Dyeing your eyelashes is the latest trend that is taking over social media. It is said to be one of the low-maintenance ways to make your lashes appear fuller and more prominent without makeup.
Also, it helps to grow your lashes without intensive services like lash extensions, lash lifts, etc. It also creates the illusion of wearing mascaras without you having to wear any.
You often feel the need to want darker and well-defined lashes, and dyeing your eyelashes might be the only option. No doubt, dyeing your eyelashes gives you a bolder and wide-eyed look for an affordable price without you having to break the bank, but this process comes with its repercussion. Read on to know more.
What Does It Mean To Dye Your Eyelashes?
The history of eyelash dyes can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The Egyptians, in particular, darkened their lashes with a substance called “Kohl,” which was made by grinding the mineral galena into a fine powder and mixing it with oil. However, the South Asian cultures formulated another substance, “Kajal,” by blending ash with castor oil.
Today, dyeing eyelashes has become a popular trend that everybody wants to jump into. Many girls are interested in adding a little extra touch and drama to their pretty dark lashes. Dyeing your eyelashes is a process of applying a safe, permanent vegetable dye to your eyelashes to make them appear darker, fuller, and longer.
Since this is a popular trend, it is not ideal for everybody. However, dyeing the eyelashes is best suited for people who have naturally light hair and lashes, are sensitive to make-up, have no time to apply make-up every day, and wear contact lenses.
What Are The Benefits Of Dyeing Your Eyelashes?
It is said that dyeing your eyelash is the bridge between the use of mascaras and lashes extensions that gives a bolder and more prominent look. The process comes with a lot of benefits; they include;
- Dyeing your eyelashes adds definition and structure to your face, and the process will make your eyes look attractive and expressive.
- Your dyed eyelashes won’t come off even when you go for swimming activities.
- You don’t have to worry about your morning make-up routine with dyed eyelashes.
- You will always wake up with perfect eyelashes that uplift your confidence.
What Does Dyeing Your Eyelash Entail
Before dyeing your eyelashes, you will first have to undergo a consultation with a professional to state your desired look. After this, you will be asked to sit in the salon bed, where a professional will place a dye beneath your eye to catch the excess dye. Once the dye is applied, you will be asked to lay still for about 10 minutes to enable the dyeing process.
After the dye is settled, the professional will grab a cotton swab and gently use it to remove the dye from your lashes and clean the area. However, you might feel weird during this process, but you are expected to relax and avoid squinting your eyes.
Furthermore, the dye usually lasts for four weeks, and typically, the natural shedding and regrowth of the lashes always brings them back to their natural color. Once your eyelashes start to fall and new eyelashes start growing in their place, you will notice that your lashes have become lighter.
Is It Safe To Dye Eyelashes?
It is safe to dye your lashes when done by a well-trained and highly experienced aesthetician who knows what they are doing.
However, dyeing the eyelashes isn’t approved by the FDA (Food And Drug Administration). It is illegal for most salons and studios in certain states to offer to dye the eyelashes.
Furthermore, eyelash dyes range from food and semi-permanent dyes to chemicals and coal-tar dyes. Most of these dyes are packaged in multi-use containers, creating room for bacteria and can cause irritation and severe contact allergies to the skin.
The FDA has issued a warning against using coal-tar dyes to dye the eyelashes because it could damage the eyes. Although the FDA has not approved any color additives for permanent dyeing of eyelashes, always remember that you should use regular hair dye on your lashes in no condition.
I personally wouldn’t do or use anything not approved by the FDA. The answer to whether or not to dye your eyelashes remains ‘personal preference’. If you choose to, there are some side effects you should know.
What Are The Side Effects Of Dyeing Your Eyelashes?
In most salons today, semi-permanent and vegetable-based dyes are used to dye the eyelashes, and they contain toluene diamine, a substance that may irritate. Apart from these, other side effects dyeing your eyelashes can cause; include;
1. Eye Irritation
Eye irritation is the most common side effect of dyeing eyelashes, and this occurs when the dye enters the eye. To avoid this, ensure the dye stays on the lashes for approximately 15 to 20 minutes to make the stain. Also, the client should be positioned so that they feel relaxed.
However, always remember the client should be checked for pre-existing eye conditions like conjunctivitis and other eye infections before carrying out the process. Also, note that vegetable dyes should be used instead of chemical dyes to lessen eye irritation.
2. Allergic Skin Reactions
The skin around the eyes is delicate and is easily irritated. Most dyes contain ingredients like nut-based compounds such as walnut extract that may cause a reaction in women allergic to nuts. The dyes can also cause itching and redness around the skin when they contact the eye’s tissues.
It is highly recommended that lash technicians prevent these accidental contacts by using a barrier product such as petroleum jelly when applying the dye or conducting a patch test for clients with sensitive skin or allergies.
3. Chemical Burns
Using hair dyes to dye your eyelashes can result in severe damage. The ingredients in hair dye contain ingredients like coal tar, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and anilines like p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) which can cause chemical reactions in the eye.
4. Blindness
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stern warning that the use of hair dyes and dyes containing substances like aniline can cause blindness. The warning is on the side of every package of hair dye you purchase to show how serious this is.