Kayla Young
Glue-on lashes were the go-to for anyone wanting long, luscious lashes. They are cheaper and more flexible than lash extensions, but… glue. Near eyes.
Then came magnetic lashes. They glam up your lashes without the mess and risks of glue. They’re easier to apply and reuse.
But they can look a bit fake.
Many wonder: are magnetic lashes better than glue? Given the rising popularity of magnetic lashes, we’ve put together this article to compare Magnetic Lashes vs Glue.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
How Do Magnetic Lashes Work?
Magnetic lashes use magnets or magnetic pigments to stay on, rather than glue. There are two types:
The original magnetic lashes to first hit the market consist of two strips of lashes that clamp onto your natural upper eyelashes, holding one another into place with tiny magnets that lock together.
Many found these style magnetic lashes felt heavy and uncomfortable. They were causing pulling on the natural lashes for some, and they were difficult to position.
The magnets were sometimes visible if you looked closely.
This set wheels in motion to develop a magnetic eyelash with an alternative application process that would alleviate some of these issues.
The latest innovation to come about in magnetic lashes are those that only require one strip and use a magnetic eyeliner that contains iron oxides to hold them in place.
This eyeliner can be used with any lashes, but only will cause magnetic lashes to stick.
With this type of magnetic lash, your lash strip connects to the magnetic eyeliner itself. There’s no dealing with a top and bottom strip of lashes. You only have to apply one strip.
Magnetic Eyelashes Pros and Cons
Pros
The best thing about magnetic lashes is that you don’t need glue to apply them. The magnetic lashes either attach to a magnetic strip or to the magnetic eyeliner. Avoiding the glue means a far less messy, and far less risky application process.
You can avoid all those concerns like allergic reactions, irritation, and the possibility of accidentally getting glue in your eyes. They’re perhaps more age-appropriate for minors than, say, eyelash extensions.
Once you get the hang of putting on magnetic lashes, they’re a lot faster and easier to apply than glue lashes.
Although the glue-on lashes are less expensive, they can only be used a few times. If you are planning to wear your lashes every day, magnetic lashes end up being more cost effective in the long run.
You can get a lot more uses out of a single pair than you can with glue lashes.
Magnetic lashes can be taken off easily whenever you want and are easier to clean afterward as there is no glue residue.
And you don’t need to keep buying new glue when it expires!
See our articles on cleaning false lashes here.
Cons
The biggest setback of both types of magnetic lashes is that they don’t look as natural as glue lashes. This is because they don’t conform to the natural curvature of the eye as closely.
They are usually stiffer than glue-on false eyelashes.
When they go wrong, they tend to look like they are falling off at the edges.
Additionally, a lot of people feel like magnetic lashes are not as secure as glue lashes, like they could fall off at any moment.
The magnetic lashes that use two strips to clamp on don’t sit as close to your lash line as glue lashes. And if you look closely, you can see the magnets.
Sigh.
Another disadvantage is, with regular use of the ‘sandwich’ type of magnetic lashes, the weight of the magnets on your natural lashes can cause them to weaken and fall out.
Though they are easier to apply, magnetic lashes often take longer for people to learn how to use than glue lashes.
For those wanting a more natural look, a thick liquid eyeliner to hold their lashes in place doesn’t get them that look.
You may get irritation or have an allergic reaction to the magnetic eyeliner. The liner should be replaced every three months to prevent the growth of bacteria. Otherwise, the bacteria can lead to infection. And some experience headaches with magnetic lashes, but it’s unclear what’s causing the headaches.
You can lose lashes when removing magnetic lashes if you are not careful. They can break your natural lashes or cause them to grow in the wrong direction.
Magnetic Lashes vs Glue
So given the pros and cons, are magnetic lashes better than glue-on lashes?
Any lash enhancements, whether they are magnetic or glue, extensions or a lash lift, have risks. Anytime you have a foreign object near your eyes or that you are touching your eyes, there is the potential for injury or infection.
Glue in your eyes is no joke.
But again, the biggest benefit of magnetic lashes is that they don’t require glue, so some consider them a safer alternative to glue lashes.
That said, if they are applied, removed, and taken care of properly, both magnetic lashes and glue lashes are good options if you are looking to enhance your natural lashes. It’s really a matter of personal preference.
If you are still unsure which is right for you, try them both! Though you can get higher-end, more expensive magnetic lashes , there are lots of affordable brands of both magnetic lashes and glue lashes out there.
It’s a good idea to test out both, and see what looks and feels comfortable and beautiful on you. Once you’ve got a sense of the qualities of each, you can consider picking up a higher-end option.
