If you’re here, you might have been searching for DIY lashes and discovered that not all DIY lash extensions are created equal. At TAD Beauty, we’ve learned this firsthand. In 2021, when our CEO and founder Michelle became allergic to traditional lash extensions, she began her journey with DIY lashes. After trying nearly every brand and lash type available, she spent a year searching for a product she loved before finally deciding to create her own.
Today, we’re here to help you understand the key differences between good vs bad DIY lash extensions, what to look for as a lash consumer, and how to avoid products that could harm your eyes.
Why At-Home Eyelash Extensions Are So Popular
If you’re new to at-home lash extensions, welcome to a fabulous world of beauty! DIY lashes are loved by millions of women, and for good reason. They’re easy to manage, cost-effective, and customizable. Let’s explore why so many women have made the switch.
Convenience Meets Cost-Effectiveness
Cost is one of the biggest reasons for the rise of at-home lash extensions. Professional lash extensions are addictive but can be pricey. A full set averages $250–$400 in the U.S., with bi-weekly fills costing $90–$120.
Monthly Breakdown:
- $300 – Initial appointment
- $100 – Fill appointment
- Total: $400 for 4 weeks
DIY Lash Extensions with TAD:
- $49.99 – 5 sets of lashes (5 weeks of use)
- $25 – Adhesive (3 months of use; $8.33/month)
- Total: $58.32 for 5 weeks
Time is another factor. While a professional appointment can take 90 minutes, DIY lash application takes just 10 minutes.
Customization and Control
DIY lashes let you control your look. Whether you want extra glam for a night out or a subtle enhancement for your daily routine, you can customize your lashes from the comfort of your home.
Not All At-Home Lashes Are Created Equal, Though
Through our extensive testing process, we learned that not all at-home lashes are created equal. Let’s dive into what makes good vs bad lash extensions and how you can choose the best option for your needs.
Good vs Bad DIY Lash Extensions: What to Look for in Choosing Your At-Home Eyelash Extensions
When comparing bad lash extensions vs good, here are the critical aspects to evaluate, and what we considered when developing our own 3D lashes here at TAD.
Material Quality
All lashes are made from PBT fiber, which surprisingly is the worst possible material to make lashes from. Also known as soda bottle plastic, PBT can easily lose its curl, and can be directly impacted by heat and warm temperatures. PBT itself comes in different quality grades, meaning not all PBT lashes are created the same, either!
TAD lashes are the first lashes to ever be 3D printed, and are made from a unique compound that we created that allows the lash to work with your body temperature. Our 3D Memory Flex Technology allows the lash to always bounce back to its original curl and shape no matter how its bent! If debating good vs bad DIY lash extensions when it comes to material, TAD’s lashes are definitely the better option!
Durability and Longevity
Not all lashes are meant to be worn for 7+ days. All brands will clearly state how long their lashes are designed to be worn for. How long do DIY lash extensions last greatly depends on the lashes themselves as well as application, and even how you take care of them.
When comparing bad lash extensions vs good time is definitely something you want to consider. Ideally you are wearing these lashes 5-7 days
On the other hand, if a brand is saying that their DIY lashes or cluster lashes can last longer than 7 days, you might want to steer clear. We are often asked are DIY lash extensions safe, and the answer is yes because they are temporary and grow with your natural lashes. After about 7 days, your natural lash growth is too long to continue to wear lashes you applied a week ago!
Adhesive Performance
Adhesive is a crucial factor. Some contain cyanoacrylate or latex, which can cause allergies. While it’s not about good vs bad lash extension glue, knowing the ingredients and choosing what’s safe for you is vital.
Ease of Application
We keep repeating, “not all lashes are the same,” but this is also true of not all lash applications are the same. Different brands might have pre-glued lashes vs glue you put on yourself. And while pre-glued sounds like it might save time, you have to recognize that those don’t often last longer than 24 hours.
We talked about how DIY lashes are saving us time, but if you’re spending a significant amount of time applying your DIY lashes, it might not be worth it to you.
If you are unsure on how to apply DIY eyelash extensions, we have a great resource for you, but our team is also here Monday - Friday! We love taking calls and helping you apply your lashes over Facetime or Zoom!
Comfort and Fit
We’re really excited to talk about comfort here at TAD. Why? Because we proudly claim that we are the most comfortable DIY lashes, ever. And we mean it! One of the reasons we went with 3D printing is because we wanted to include a comb, or what we call the Microstructure, on each lash segment, which weaves through your natural lashes – hugging the natural lashes and almost wrapping like professional lash extensions.
Why did we want this? Some claim that DIY lashes are uncomfortable. They’re not. What’s uncomfortable is when the lash segment starts to drop… you see, lash segments only have one contact point, which means gravity will allow the ends of a segment to slowly lose contact with your natural lashes. This can lead to poking, which leads to really uncomfortable lashes!
Our Microstructure allows for multiple contact points, which means no drooping lashes! So if you’re wondering can I sleep with DIY lash extensions or can I shower with DIY lash extensions – the answer is YES! TAD lashes aren’t going anywhere!
Appearance
When picking out your choice for good vs bad DIY lash extensions, appearance is a top priority when choosing between good vs bad DIY lash extensions. Not only how they look in terms of style, but also how your lash appearance is after 2, 3, or even 6 days!
If your lashes are looking a little wrecked after a few days, the lashes themselves might not be high quality. This also is depending on how you are caring for DIY lash extensions. For example, you should be cleaning DIY lash extensions every day. Our lashes are designed to keep our eyes safe, so cleansing is important! But did you know that not all DIY lashes are allowed to be cleaned! Yuck! Avoid those!
Removal Process
Similar to comparing how easy it is to apply the lashes, one consideration when answering which are good vs bad DIY lash extensions, is how easy is the removal process? When launching our own DIY Lash Remover, we wanted to ensure we had a formulation that worked easily to remove our lashes, and quickly! Our remover takes about 30 seconds to remove all segments and any adhesive residue left behind. If you are unsure how to remove your lash extensions at home, be sure to check out our blog post.
Cost Considerations
Cost is a significant factor in comparing bad lash extensions vs good. We discussed saving money by switching from professional lash extensions to DIY lashes. Some DIY lashes are as high as $25 per set, while you can find some on Amazon for as low as $6 for 120 segments. It goes without saying that everything we listed above – quality, longevity, and ease of use, longevity of wear, should outweigh cost alone. The cheapest isn’t always the best.
Your Search for Good DIY Lash Extensions Ends at TAD Beauty!
We hope this guide has clarified what to look for when comparing good vs bad DIY lash extensions. At TAD, we’ve spent years innovating to create a DIY lash system that prioritizes comfort, safety, and style. Ready to start your TAD lash journey? Explore our DIY lash kits.
Wrapping Up Our Comparison of Good vs Bad Lash Extensions
Understanding the differences between good vs bad DIY lash extensions can help you make an informed decision. We hope this blog has provided valuable insights into choosing the best lashes for you or your loved ones.