Silk VS Mink Eyelash Extensions
In the very early days of eyelash extensions, it was possible to get lashes made from mink fur which, if you didn’t know, is a cute little animal that looks a bit like a ferret, but with super soft fur. The days of using actual mink fur for eyelash extensions is, thankfully, long gone. Not only is it cruel to the animal, but it doesn’t keep its curl, you can’t get them wet, lengths vary from hair to hair and it can cause allergies in lots of people. The same can be said of Silk and Cashmere.
Now, we use the terms Silk, Mink and Cashmere etc. simply to highlight that there is a difference in their appearance.
- Mink are shinier,
- Silk are more matte (this varies from brand to brand)
All synthetic eyelash extensions are made with a plastic fiber called PBT, Polybutylene Terephthalate. PBT is a thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer, and a type of polyester, that is heated, molded into the desired lash shape that sets as it cools. Now, just like in any material, there are different grades of quality in the PBT fibers. One usually has more of a taper, ⅔ of which creates a lighter and softer feel, the other, having usually ⅓ of a taper, creates a deeper, bolder look that holds a stronger curl. Some fibers may have a shiny gloss to them, while others have a more dull, matte finish.
Either way, at the end of the day, a synthetic lash, whether it is named "silk" or "mink", is the same exact material.
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Why LaviLash use Korean PBT materials for their lashes
Raw Korean PBT:
- Obtain a consistently high quality PBT
- Hold their curl and resistant to heat
- Hypoallergenic material (low risk of an allergic reaction)
- Less likely to break or lose curl in high humidity environments, over high temperature cooktops, etc
- Highly flexible and soft material
- Bond better with eyelash extension adhesives
- More expensive material
Chinese PBT:
- Added chemicals and bulking agents
- More likely to snap/break and lose their curl
- Thinner and lesser quality lashes are produced
- Higher risk of an allergic reaction due to the added chemicals
- Cheaper cost
- Difficult for lash adhesives to bond with on the natural lash = poor retention
