Can you dye your eyelashes?

If you’re weighing up whether you can really be bothered to add on that coat of mascara or dip into the nether regions of the make-up bag before your first Zoom call of the day, there might just be another answer. Welcome to the world of eyelash dying, also called tinting.  

Tinting has gotten quite a lot of coverage over the last eighteen months as an easy way of giving your lashes a long-term boost, so we set out to investigate this happy little trick.  

What does it do? How much does it cost? How long does it last? Is it safe? 

If you’re asking yourself any of these questions, then we’ve got the answers. 

Read on! 

Tinting Explained

Tinting your eyelashes means applying a semipermanent dye to them in order to change their color. It won’t directly make your lashes any longer or thicker, but it will make them darker, which can intensify their appearance and make them look thicker and more voluminous. This is especially true if you’re someone with naturally light or blonde lashes: you should find that you end up with a fuller, more smouldering look without needing to apply mascara.  

But even if your lashes are already dark, a tint can still add value. That’s because even dark lashes tend to go naturally lighter at the tips. If you can deepen the color on your tips, you’ll give the impression of longer, thicker lashes. 

The best thing? It stays like that day after day without any extra work required, giving your eyes the instant mascara boost without the mascara faff!  

How does it work? 

The dye used to tint your eyelashes is similar to the dye that you would use to change your hair colour, except that it has been specially tested to be safe around your eye area. It is applied to your lashes with a brush and then left on until it has been absorbed. 

How long does it take? 

It’s fast! Once the tint is applied to your lashes it should normally be left on for 10 minutes, so you can expect to be in and out of your appointment in 30-40 minutes.  

What’s the price?

As with anything, it can vary depending on the country and the area where you live, but as a ballpark you can expect to pay between $50-60 USD for your tinting.  

How long does it last?  

On average, an eyelash tint will last around four weeks. But here’s the interesting bit: the dye itself isn’t wearing out, in fact, it’s just because your natural lash growth cycle means some of your lashes will be falling out and new ones growing, so your lash line will start to look lighter.  

To get the best out of your tint the experts recommend keeping the area around your eye dry for the first 24 hours after your treatment and using gentle make-up removers which are oil-free. Final tip: the sun has a bleaching effect on hair, so wearing sunglasses will also prolong the depth of color. 

Is it safe? 

The risks associated with dyeing your eyelashes are low, but as the eyes are sensitive areas it is good practice to get a patch test done a couple of days before your treatment to make sure that you don’t have a reaction to any of the products used. 

Tints won’t damage the lashes themselves, but some people find that with regular dying their lashes become drier and, when it comes to lashes, that’s never a good thing. To combat this, use a Lash Growth Serum to keep them moisturised, nourished and blissfully happy! As tints are all about accentuating the length and drama of your lashes, a Growth Serum is also the perfect complement for this kind of treatment, boosting growth and keeping your lashes in their prime for longer, extending the lifetime of your tint and maximising the fuller look.