Long lashes have been all the rage in the cosmetic industry for the last few months. Boutiques specializing in eyelash extensions, eyelash perms and even eyelash and eyebrow tinting have popped up at upscale shopping centers around the nation, and their fully booked schedules show just how in demand longer, fuller-looking lashes really are. But while lash tinting is growing in popularity, there are criticisms about the safety of the procedure. Read on to learn more about the controversial beauty trend.
What Is Lash Tinting?
Lash tinting is all about darkening the eyelashes to create a fuller, darker look that makes lashes stand out. In a way, it’s like wearing mascara that stays on for weeks. The treatment involves brushing dye directly onto the lashes as close as possible to where they meet the eyelid.
Beauticians use a variety of different dyes depending on preference, such as vegetable-based dyes, food-coloring dyes, cosmetic colorants and even coal-tar-based dyes. However, coal-tar-based dyes are actually banned by the Food and Drug Administration and can be seized if found in a salon. The government agency labels coal-tar-based dyes as a product that “represent[s] an acute, severe hazard to health with the possibility of permanent injury i.e., impaired sight, including blindness.”
Why Is It Banned in Certain States?
The FDA refuses to support the dying of eyelashes or eyebrows using any dyes at all. In fact, its website reads: “Don’t dye eyelashes and eyebrows. No color additives are approved by FDA for permanent dyeing or tinting of eyelashes and eyebrows. Permanent eyelash and eyebrow tints and dyes have been known to cause serious eye injuries.”
In the state of California, the use of any eyebrow or eyelash dye is illegal in salons and is no longer allowed to be taught at cosmetology schools, according to the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. This ruling left many lash-tinting lovers confused about why they could no longer receive the service at salons. Dr. Mayli Davis, founder of Advanced Eyelid Surgery Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, says that safety is a big concern.
“Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on your entire body,” she said. “This leaves the eyes and the eyelid skin particularly sensitive and susceptible to irritation, allergic reaction and even infection. It’s important to take special care with this skin as it’s the only thing protecting your eyes.”
In Massachusetts, a law was passed in 2001 banning the use of dyes for eyelashes or eyebrows in salons, but in 2016, after a petition was filed, the law was overturned as long as the dyes being used are specifically formulated for tinting eyelashes and eyebrows.
One of the biggest issues with the dyes used in many salons and even sold directly to consumers is that they are unregulated and could be made of just about anything. Placing unknown chemicals directly on your lashes, so close to your eyes, is a serious risk, Davis said.
“Not only can damage to the eyelid skin or eyes cause irritation, infection and serious pain, but it can also ultimately lead to vision problems and, in a famous case in the 1930s, lead to permanent blindness in both eyes,” she said. “There have been many more recent cases of both temporary and permanent injury to the eyes as a result of using chemicals on the eyelashes, but that case from the 1930s is what prompted FDA involvement.”
