SILK VS MINK: What is the difference and which one is better?
SILK vs MINK vs SYNTHETIC EYELASH EXTENSIONS
Which one is better and how are they different?
Silk lashes from two different brands were mixed together to create this hybrid or mixed set of eyelash extensions.
False eyelashes and lash extensions can be made of many different materials, from synthetic materials to natural human hair! Most reputable lash salons use one or all three: SILK, MINK OR SYNTHETIC. Feel free to ask a lash salon what material are their lashes made of if it doesn't say so on their website. Let's break them down here so we can get better educated about this confusing topic.
SYNTHETIC LASHES
Synthetic lashes do not necessarily mean low quality. They are simply created artificially to be utterly identical on a molecular level to another item, which in most cases can be silk or mink. BUT, if it doesn't mention either, then they are created from polished acrylic material and are firmer and sturdier than the others. Because of their glossy finish, they are shinier than mink and silk lashes. They are also darker in appearance as they are a bit thicker than the others because of the way they are tapered. The long-term use of these can cause damage to your natural lash as they may be too heavy for your natural eyelash. Unfortunately, due to their low cost, most lash artists start off using these, which can be a problem for those that try them for the first time and think that is the standard feel and look of eyelash extensions.
PROS
The best at holding their curl
The shiniest material
A thicker lash gives a more dramatic effect
CONS
They feel a bit stiff and not as soft as mink or silk
Fall off quicker
May damage natural eyelashes if used long-term
MINK
Ah, the controversial Mink lashes... well first of all, yes, they were kinda beautiful back in the day, but in today's day and age, there aren't many people producing them anymore because there aren't as good as we think and better alternatives have been created.
Mink lashes (whether eyelash extensions or false lashes that you apply yourself) come from either the Siberian Mink or the Chinese Mink's tails since they are soft and lightweight. With Mink extensions, you'll get a light, fluffy, soft natural look. Real mink lashes usually last longer because they are hollow inside, which makes them so light, this allows us to be able to apply several mink extensions per natural lash without it weighing it down. The downside to this type of extension is that they are expensive, ranging from $300-$500 USD per full set, but they also do not come curled.
Real mink lashes need to be permed or curled with heat, and you'll have to keep curling them at home to maintain that curled look as they lose their curl every time they get wet. They are also more prone to give allergies to users as they come from a live animal. Not to mention, the inhumane practices needed to be able to retrieve the mink lashes from the animal.
Because of all of these reasons, we do not offer natural mink lashes at Secret Lash.
PROS
Last longer due to the lightness
May be considered 'chic' or a luxury (like fur coats)
Gives a very natural look
CONS
May cause allergic reactions
Promotes inhuman animal practices
Loses their curl after time
Black/brown Mink lashes from London Lash with their shine
SILK
First thing's first, while some brands market their silk lashes as 100% silk lashes, they are a synthetic based silk fiber, not from actual natural silk, as real silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm which means it is quite a soft material and won't be able to hold its shape and curl.
As technology advances, manufacturers are creating silk lashes that are finer and more natural-looking than the traditional faux mink eyelashes. This means that the final look can be quite similar to each other (silk and mink), as they are both manufactured with the same selling points (light, soft yet sturdy enough to hold the curl).
PROS
No allergic reaction risks (when allergies occur it is typically due to the glue or the eye patches)
Can look natural or dramatic, depending on the thickness selected
Holds their curl very well
Long-lasting when applied correctly
Very versatile: comes in different colors, matte or shiny finish, etc.
CONS
Sheen varies from brand to brand
Some manufacturers sell unknown materials and market them as silk
How different do they really look?
To differentiate one from the other, eyelash manufacturing companies would tend to create silk lashes with a shiny finish coating, and the mink is coated with a more matte or satin finish but varies greatly. Since there is no way to standardize these things yet, brands can actually do and name their eyelashes whatever they want, which creates a lot of confusion from time to time, so when in doubt, just ask if they are matte or shiny if that's important to you.
This was a bit confusing to me when my favorite eyelash extension brand London Lash Pro changed their packaging from plastic to carton and at the same time, without notifying their clients, switched the finish of the silk and mink, which means that their silk lashes are less shiny than their mink lashes. They are silk lashes still pretty shiny, which is why they sell a matte finish
at the time of writing, here at Secret Lash Paris most of our Mink lashes are actually the shiny ones, and the silk lashes have a more satin finish when typically it is the other way around. They also sell actual matte lashes that have no shine whatsoever.
What about human hair?
Even though some lash strips may come from human hair, they are not made for creating eyelash extensions. Currently, no manufacturer in the market can produce eyelash extensions made form human hair as it would be almost impossible due to the amount of work needed to retrieve when they can be so easily created artificially. Besides the fact that most natural lashes have very soft curls which is one of the reasons people prefer extensions in the first place, so they would also need to be artificially curled anyway.