**I can’t help staring at my friends’ eyes when their lashes are perfectly curled.**

Those soft, fluttery arcs make their eyes look impossibly bright. Meanwhile, I’ve always felt my own eyes were on the smaller end, with inner double eyelids and lashes that are stubbornly stick-straight and droopy. No amount of mascara or curling could coax them into that coveted, wide-awake look.

I’ve long searched for tricks to make my eyes pop. Friends raved about lash extensions, but the upkeep? Terrifying. No oil-based removers? Regular appointments to stop extensions from yanking out real lashes? It all sounded like more commitment than my beauty routine could handle. Plus, the idea of something foreign glued to my sensitive eyes just didn’t sit right.

Enter the lash lift: a beauty treatment promising to open up my eyes, minus the drama and maintenance of extensions. It sounded almost too good to be true—a shortcut to looking alert, without the extra time spent on eyelash curlers and mascara each morning.

What Are Lash Lifts?

If you’re looking for something easier than lash extensions and more natural than falsies, lash lifts are your new best friend. Over the past few years, lash lifts have become the go-to solution for anyone seeking that alluring swoop—no glue, no daily stick-ons, and no risk of lash loss if you’re a little rough taking off makeup.

How are lash lifts different from the old-school eyelash perms? Gone are the days of harsh cylindrical rods that left lashes with an unnatural bend. Today’s lash lifts utilise silicone shields with a subtler, flatter curve, lifting each lash directly from the root for a more natural, fanned-out effect. You can even customise the tightness of the curl or add a tint for extra drama.

But, as anyone who’s ever booked a beauty appointment knows, not all lash lifts are created equal. Getting up close and personal with your eyes—especially when using chemicals—requires a reputable lash bar and a skilled technician. In Hong Kong, Visage Beauty is one such name that kept popping up in my search.

Visage Beauty, founded by Okuyama, opened its doors in 2017 and quickly established itself as a staple for lash lovers in Hong Kong, with recent expansions to locations in London and Vancouver. Their claim to fame is the Barbie Perm lash lift, a treatment infused with Japanese keratin. Their Instagram is a treasure trove of before-and-after shots and glowing testimonials, and after a thorough scrolling through numerous lash transformations, I felt ready to book my appointment.

Visage Beauty offers two signature styles: French Red, a gentle, natural C-curl, and Soft, a more pronounced, doll-like curl starting right from the lash root. I’ve tried both. For my first time, I chose French Red, hoping for a subtle lift. To be honest, the difference between the two is barely noticeable in photos, but in real life, the French Red grows out more naturally, avoiding the sharp bends that can make regrowth awkward. However, its curvature also left my lashes poking my inner eye corners, which was a little irritating the first week.

Pro tip: If you’re new to lash lifts, French Red is ideal for a sweet, understated look. If you want to channel your inner anime heroine, opt for Soft—the doll lash effect is real.

The Before

Here’s my best advice before any lash lift: arrive makeup-free, especially around your eyes. Also, skip contact lenses and use eye drops in advance if you need them. Why? Clean, bare lashes help the treatment work better and prevent any “ick” factor from stray makeup melting into your eyes mid-lift. You’ll save time and make it easier for your lash artist to work their magic.

The Lash Lift Process

My treatment at Visage Beauty felt like a spa ritual for my lashes. Here’s the low-down:

The lash artist starts by taping down your lower lashes to prevent them from sticking to your upper lashes. She then gently cleans your lashes, removing any last traces of makeup or oil. Soft silicone shields in an appropriate size are placed on your lids, and each lash is carefully combed upward with glue. A gentle (but sulphuric-smelling) lifting solution is first applied to relax your lashes and break the hair bonds, after which a setting solution is used to set the curl by rebuilding the bonds.

Then, simply wait and relax with your eyes closed for 45 minutes. Cling film is placed over your lashes to seal in the solution, so you can’t peek or squirm. I used this time to catch up on Blinkist and my favourite podcast. The initial smell was somewhat reminiscent of hair dye, but wearing a face mask helped alleviate the issue. You shouldn’t feel any stinging or burning—if you do, speak up immediately.

A good lash lift should leave your lashes evenly spaced, separated, and fanned out with zero clumping or odd kinks. One challenge: my inner lashes are shorter and sometimes don’t curl as well, but the effect was still enough for a major confidence boost.

I skipped the lash tint option, since my natural lashes are already dark and full. If yours are lighter or sparser, the tint could make a dramatic difference, especially if you want that just-woke-up-like-this look.

The Aftercare

A lash lift is semi-permanent, but your lashes aren’t. Each upper eyelid has about 100-150 lashes, and you’ll shed 1 to 5 daily as part of your natural cycle, depending on how quickly your lashes grow out. For me, the lifted look lasted 4 to 6 weeks.

The first 24 hours are crucial: keep your lashes dry—no water, sweat, or eye makeup, and avoid rubbing your eyes or sleeping face-down. After that, just brush your lashes with a clean spoolie daily, especially after removing makeup, to keep them fluffy and separated.

A lash serum is also a good investment to keep your lashes healthy between treatments. Remember, no lashes = nothing to lift. Visage Beauty offers a Lash Lift Conditioning Mascara (HK$360), enriched with keratin and rosemary oil, which promises to prolong your curl. Personally, I found it a bit pricey for what it was, although the scent—reminiscent of Chloé’s iconic perfume—was a pleasant surprise.

Thoughts: Are Lash Lifts Worth It?

Waking up to lifted lashes feels like a subtle superpower—like wearing wispy Japanese falsies with zero effort. For everyday life, it’s a game-changer: less time with mascara, instant brightness, and a natural no-makeup look that even fooled my closest friends, which makes them perfect for busy seasons, travel, or when you want to look your best with minimal effort. But for special occasions, I sometimes crave a more dramatic cat-eye effect, which my natural lashes can’t achieve, even with a lift. That’s when I still reach for mascara or falsies.

If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of lash lifts in Hong Kong, Visage Beauty is a reputable place for first-timers that gets my honest stamp of approval. The results are subtle and maintenance-light, and the Barbie Perm treatment does feel luxe.

And let’s talk cost. Lash lifts in Hong Kong aren’t exactly cheap. I justified mine because it coincided with an ID photo session, a string of events, and a vacation. But for me, they’re a treat—not a staple. As with any beauty treatment, it's essential to know your needs and habits. Lash lifts are a godsend for low-maintenance beauty lovers, but as a remote worker and homebody, I couldn’t justify making it a regular splurge. Would I go back? For special occasions or travel—absolutely. For daily life, I’m happy with a quick curl and swipe of mascara.

Editor’s note: I’ve since tried DIY at-home lash lift kits—honestly, they were fiddly, and the glue never worked as well after a few uses. These days, I’m loyal to my heated eyelash curler and a good mascara base. It takes just seconds, is gentle on my lashes, and gives me the lift I want—no appointments necessary and much friendlier on my wallet.