-home lash extension kits on the market, you do have other options besides strip lashes, including:

One Two Cosmetics Magnetic Lashes in Natural Half Lash: Instead of fussing with glue, these lashes ($69) stay on with magnets and remove easily without any makeup remover—and they create a natural look like Lashify. Unlike Lashify's system that can last several days or more, magnetic lashes can be easily taken on or off.

One Two Cosmetics Magnetic Lashes in Bold Full Lash: If you were hoping for more drama and glamour, this denser set of lashes ($69) adds extra length and volume.