By now you may have heard of eyelash tinting, a covetable beauty service that involves dyeing your lashes to feign the appearance of a dark, long, and lean flutter sans endless tubes of mascara, flakes, mascara tears, falsies, or extensions. Sounds dreamy, right? Plus, in addition to the eyelash dye services available at certain salons and spas, there are numerous at-home eyelash tinting kits available to buy on marketplace sites like Amazon. But we've been wondering, is eyelash dye safe to use on our own?
Like many kinds of beauty treatments,eyelash tintingdoes run the potential for risk (just because dye so close to the delicate eye area has raised some eyebrows in terms of health and safety), and in some states like California, the professional practice has even been outlawed due to such concerns as damage and injury to the eye. Interestingly, however, other states like New York still allow it. So to gain some expert intel on the topic, we asked brow and lash expert, Josh Beeler, and dermatologist, Margarita Lolis, MD, to weigh in.
Meet the Experts
- Josh Beeler is a brow and lash expert in Brooklyn. He has over 20 years of professional experience.
- Margarita Lolis, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, NJ.
Keep reading to find out whether or not eyelash tinting kits are safe and a few other important tips and tricks from Beeler and Dr. Lolis.
What is Eyelash Tinting?
Long story short, eyelash tinting involves using a permanent or semi-permanent specially-formulated dye to make your lashes look darker and fuller. People with light-colored lashes will usually see the most dramatic results, but people with lash color can get it done.
The Benefits of Eyelash Tinting
First, let's talk benefitsbecause according to Beeler (and a handful of our lash-blessed editors) there are many.
"I think eyelash tinting is an amazing service. If you’re running to yoga or the gym, taking the kids to school, or having a beach day, tinted lashes will help you feel like you have makeup on butleave out the potential for streaks, flakes, or running mascara," Beeler shares right off the bat.
Similar to eyelash extensions (though tinting requires even less maintenance), the grand appeal is an abbreviated morning routine, and ready-set-go lashes that at most may require a quick bend from your eyelash curler and a once-per-month session with your lash specialist for touch-ups and maintenance.
"I know that lash tinting recently became outlawed in California," says Beeler. "This is a total bummer because when done correctly, the benefits of eyelash tinting make the monthly visit to your lash specialist worthwhile. Eyelash tinting allows you to easily shave 15 minutes off your morning routine, and if you also get your brows tinted (a service offered at many salons), you can achieve that covetable five-minute face so you're out the door in no time." That means more beauty sleep, folks.
Eyelash Tinting Safety
"Something that needs to be addressed is the oxidant or developer that is used with the eyelash tinting kits. For instance, when you have the hair on your head colored, your stylist will probably use around 20 to 30 volumes of peroxide," Beeler explains. "If you're lightening your hair, the developer can be 40 to 50 volume. This is what lifts the follicle, penetrates it with the color, and makes it permanent. Never use this percentage anywhere around the eye area." Beeler recommends "a 3 percent developer, enough to give the tint longevity but safe to use around the eyes."
Risks and Side Effects of Eyelash Tinting
Not surprisingly, one of the most common side effects of eyelash tinting is eye irritation. And think of it kind of like baby shampoo—even the gentlest formulas can irritate the eyes. And not just your eyes can be affected. You can also have irritated skin around the eyes, and on the very serious end of the scale, chemical burns and blindness.
"Many commercial eyelash dyes are formulated to minimize skin irritation, but there is always a risk.It’s important to perform a patch test before using any dye to check for adverse reactions," says Dr. Lolis.
Other potential risks can include allergic contact dermatitis,eyelid dermatitis, and bacterial infection. In severely rare cases can damage the eye or impair vision according to Dr. Lolis. Risk increases for those who have a history of eczema, allergies, and sensitive skin.
DIY Eyelash Tinting
As the risks and side effects of lash tinting can be pretty bleak, it's best to leave this treatment up to the professionals. And yes, even though eyelash tinting kits are, indeed, available to buy, there are definite risks involved when it comes to administering the treatment on your own—especially if you're completely new to the process.
Key Takeaways
- If you have light lashes or simply want a slightly bolder look sans eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting may be a good option for you.
- If you are going to dye your lashes, it's best to go to a professional to minimize risk.
- Eyelash tinting can cause eye irritation, chemical burns, and contact dermatitis, so do your research and proceed with caution.
"I advise caution when it comes to procedures involving sensitive areas like the eyes," Dr. Lolis says. "I recommend to have eyelash tinting done by a professional in a controlled environment to minimize risks." In other words, if you're in the market toget your eyelashes tinted and are located in a state where the treatment is legal, definitely do your research.
How to Tint Your Eyelashes
RefectoCil Eyebrow & Eyelash Dye in Brilliant Black
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Though Beeler doesn't recommend using eyelash tinting kits at home (please, just leave it to the professionals), we were still curious to learn what particular eyelash tinting products he swears by and feels are the safest to use around the eye.
"There's a company calledRefectoCil that I use for lash and brow tinting. The brand is as natural as you can get with this type of treatment and boasts the full range of colors I need to customize the tint. For the most part, when I use this eyelash tinting kit, I'll go with either the black or blue-blackor sometimes even a combo of the two. But every now and then, I will use the dark brown shade on a client who has a super-light or platinum shade of hair for a more natural effect," Beelershares.
Alternatives to Eyelash Tinting
So, if you're a bit hesitant to jump on the lash tinting train but still want lush, fuller-looking lashes, you do have options.
The first is eyelash extensions. Lash extensions should also be installed by professionals and will last about six weeks. Some of the cons include the cost, upkeep, and potential eye irritation.
Another option is a lash lift. A lash lift will help make your lashes look thicker and full, therefore giving you the appearance of darker lashes. A lash lift will usually last anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks and is a relatively quick (and safe) treatment when done by professionals.
Dr. Lolis suggests using eyelash serum which can enhance not only the thickness of lashes but also darken the color with consistent use over time.
The Final Takeaway
If you're intrigued and interested in dipping your toe into the world of eyelash tinting, first ensure the practice is legal in the state you're living in, and then begin your research—following Beeler's advice to locate a professional who's both trained and licensed. Next, it's not a bad idea to contact the salon or the specialist personally to find out which tinting product they use. Bonus points for a brand like RefectoCil, which gets Beeler's seal of approval.
