What are eyelash extensions made of?

Every lashmaker has wondered at least once what eyelash extensions are made of; after all, who hasn't heard of "mink lashes" or "silk lashes" at least once?

All these terms were invented more than 10 years ago to classify a material based on thickness or the presence/absence of shine when lashes were sold loose in bags or round packages (what memories, right?) and there was no labeling yet.

Now these names belong to the past, and using these words in the vocabulary can help you recognize a lashmaker who hasn't undergone advanced training for a long time.

But let's get back to the point and answer the question!

What are eyelash extensions made of? 95% of lashes are made from a hypoallergenic synthetic polymer, whose official name is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

This is a very durable and elastic type of plastic, which is why modern lashes are so easy to use. The lash material is constantly modified to make lashes better, stronger, and heat-resistant.

It is not uncommon for lashes left in a palette for quite some time to start losing their curl – this happens with low-quality fibers. The same goes for steam, saunas, hairdryers, or an open oven: if lashes lose their curl due to hot steam, it means the lash fiber was the cheapest and of poor quality.

If you use lashes made with modern updated PBT, this does not happen. So choose carefully the brand you work with, and we at Cilio will always help you with your choice.

Cilio Lash Expert 💋