By Michelle Bodean, founder of Michelle Lashes-Brows-Beauty in Downers Grove, IL. Lash artist since 2018.
A client sat down in my chair last month, saw “botox” on the price list, and asked me straight out whether I was going to put a needle anywhere near her eye.
Fair question. Terrible name for the service. There are no needles, no injections, and no relationship at all to the cosmetic injectable you are thinking of. Somewhere along the way the industry started calling a keratin conditioning mask “lash botox” because it plumps the hair, and the name stuck. I would rename it if I could.
Here is what it actually is, and more importantly, who I think should pay for it.
A standard lash lift and tint has two working parts. First a lifting solution softens the bonds in your natural lash so it can be reshaped over a silicone rod, then a neutralizer locks the new curl in place. Second, a tint darkens the lash so you get that mascara look without mascara.
The botox step comes at the end. It is a mask of hydrolyzed keratin, usually blended with collagen, argan oil and vitamin E. Your lashes are mostly keratin to begin with, and the lifting process is a chemical one, so the mask goes on while the cuticle is still open and fills in where the hair is porous or damaged.
The result you actually notice: the lash feels softer, looks slightly fuller, and does not have that dry, brittle quality some people get after a lift. On very fine or previously damaged lashes the difference is obvious. On thick healthy lashes, honestly, it is subtle.
I bring it up unprompted with about four kinds of clients.
Women coming out of extensions. If you have worn a heavy set for a year or more and you are taking a break, your natural lashes are usually shorter and thinner than you remember. This is the group where I see the biggest difference. If that is you, read our guide to lash removal first, because how the extensions come off matters more than what you do afterward.
Heavy mascara and lash curler users. Waterproof formula plus a metal curler plus daily rubbing does real damage over years. The mask does not undo that, but it makes the remaining lash behave better.
Clients with fair, fine lashes. Blonde and light red lash hair tends to be finer as well as lighter. The tint handles the color. The mask handles the texture.
Anyone over about 50. Lash hair thins with age the same way scalp hair does. I wrote more about this in our post on lash extensions for mature eyes, and the same logic applies to lifts.
If you have naturally thick, dark, healthy lashes and you just want them curled, save your money. The lift is doing the work. You will not see enough from the mask to justify the difference in price.
I also steer people away from it if what they actually want is drama. A lift makes your own lashes look like their best version. It does not add length or density. If you came in wanting a fluttery, obvious lash, you want a set of extensions, not a lift, and we should talk about which style suits your eye shape.
And if you are currently wearing extensions, a lift is off the table until they come off completely.
I want to be plain about this because plenty of salons are not.
Lash botox does not grow lashes. It does not affect the follicle. It conditions the hair that is already there, the same way a deep conditioner works on the hair on your head, and it wears off. You will hear claims about percentage increases in thickness and volume. Those numbers come from product marketing, not from independent clinical testing, and I do not repeat them to clients.
Results track your natural lash cycle. Our lifts hold for roughly six to eight weeks, at which point your lashes have grown and shed and you are looking at a fresh appointment.
Our standard lash lift and tint is $130 with our team. The lift, tint and botox service is $200 and is performed by me personally. Current pricing for everything is on our full service menu.
That price gap is not only about the mask. It reflects who is holding the rod. Rod selection is the part of a lift that goes wrong most often, and getting it wrong on someone with hooded or deep-set eyes produces a curl that points straight into the eyelid. I have been doing this since 2018 and I would rather explain the pricing honestly than pretend the product is the whole difference.
Keep your lashes dry for the first 24 hours. No steam, no hot showers, no sauna, no swimming. After that you can wash your face normally.
Skip waterproof mascara entirely. If you have had a lift you generally will not want mascara anyway, but waterproof formula requires the kind of scrubbing that loosens the curl early. Oil-based removers do the same. Our notes on making lash work last longer cover the same principle for extensions.
Brush them upward with a clean spoolie in the morning. That is the whole routine.
Everything in a lift happens within a few millimeters of your eye, and the tint is a dye. We patch test anyone with a history of reactions to hair color, contact allergies, or sensitive eyes, and we will not proceed if you have an active eye infection or irritated skin around the eye.
The FDA maintains straightforward guidance on eye cosmetic safety, including a clear warning against dyeing your own lashes or brows at home. Please take that one seriously. The at-home lift and tint kits sold online are the source of most of the damaged lashes I see, and a chemical burn on an eyelid is not something a lash artist can fix.
If you have any eye condition, or you are using a prescription lash growth product, talk to your eye doctor before booking.
We are at 1202P 75th St in Downers Grove, and the lift, tint and botox appointment runs about an hour.
Most of our lift clients drive in from Downers Grove itself, plus Westmont, Lisle, Woodridge and Clarendon Hills, which are all ten to fifteen minutes out. We also see people regularly from Naperville, Hinsdale, Oak Brook and La Grange. If you are coming from further west, book a late morning slot and skip the 75th Street backup.
Call us at (630) 822-0201 or book online. If you are not sure whether a lift or a set of extensions is the better fit for your lashes, say so when you book and we will start with a consultation instead.
Does lash botox involve needles or injections? No. There are no needles and no botulinum toxin. It is a keratin conditioning mask applied to the lash hair at the end of a lift. The name is industry shorthand and it confuses almost everyone.
How long does a lash lift with tint and botox last? Six to eight weeks for most people. Your natural lashes grow and shed on their own cycle, so a lift lasts as long as those particular hairs are on your lid.
Can I get this if I wear contact lenses? Yes, but take them out before your appointment and leave them out for a few hours afterward. Bring your glasses.
Will it damage my natural lashes? A lift is a chemical process, so it is not zero risk, particularly if it is done too often or by someone using the wrong rod and timing. We space lifts at least six weeks apart and will tell you if your lashes need a break instead of another appointment.
Is it safe while pregnant or nursing? Many clients do it. Some prefer to wait because hormonal changes can affect how lashes hold a curl and how skin reacts. Ask your doctor and let us know either way so we can patch test.
How much does a lash lift cost in Downers Grove? Our lash lift and tint is $130. The version with the keratin botox step, performed by Michelle, is $200. See the full menu for current pricing.
Can I do a lash lift at home instead? Please do not. The FDA specifically warns against dyeing lashes or brows at home, and home kits are where the worst lash damage I see comes from.
Michelle Bodean opened Michelle Lashes-Brows-Beauty in Downers Grove in 2018 and has worked as a lash and permanent makeup artist since. She performs all lash lift, tint and botox services personally and also runs the studio’s lash extension certification course.
Michelle Lashes-Brows-Beauty 1202P 75th St, Downers Grove, IL 60516 (630) 822-0201 Directions and reviews on Google
