Why DIY Lashes Are a Game-Changer for Your Budget & Schedule
Ever catch yourself calculating how much time and money you pour into beauty appointments? If you’ve considered lash extensions, you know they can cost a pretty penny and eat up hours of your life. Enter DIY lashes – the at-home alternative that’s transforming routines for busy and budget-savvy women everywhere. In this post, we’ll explore why doing your own lashes isn’t just a trend, but a true game-changer for both your wallet and your calendar. Friendly, conversational, and oh-so-relatable, let’s break down the benefits that have the DIY lash community buzzing.
The High Cost (and Time Sink) of Salon Lash Extensions
First, let’s talk about the status quo: getting your lashes done at a salon. No doubt, the results can be fabulous – you wake up with long, lush lashes for weeks. But what’s the trade-off?
- Wallet Impact: Traditional lash extensions are expensive. A full initial set can range anywhere from about $100 to $300+ depending on where you live and the salon’s caliber. Fills (required every 2-3 weeks as your natural lashes shed) often cost around $50 to $150 each time. That adds up fast. Many extension regulars end up spending around $150-$200 per month on maintenance alone . That’s easily over $1,800 a year – just on lashes! Some people have compared it to a “never-ending cycle” of spending .
- Time Spent: It’s not just money – it’s the time. A typical lash fill appointment can last 60 to 90 minutes (and a full set can be 2+ hours of you lying still with your eyes closed). And you’re doing this twice a month. Busy moms have to find childcare or carve out weekend time, and professionals have to slot it into an already packed schedule. One lash lover noted how she hated “laying there for an HOUR, every other week” for fills . That’s precious time that could be spent with family, catching up on work, or frankly, taking a nap!
- Scheduling Hassles: You often have to book appointments weeks in advance to get your preferred time slot. Need a fill right before a big event? Hope your lash tech is free. Life gets unpredictable (kids get sick, meetings pop up) and missing an appointment can mean walking around with patchy lashes until you can reschedule.
- Wear and Tear: On top of that, some find that long-term, salon extensions can be harsh on natural lashes if not done carefully or if you don’t give your lashes a break. People have reported feeling like their natural lashes were sparse after continuous extensions (hence the advice to occasionally take a break, which ironically means more appointments to remove or a period of looking sparse-lashed).
None of this is to bash professional extensions – they’re a lovely luxury. But it’s clear they cost a lot in maintenance. Now, let’s see how DIY lashes flip this script.
How DIY Lashes Save You Money
Perhaps the biggest reason many women switch to at-home lash extensions is the budget benefit. DIY lashes can give similar fluttery results at a fraction of the cost. Here’s the breakdown:
- Lower Upfront Cost: To start doing your own lashes, you’ll likely invest in a starter kit. Prices vary, but let’s say you go for a well-known kit like Lashify – that’s about $145-$150 for the Control Kit (includes the applicator wand, bonds, a set of lashes, etc.) . There are also more affordable kits from other brands in the ~$50-$100 range. Compare that to a $150 salon session for a full set – already, you’re spending about the same or less, and you own the kit and tools afterward.
- Affordable Refills: Once you have your kit, your ongoing expense is basically buying replacement lashes (and occasionally glue). With DIY, you’re in charge of how often you replace them. Many at-home lash clusters or strips can be reused (clean them and use again), stretching your dollar. For instance, one DIY lash user reported spending roughly $40 per month on refills and supplies to keep her lashes looking full . Compare that to the $150+ monthly for salon fills – you’re looking at a huge saving over time.
- No Tipping Needed: It might seem minor, but with salon services you generally tip your lash technician. With DIY, your only “tip” is maybe treating yourself to a coffee with the money you saved!
- Wear Lashes Less = Spend Less: Some women don’t want lashes 24/7, but with salon extensions you pay for continuous wear. With DIY, if you only want lashes on weekends or special occasions, you use fewer lash segments or strips – meaning one pack of lashes lasts longer. You’re not locked into a subscription or fill cycle.
- Reuse, Reuse, Reuse: Speaking of stretching product life – if you take care of your false lashes, you can reuse them several times. Good-quality strip lashes can be used multiple times (some up to 20 wears) , and even delicate clusters can often be cleaned and worn again. Every reuse is essentially free lashes – maximizing that initial purchase.
To put it plainly, many find that after the initial setup, the monthly cost of DIY lashes is dramatically lower than salon extensions. One blogger did the math: Salon extensions were costing her ~$160 a month, whereas doing Lashify at home came to about $40 a month in supplies . Over a year, that’s saving roughly $1,440. Imagine what else you could do with an extra ~$1.5k – family outings, a new wardrobe, paying down bills, or a nice little vacation fund!
Reclaiming Your Time: The Schedule Freedom of DIY Lashes
Now let’s talk time – that non-renewable resource we’re all lacking. Here’s how DIY lashes give you back precious hours:
- No Appointments Needed: Perhaps the most immediate win – you can do your lashes whenever you want. Put the kids to bed and apply your lashes at 10 PM. Or do it early morning before the household is up. There’s tremendous freedom in not relying on a salon’s calendar. If an important event pops up tomorrow, you can give yourself a fresh set of lashes tonight, no frantic phone calls begging for an appointment.
- Quick Application vs. Salon Time: Sure, your first couple tries might take a while, but once you’re skilled, applying a set of DIY lash extensions can take as little as 10-20 minutes (even faster if just doing strips for the day). Compare that to 60-120 minutes lying in a salon chair for extensions. You’ve just saved a chunk of time that can be used for anything else – catching up on emails, helping your kids with homework, or actually relaxing.
- No Travel Time: Let’s not forget the commute. Driving to the salon, parking, waiting – it might add another 30 minutes to each appointment. DIY happens at home, in your pajamas if you like. Some moms apply their lashes while also watching their toddler play or while dinner’s in the oven – multitasking for the win!
- Flexible Wear Time: With professional extensions, you’re wearing them continuously until your next fill or removal. With DIY, you control the schedule. Maybe during a busy work week you love having semi-permanent clusters on (so you wake up ready), but then you want to go lash-free for a bit to rub your eyes or wear heavy eyeliner on the weekend – you can remove them anytime. This flexibility means you’re not locked into always having lashes or always needing upkeep. It fits whatever your schedule looks like.
- Less Daily Maintenance: If you choose the route of week-long DIY lashes, think of the time saved each morning. No more mascara routine (which can easily take 5 minutes itself of curling, coating, combing clumps). No fiddling with strip lashes every day. Many DIY-lashers find that having extensions on cuts down their entire makeup routine – some skip eyeliner because the lash line looks dark enough, some wear less eye makeup overall . A blogger noted she loves that with her DIY lashes on, she can just do a bit of concealer and blush and already feel put-together . It streamlines your morning, giving you back time or extra sleep.
Real-life example: One busy professional shared that what she “hated most of all” about salon lashes was the constant time sink and rigid schedule – “laying there, for an HOUR, every other week” and planning life around appointments . When she switched to DIY lash extensions, it was liberating: she could do them faster at home and do fills on her own terms. Another user mentioned how during the COVID lockdown she had to turn to DIY lashes and realized it changed her routine for the better – no more waiting for salons to open .
In essence, DIY lashes put time back in your hands. For a mom, that might mean an extra hour to spend with family (or an extra hour of sleep!). For a student or worker, it could mean more time to study, work, or enjoy hobbies instead of sitting in a salon chair.
Flexibility and Convenience: Lashes on Your Terms
Aside from saving time and money, there’s a lifestyle convenience factor that deserves a shout-out. DIY lashes allow for flexibility that aligns with you:
- As-Needed Glam: Not everyone wants va-va-voom lashes every single day. Maybe you want them for special occasions or weekends out, but could do without during quiet weeks. With DIY, you can apply a glamorous set of falsies when you want to amp it up, and go natural when you feel like it. No commitment. It’s the beauty equivalent of a convertible car – top up or down depending on the day.
- Travel-Friendly: If you travel often for work or leisure, DIY lashes mean you don’t have to find a salon in a new city or risk extensions falling out mid-trip with no recourse. You can pack a small lash kit in your bag and be set. And you won’t be stuck scheduling around a trip (“Oh, I need a fill right before vacation, but not too early that they fall out while I’m away…”).
- On-the-Spot Fixes: Anyone who’s had salon extensions knows the helpless feeling when a chunk falls out and you have a gap – you usually have to wait for a professional to fix it. With your own lashes at home, if one section falls off or you accidentally rub an eye and lose a cluster, you can literally pause for 5 minutes and fix it yourself. No week-long walk of shame with missing lashes or emergency salon visits.
- Gentler on Natural Lashes: We mentioned safety earlier – because you are in control, you can ensure you’re not overloading your lashes. If your eyes feel dry or you want to give your lashes a break, you can. Many women actually find DIY lashes less damaging than permanent extensions because the bonds are meant to last a shorter time (a week or so) and the lashes are lightweight . Plus, you’ll be more attuned to your own eyes’ needs. In fact, some DIY users claim their natural lashes stayed healthier than when they did salon extensions – likely because they’re avoiding the prolonged weight and using nourishing routines during breaks.
- Empowerment and Skill: There’s something empowering about learning a new beauty skill. Doing your own lashes might seem intimidating, but when you master it, it feels awesome. You’re not dependent on someone else for a beauty boost. It’s like learning to do your own gel nails or cutting your kid’s hair – a handy skill that can save time and money whenever you choose to use it.
One DIY lash convert joyfully said it allowed her to “take back control” of her routine – no more scheduling life around lash appointments or budget guilt. It fit her new season of life as a mom who “ain’t got time for a million appointments” . That’s really the core of it: taking back control.