What's the difference between silk lashes, faux mink lashes, and real mink lashes?

Lashes can make a big difference. But are strip lashes worth it?

If you've been doing any kind of research into false eyelashes, you've probably come across a few types of falsies out there. There's a plethora of options to choose from - eyelash extensions, luxurious mink lashes, faux mink lashes, or even silk lashes.

But how do you know which ones are the most natural looking or comfortable, or better yet, works with your eyes, and your budget?

Well, fret not! We're here to help guide you through this maze of lash lingo and cut through the hype, so you understand what the REAL differences are, and find you the perfect pair that you'll be truly happy with!

False eyelashes can differ in quality and fineness depending on the type and brand.

Silk Lashes

Let's start with Silk Lashes shall we?

First thing's first, while some brands market their silk lashes as 100% silk lashes, they are a synthetic based silk fibre, not actually real silk, as real silk is quite a soft material and won't be able to hold its shape and curl. Depending on whether this is important to you, you'll want to do some research to find out what kind of synthetic fibre the lash brand is actually using.

"Silk" lashes are a newer type of lashes that have come out in recent years, that's finer and more natural looking than the traditional faux mink eyelashes. Although sometimes, it seems the terms are used interchangeably, and look wise, they could be quite similar.

Silk lashes are not made with real silk, they're made with a synthetic material

Are they reusable?

Yup! Silk lashes can be reused multiple wears with proper care. While we can't promise a number, the general rule of thumb (with any falsies), is to always dab some makeup remover and run it along the lash band until the glue dissolves, then continue to remove any remnants of the glue to keep them going strong.

What's the difference between silk lashes vs faux mink lashes?

It depends on the lash brand. The main difference depends on the brand and their construction process. You'll notice with some silk lashes that they may have higher and a more noticeable sheen. Other than that, they are fairly comparable in terms of look and feel, it depends on personal preference.

More importantly, if you want to add volume to your lashes while looking natural, we recommend finding the right style, length, and pattern that fits your unique eye type, as there may only be minor differences between Silk vs Faux Mink lashes.

How much do silk lashes cost?

Prices for a pair of silk lashes can range around $18-$25 USD depending on the brand.

How do they look?

Here's how some silk lashes look:

A pair of the more premium silk lashes which are finer.

So what's Faux Mink lashes then?

Simply put, Faux Mink is premium type of synthetic lash that was intended to mimic the quality and fineness of real Mink Lashes. It's a vegan friendly option that is made from plastic fibres, although the technology has improved over the years to make them look more natural than before.

How does it compare to real Mink eyelashes?

Depending on the brand of faux mink lashes you try, each could have their own construction method, some of them may not use a soft band, and make their entire lash out of plastic, therefore it would be stiffer and harder to apply than those made with a softer material, such as cotton. It's a case of trial and error.

Synthetic lashes also tend to have slightly more sheen than real mink hair, it's ever so slightly noticeable, but unless you're walking down the red carpet catching strobe lights during Oscars season, none will be the wiser.

Do they last as long?

This also really depends on the brand, but from our experience, faux mink lashes are definitely reusable. You should find out if they are using a plastic band or cotton band, or simply try out their lashes and see how the construction quality is.

How much do faux mink lashes cost?

Similar to silk lashes, a pair of faux mink lashes average around $18-$25 USD.

How do they look?

Here's some faux mink inspo for you, they don't make for as impressive of a flat lay for the Grams, but hey, you get what you pay for right?

A typical pair of faux mink lashes, fineness can vary.

Mink Lashes

Lastly, a lash comparison wouldn't be complete without the lashes that started it all; good old Mink Lashes. More likely than not, you've probably heard of eyelash extensions at some point, you know, the type where you have to book an appointment, lay down for two hours, while you make small-talk with a (hopefully) certified lash technician to put lashes on you strand by strand, with (hopefully) surgical precision.

We took this concept of eyelash extensions, and turned it into a strip based lash anyone could apply anywhere, easily

Needless to say, the lengths we go to for beauty is admirable, but let's face it, we don't always have time to sit around for 2 hours, nor do we want to shell out anywhere from $100-$200 to have beautiful lashes for a few weeks, then go back and repeat that cycle again.

What made our ESQIDO Mink lashes so popular was because we took this concept and the quality of eyelash extensions, and created a strip based lash that anyone could apply from the comfort of their own home, or car (just kidding, please don't lash and drive).

ESQIDO Mink Lashes in style BFF.

A cotton band

Mink lashes (at least ours), are unlike synthetic lashes you can find in drug stores. They're made with a soft cotton band, which makes them lightweight, comfortable, and super easy to apply. Our mink hair also provides each lash strand with a tapered effect, just like a natural hair should because they are always shaped by hand, never cut.

Easy to apply and false eyelashes? That's an oxymoron right?

That's right, easy to apply and false eyelashes, you're thinking, that's an oxymoron right? We kid you not, the reason many beginners fail at applying lashes is because they often start with a cheap pair of synthetic lashes, that are machine molded and are not crafted to be comfortable. The bands are stiff and the lashes are cut to shape — often resulting in an unnatural look.

Not only are the the typical lash bands stiff and stubborn, they don't shape to your eyes very, meaning the ends can easily come off. With a cotton band, you don't have this issue.

Here's a close up of the Unforgettable Mink lashes.

Hairs as natural as your own (even finer, actually.)

Of course, a lash band isn't the main reason you buy lashes (I mean unless you're a lash band connoisseur, in which case, rejoice!) You want to add some volume and length to your natural lashes, keyword being natural, and mink lashes are famous for that. 

Because of their fineness and similar properties to human lashes, mink hairs are an ideal material to use for making natural looking lashes that add beautiful looking volume, with strands that taper off at the ends. 

But do they last as long as extensions? Hint: Yes!

One of the main draw of mink lashes (again, at least the ones we've created), are actually their durability. They are not one-time use and disposable lashes (reuse reduce right?). With proper care, mink lashes could last multiple wears, we've even had customers wear ours over 30+ times until it finally said "No more! I'm done being applied on your eyes!". We're paraphrasing, but the point is, they are resilient!

How much do mink lashes cost?

Depending on the brand, it could range anywhere from $25-$45 USD. We retail ours starting at only $29 USD. See the famous mink lash collection here.

So sounds like Mink lashes are the crème de la crème, what do they actually look like?

Glad you asked! Here's some awesome eye candy (no pun intended) to feast your eyes upon:

Model is wearing Unforgettable Mink lashes.

In summary

Every type of lash, whether it's silk lashes, faux mink lashes, and real mink lashes, all have their own benefits and tradeoffs, as well as price points.

Generally speaking, we try to recommend what's best depending on every client's needs. From our experience, there's really only a few factors that matter:

• Quality
• Price Point
• Material (Real fur or vegan friendly)

A brief comparison

Our recommendations

• If you want the best, opt for Mink Lashes, they're durable, super natural looking, and very comfortable & easy to apply
• If you want something vegan friendly, give Faux Mink or Silk Lashes a try, just make sure you find a good brand that creates quality ones so they last longer, look more natural, and more importantly, comfortable to wear
• Lastly, if you want something vegan friendly, affordable, AND similar in quality to real mink lashes? Lucky you, we've launched our new Unisyn™ synthetic lashes which are unlike any other faux mink, silk, or synthetic. Because of our proprietary handcrafting process, combined with an ultra-fine synthetic fibre, they're very easy to apply, super natural looking, and ultra comfortable. We highly recommend trying a pair.

Ok I'm sold, but I don't know how to apply them!

Didn't we tell you not to fret? We got you! Check out helpful links below, practice makes perfect, but a good pair of lashes will make your first application that much easier, here's some tips & tricks:

• When applying lashes, put a hand mirror below you, so you are looking down while positioning the false lashes. This way, you can see exactly what you're doing and you can place them precisely at the base of your lash line (where they belong, not on your forehead, unless, you want that).
• Visit our How-To section for simple step by step instructions on how to apply, remove, and care for false lashes
• Practice with a good pair, ideally with a soft cotton band, a malleable band will make your experience that much easier, and before you know it, you'll be doing it on the regular, maybe even applying them on your friends!
• Check out our Interactive Lash Guide to find the perfect pair for your eye shape and makeup preference