What Are Eyelash Extensions Made Of? Lash Types Explained!

You’ve decided you want lash extensions. But, have you thought about which type you want? With eyelash extensions made of materials ranging from silk, mink, synthetic, and even human hair, it can be hard to decide. They all have pros and cons so I’ll help you choose the best one.

Let’s dive in!

What Are Silk Eyelash Extensions?

Now, there’s unfortunately a lot of mislabelling when it comes to silk lashes. Some places will tell you that they are made of 100% silk, but this is almost never the case.

The vast majority of silk lash extensions on the market are made from PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) fibers, which is a thermoplastic product derived from polyester by heating and molding into lash shapes.

Therefore, unless explicitly stated, it’s safe to assume that the silk lashes you’re looking at are made of PBT fibers.

Real Silk Eyelash Extensions

Real silk lashes are made from, you guessed it, real silk. Natural silk is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms and is a lot thinner and lighter than synthetic silk lashes.

Having said that, most lash salons don’t offer real silk lashes, instead, they prefer to stick with the more affordable and easy-to-apply synthetic silk lashes.

Pros of real silk lashes:

• They are very light and comfortable to wear.
• They look more natural than other lash types.
• They are incredibly soft.

Cons of real silk lashes:

• They are more expensive than synthetic silk
• They don’t hold their curl
• They are more prone to damage
• They are much more expensive than their synthetic counterpart.
• They are not cruelty-free
• You can have an allergic reaction to them

Faux Silk Eyelash Extensions

Synthetic silk lashes are made of PBT, a polyester material. They usually have a short tapper with a thicker body which is ideal for creating a fuller look.

Faux silk lashes also generally have a more matt finish when compared to faux mink lashes. Faux silk has quickly become the most popular material offered by lash artists today.

Pros of faux silk lashes:

• The thicker body of the lash can give a fuller look. This is ideal for volume sets.
• They are more affordable
• They come with a wide range of curls, lengths, and diameter
• They hold their curls
• No allergic reaction

Cons of faux silk lashes:

• They are not as soft as real silk.
• They are heavier than real fibers.

Real Silk Vs. Faux Silk Eyelash Extensions – Table Summary

Real Vs. Faux Silk Eyelash Extensions	Real Silk Eyelash Extensions	Faux Silk Eyelash Extensions
Look	Natural looking with a semi-gloss finish	Similar to natural eyelashes
Texture	Fluffy and soft	Soft, shinny and thin
Aftercare	Avoid moisture for 36 hours after application. Need to re-curl after being wet.	Avoid moisture for 4 hours after application
Allergy risk	Allergenic	Hypoallergenic
Durability	Loose curl	Keep curl
Material	Silk	PBT
Animal-friendliness	Creates animal suffering	Cruelty-free
Price	Around $500 for a full set	Around $250 for a full set
Top Benefit	Lightweight for thin natural lashes	A long-lasting curl

Silk lashes are shiny, soft, and thin, but they rarely hold the curl. However, being more porous than synthetic fibers, they are flexible and guarantee longer retention.

Another shocking demerit of these false eyelash extensions is that they come under animal cruelty. 

On the other hand, Faux Silk eyelash extensions imitate the shiny fibers of natural silk. They are sturdy, lightweight, firm, and resistant to normal heat and cold temperatures, unlike natural silk.

What Are Mink Eyelash Extensions?

Just like it was the case for silk lashes, mink lashes are often mislabeled. Some manufacturers will say “100% mink” but it’s important to note that most mink lashes on the market are actually made of PBT as well.

Real mink lashes are incredibly rare and almost never used by lash artists nowadays, and for good reasons.

Let’s see why.

Real Mink Eyelash Extensions

Real mink extensions are made from mink fur. The mink is a small mammal that’s part of the weasel family. They are often hunted for their fur, which is then used to make a variety of products, including eyelash extensions.

“Though, minks don’t willingly give their fur to enhance our lashes. People capture and cage these creatures in fur farms to have a ready supply of fur when needed. Fur farms are filthy, overcrowded places where minks are mistreated, unhealthy, and stressed.”

As increasing numbers of animal lovers speak out against fur farms, demand for real mink extensions drops, and more and more eyelash extension retailers and salons take these extensions off their menus. Big beauty brands like Sephora and Mecca have joined the no-fur-lashes movement.

The fash pack is also in on the anti-fur action, with luxury labels including Burberry, Chanel, Armani, and Ralph Lauren banning fur in their collections.

So, it looks like real mink extensions might be on their way out. (FYI: Divine Lashes has been against fur lashes from the start.)

Pros of Real Mink Eyelash Extensions:

• They’re feather-light.
• They’re ideal for thin natural lashes.
• They have a silky texture with a semi-matte finish.
• They’re natural-looking.
• They’re comfortable.

Cons of Real Mink Eyelash Extensions

• They promote animal cruelty.
• They’re expensive (a full set can cost up to $500).
• They have an allergy risk (real mink extensions aren’t for you if you’re allergic to pet fur).
• They must stay dry for 36 hours after application.
• They lose their curl over time.

Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions

Faux mink extensions are made from a type of polyester called polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). These extensions are sometimes called synthetic or acrylic.

Basically, special material is heated and shaped into extension fibers that look and feel similar to mink fur. You get a natural lash look with zero harm to minks!

See how LashBase cuts and curls their PBT eyelash extensions to get them looking on point.

Alert! Synthetic eyelash extension quality varies from soft and flexible to hard and crunchy. Ask to see and feel the extensions before you get a set.

Pros of Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions

• They’re soft and flexible.
• They’re durable.
• They keep their curl.
• They’re more affordable than real mink extensions (you can get a full set for about half the price of real mink).
• They look bold (like you’re wearing multiple coats of mascara).
• They’re cruelty-free.
• They must stay dry for only 4 hours after application.
• They’re hypoallergenic.
• They’re lower maintenance than real mink extensions.

Cons of Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions

• They’re shinier and thicker than real mink extensions (making them look less natural).
• They’re heavier than real mink extensions.

Real Vs. Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions – Table Summary

Real Vs. Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions	Real Mink Eyelash Extensions	Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions
Look	Natural looking with a semi-matte finish	Like natural lashes coated in mascara
Texture	Fluffy and soft	Soft and flexible
Aftercare	Avoid moisture for 36 hours after application	Avoid moisture for 4 hours after application
Allergy risk	Allergenic	Hypoallergenic
Durability	Loose curl	Keep curl
Material	Mink fur	PBT
Animal-friendliness	Creates animal suffering	Cruelty-free
Price	Around $500 for a full set	Around $250 for a full set
Top Benefit	Lightweight for thin natural lashes	A long-lasting curl

Lashes made from real mink fur are natural-looking with a semi-matte finish. Being lightweight, they are excellent for people with thin lashes.

However, these fake eyelashes are high maintenance because they are straight and typically don’t come pre-curled. On top of it, mink fur lashes lose their curl once they get wet. 

“If you aren’t concerned about animal cruelty, another big disadvantage of getting real mink eyelash extensions is the high cost that goes can rake up to $500 for a full set.”

On the flip side, Faux Mink lashes are soft like natural mink hair and such a treatment session costs merely half or around $250 to $300 depending on where you live.

In addition, faux mink lashes neither lose their curls nor need repeated application of mascara to appear bold and add volume since they are thicker compared to real mink lashes. 

The best thing is you don’t have to worry about allergies, unlike with real mink lash extensions. 

So, how do you think real and faux mink extensions measure against each other? Which is the winner for you?

For me, it’s faux, for sure! 

I don’t think a slightly lighter and more natural-looking extension is worth animal suffering. Plus, real mink extensions are higher maintenance and more expensive than faux. Fur belongs on little critters, not lashes!

Other Real Fur Eyelash Extension Types

Other than silk and mink, it’s possible to find eyelash extensions made from fox, coyote, and sable fur.

These animals are often wild-caught and put into small cages where they live in poor conditions until their fur is harvested. Like minks, these animals are also subject to intense suffering on fur farms.

The use of real fur in eyelash extensions is cruel, unnecessary, and on the way out. If you’re looking for a luxurious lash look, opt for silk or mink lashes made from high-quality synthetic fibers.

Synthetic Lashes vs Natural Lashes

Created from polished fibers that are thick, firm, and strong, synthetic eyelashes are shinier than their natural counterparts.

Synthetic fake eyelash extensions are also called acrylic lashes. Synthetic lashes are recommended for those with thick eyelashes as they are mostly heavier than natural fibers.

As a reference, thick synthetic lashes radiate a bold look almost equal to 3-4 coats of mascara! 

Acrylic lashes are often called ‘faux’ and depend on the natural hair it mimics. Today you can get ‘faux mink’ and ‘faux silk’ lashes in most studios. The best thing about these is they are the only cruelty-free lashes available on the market.

“While natural products are generally preferred over synthetic options in most industries, the opposite is true when it comes to the world of eyelash extensions.”

From allergens to ethical issues, natural fur is neck-deep in controversies within the cosmetics industry. If you want a safe and secure option that doesn’t hurt or kill animals, going ‘faux’ is the best choice for lash extensions. 

Even if an eyelash extensions brand advertises their lashes are ‘vegan’ or obtained without cruelty, most animals that are caged for obtaining fur go through endless suffering and abuse at the end of the day.

That’s why many cosmetic brands like Sephora and Mecca completely banned fur lashes in 2020.

This is the main reason we at Divine Lashes have always been against ‘animal fur’ since Day One. To clarify further, under no circumstances do we promote or support eyelash extensions made from natural fibers.

How To Choose The Right Type of Eyelash Extensions?

With so many choices of lash materials to choose from, now you might be wondering… How do I pick the right type of lash extensions for me?

The good news is it’s quite easy to boil it down to a few key considerations:

1. Are you an animal lover? If yes, it’s best to avoid real fur lashes and opt for a synthetic alternative.
2. Are you prone to allergies? If yes, faux mink or faux silk lashes might be a better option for you as they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
3. Do you want to re-curl your lash extensions daily? If not, then choose synthetic lashes since they hold their curl better than natural fibers.
4. Do you need something really light for volume lashes? If yes, opt for faux mink over faux silk since faux mink lashes are generally tapered for most of the fiber’s body which makes them extremely light.
5. Do you want more dramatic lashes? If yes, choose faux silk instead of faux mink since these lashes are thicker and have a glamorous semi-gloss finish.

FAQ

Interested in learning more about lash extensions?
Explore my related guides & tutorials:

Eyelash Extensions 101: Everything You Need to Know
How Much Do Eyelash Extensions Cost
Classic vs Volume vs Hybrid Lashes Compared

References

1. PETA Australia Staff (2017). The Cruelty Behind Mink Lashes. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org.au/living/cruelty-behind-mink-lashes/ (Accessed 28th December, 2020)
2. Dan H (2020). Good News for Minks: Sephora Bans Fur Eyelashes. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org.au/news/sephora-bans-fur-eyelashes/ (Accessed 28th December, 2020)
3. PETA Australia Staff (2020). Victory for Minks! MECCA Bans Fur Eyelashes. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org.au/news/mecca-bans-mink-fur-eyelashes/ (Accessed 28th December, 2020)
4. PETA Staff (2018). Why Buying an Animal-Hair Paint Brush Is Like Buying Fur. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/living/humane-home/animal-friendly-paintbrush-fur-free/ (Accessed 28th December, 2020) 
5. Wikipedia writers (2004). Polybutylene terephthalate. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybutylene_terephthalate (Accessed 28th December, 2020) 
6. PETA Staff (2004). Down and Silk: Birds and Insects Exploited for Feathers and Fabric. Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animals-used-clothing-factsheets/silk-birds-insects-exploited-fabric/ (Accessed 28th December, 2020)