The lash extensions I loved and left

Full, thick and effortlessly beautiful. Lash extensions, once an occasional indulgence for special occasions, won me over, becoming a bi-monthly investment that’s been difficult to break free of.

I’ve dabbled in lash extensions on and off for the past six months. I couldn’t bear to part with them at all. Until now.

I know, it sounds trivial. Superficial. Ridiculous, even. But since starting a new job and re-entering the workforce full-time after seven years, my lash extensions have become, well, a part of me. At work, they suffice as all the makeup I need; at a workout class, they’re the difference between looking somewhat decent and like something the cat dragged in.

While indulging in lash extensions might be a common practice, the practice of artificially lengthening the appearance of eyelashes is rooted in the 1800s. These very first versions were crafted from human hair and glued onto the eyelids over natural lashes. In 1911, Canadian inventor Anna Taylor patented the first lash extensions from crescent-shaped fabric sprouting tiny hairs. In Hollywood, the popularity of lash extensions started surging in 1947, appearing on fashion models and film actresses. 20 years later, they entered the mainstream market, and today, there are a variety of lash extensions available, from boxed strips available across Sephora, to salon and home treatments.

They have become so commonplace that many women rely heavily on extensions for their beauty looks. “I’ve gotten so used to them, I don’t recognise myself without them,” admits digital editor of Vogue Arabia Leen Al Saadi, who has been getting constant lash refills for three years. “I don’t have an addictive personality type, but I have to admit, giving up lash extensions feels impossible.”

Beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal, the convenience factor is a huge plus point. With lash extensions, I merely roll out of bed, brush my teeth, slap some CC cream on and a touch of blush for good measure, and voila! Morning makeup routines have never been so simple. Not to mention, I don’t have to set foot outside my home since my eyelash lady does home visits. I can often sneak in a nap while she works her magic.

The convenience is what keeps many extension enthusiasts loyal to the process. UAE-based Jennifer Love became a lash-extension addict when she moved to Dubai 10 years ago for this very reason. But over time, her natural lashes weakened and she called it quits, turning to lash growth serums, lash tints and magnetic false lashes as alternatives. But the allure of extensions quickly returned when she became a mother in 2024. “I found myself constantly searching for beauty treatments that would let me leave the house with minimal makeup and effort,” she explains. “I was living my high-low maintenance life, from lash extensions to hair extensions… but once again, my natural lashes and hair started to pay the price.”