I don’t know when it was — but at some point we all started lashing out at our lashes. Whether too short, stick straight, too light, or some combination of the three, our natural eyelashes are just not enough for us. In fact, I’ve been wearing mascara pretty much every single day for the past 20-ish years. I would say there are less than 100 days in there that I DIDN’T put on mascara at all — and that was only because I was hungover on the couch.

But these days, we can do so much better than just mascara when it comes to giving our lashes a boost. But there are a lot of options out there — so I’m breaking down the pros, cons, and OMG yikes’ of each:

Eyelash Extensions –

What is it?: A technician applies tiny fibers made of synthetic material (or mink if you’re bougee) to each of your real individual lashes with a microscopic dot of semi-permanent glue.

How long does it take?: 1-2 hours

How long does it last?: You’ll need a fill in about 2-3 weeks

Cost: A full set done by a pro will cost anywhere from $120-$200 without a discount. Fills range from $60-80.

Upside: You IMMEDIATELY look like a walking Barbie and you will never want it to go away.

Downside: It goes away. And when it does, you still look like a doll — but more like Cynthia, Angelica Pickles’ ratty ass Barbie from Rugrats. Also, it’s time consuming and can get super expensive over time. Plus if you actually LIKE wearing mascara like I do, you’ll end up damaging the extensions and they’ll fall out quicker.

OMG Yikes: As the lashes fall out one-by-one they leave you with sparse spots, and as you continue to wash your face and eyes you can even accidentally pull your real lashes out leaving temporary damage. I had a friend whose lash lady actually BROKE UP WITH HER because she said she couldn’t keep damaging her lashes like that in good conscience. “It’s not me, it’s you — and your non-existent eyelashes.” #toxicrelationship

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Lash Lift –

What is it?: A technician places a pad on your eyelid and sweeps on a keratin solution, pinning your lashes to the pad to “perm them.” Some will also add a tint to your lashes, which is usually made of a vegetable-based dye.

How long does it take?: 1-2 hours

How long does it last?: Around 1 month

Cost: Around $60-75

Upside: Your natural lashes are semi-permanently curled so you can throw that curler away! They look immediately longer and you look wide awake.

Downside: As your lashes go through their life cycle they fall out, and when they grow back in, they grow in straight. So about 3 weeks out it looks like your eyelashes are a Venus Fly Trap, and there’s nothing you can do but wait it out until they all go through their cycle, which can take months.

OMG Yikes: Who knows what kind of chemicals are in the solutions they put on your eyes

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Lash Boost Serum –

This is my current method and I’m obsessed!

What is it?: A little magic wand with serum on the end which you brush on your lash line like eyeliner at night. No technician required. I Use Rodan and Fields Lash Boost even though I find those ladies to be way too aggressive for my liking.

How long does it take?: 2 months to see noticeable results

How long does it last?: As long as you continue using the serum. The bottle will last you about 3-4 months.

Cost: $150

Upside: These are YOUR natural lashes — just longer and stronger! You can wear mascara if you like, but they’re just as long without it. When you get compliments you can tell them “THEY’RE REAL.” And it’s more cost-effective in the long run.

Downside: It’s not an immediate quick fix. You have to use the serum for 2 months to see a noticeable difference, and I started getting comments from other people around 3 months. It also tingles? Itches? Your eyes for the first week or so until your skin gets used to it.

OMG Yikes: The only scary thing I have ever heard about this product is that one lady sued because she supposedly went blind. But… I’m going to turn a blind eye to that because I love this stuff so much. (SEE what I did there? … And there?) Latisse is another popular prescription-based brand, and I believe they had lawsuits because their old formula was turning light irises dark. So “watch” out for that.

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Alright! Now that I’ve successfully used the word “lash” 200 times in a single blog post I think you’re ready to step up to “bat” and pick the method that’s right for you! Let me know in the comments which of these you have tried, and what one you liked best.