Six hot new lash treatments for summer 2025

Times

2 days ago

When it comes to our lashes we've come a long way from just swiping on a bit of mascara. In recent years the fake look has become big business — although, happily, the current trend is more about low-maintenance effortlessness. On TikTok the masses go mad for lash growth serums: Glow For It made six figures in just 12 hours from a live shopping stream in April, while according to UKLash one of its lash serums is sold every 20 seconds globally. Lash lifts and extensions are also on the rise. The beauty app Secret Spa reports 60 per cent faster growth in lash treatments than any other category, including mani-pedis and waxing, while the UK trade body the Guild of Beauty Therapists says lash treatments are now the most popular salon services, with roughly 129,000 carried out a week.
Lash extensions have come a long way from the 2010s (think Russian mink lashes, as seen on the cast of Geordie Shore). 'Lash technology and artistry have evolved. These days they're soft, subtle and undetectable, thanks to ultra-fine fibres that mimic the texture and movement of natural lashes,' says Asma Docrat, a celebrity lash artist whose clients include Mandy Moore and Lily Allen. 'By fully customising the length, curl, colour and weight of your lash extensions, they can look like your own, but on a really good day.' Whatever your vibe, there's a lash look for that.
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Slightly bolder and more glamorous, volume lashes will give you a seriously impactful flutter. 'Multiple lashes, or a cluster, are applied per natural lash to create more volume,' Docrat says. They look fluffier and fuller, but if you can't quite commit to drama, you can also get hybrid lashes. 'These are a mix of classic and volume for a more wispy effect,' she says. 'For the best results — and this goes for any type of lash extension — avoid caffeine before your appointment as it can make your eyes flutter, making precision work trickier.' Expect to pay £80-150 for a full set, and £60-80 for infills, which are needed every two to three weeks, depending on how well you take care of them. 'Avoid oil-based skincare,' Docrat says. 'Use lash-safe foaming cleansers to remove make-up around the eyes, and never use cotton wool pads.' Gently combing them through daily with a clean spoolie and sleeping on a silk pillowcase are also on her list of do's.
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Lynk-Gel lashes are the longest-lasting extensions, with only a handful of lash artists in the UK trained and certified by the company behind the process, Illumino. 'This clever new technique uses a safe, focused LED light to instantly 'cure' a gel-based adhesive, creating a bond between the extension and your natural lash that's as strong as it is flexible,' says Camilla Kirk-Reynolds, the A-list lash artist whose clientele include Naomi Campbell and Angelina Jolie. According to Kirk-Reynolds they can last for up to eight weeks (that explains the heftier price tag, usually sitting somewhere between £300 and £600 for a full set), plus there's no downtime — so you can jump in the shower or pool or wash your face straight away without a second thought.
As with many beauty innovations, the Koreans are one step ahead. 'Instead of glueing lashes on to a curling shield [as for a traditional lash lift], the Korean method uses a healthier, lash-softening cysteamine-based paste,' explains Haya Alhoush, a British-based Korean lash lift educator. 'A two-step shield system creates the most natural and smooth curl. First, a flat shield softens the lashes, then a curved one perfects and sets the curl.' Lasting about eight weeks, it makes mascara redundant.
The no-mascara make-up trend has been making the rounds, thanks to the cool girls of Instagram (hello, Hailey Bieber). Coloured lashes such as brown extensions add subtle length and volume without the starkness of black. 'They're softer, work for most skin tones and are undetectable but still make you look polished,' Docrat says. The barefaced aesthetic usually goes hand in hand with a great skincare routine, but Docrat recommends skipping eye creams, which can migrate to the lash line and affect your faux lashes' longevity. Like classic lashes, these cost anywhere between £100 and £200 for a full set, and should last up to three weeks.
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The trendy lot on TikTok and Instagram are getting 'anime lashes' that take their cue from manga characters. Think spiky, doll-like lashes that make eyes appear brighter and doe-eyed. 'Anime lashes use a variety of length and dimensions, with spaced-out, longer individual spikes that stand out among shorter, wispier lashes,' says the LA-based lash artist Alanah Sahaba, who counts Megan Thee Stallion as a client. 'To balance the look, you can also add bottom lashes, which makes eyes look wider.' A word of warning, though: 'You might be in the chair for up to three hours, as anime lashes are more intricate and detailed, so have your favourite podcast downloaded!' A full custom set will typically set you back anywhere from £100 to £200, and they should last three to four weeks before needing infills or removal.
A slick of mascara is like a shot of espresso for the face: it instantly brightens and makes your make-up look, well, better. Imagine that — glossy, defined and sleek lashes — but without the effort of actually applying mascara every morning. 'Unlike classic lashes, which are designed to be softer and mimic individual natural hairs, wet-look lashes have a more dramatic, glossy finish and are usually spiked to perfectly mimic the look of freshly applied mascara,' Docrat says. The technique involves applying closed fans of multiple extensions to each natural lash. This creates those distinct, slightly clumped, high-shine spikes that give the illusion of lashes that are perpetually hydrated and freshly coated. As for volume lashes, expect to be in the chair for up to two hours.
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£38, uklash.comLashes looking sparse and thin and feeling brittle? This strengthening and lengthening serum will nourish lashes between treatments, but it's also great for anyone struggling with eyelash loss. It's so good, in fact, that users claim to see results in just four weeks.
£18, nouveaulashes.comEvery scrap of oil, make-up, dust and dirt is removed with this gentle foaming cleanser that's packed with prebiotics to help keep bacteria at bay. Simply pump the foam on to the back of your hand, swirl through the cleansing brush, which is designed to get in between every lash, and softly massage into your lashes, brushing away from the root, before removing with a damp cotton pad.
£2, londonlashpro.com'Oils from your fingers can break down the lash adhesive,' says Docrat, who recommends using a spoolie to comb through instead. This reusable one has supersoft bristles and comes with a lid to keep the brush dust-free.
£66, slipsilkpillowcase.co.ukDesigned with delicate lash extensions in mind, this celebrity fave, pure mulberry silk sleep mask has a contour on the inside for crease-free lashes while you snooze.@chanelleho
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