The tidal change in beauty over the past decade has been very hair-centric, think about it – thin brows and lashes loaded with layers of mascara in the mid-noughties, to full brows and long, luscious lashes now. To stay on par with the beauty trends of today, many augment their appearance with false lashes. Whether glued on strips, individual hairs incorporated into existing lashes, lash lifts, or eyelash extensions, the possibilities of eyelash enhancing are now endless and demand is soaring.

Mink lashes have become a popular choice in recent years, because of their fullness and shininess, while being virtually weightless and very flexible. Many brands market their mink lashes by slapping familiar, confidence-boosting labels on their products. The most common labels include: “100 per cent cruelty-free” or “safely collected from a free-range farm” or even “taken only after the minks have been brushed”. As a result, many people have been duped into thinking that mink lashes are cruelty-free. But how true is that?

Minks come from fur farms, and mink lashes are made from mink fur shaved off a mink’s body. Most brands that sell mink lashes refer to them as being “cruelty-free” on the basis that the mink hairs are obtained by brushing minks or by collecting fallen hair. Firstly, minks do not need to be “brushed”, as they are animals of the wild. Secondly, minks can’t be raised in “free-range” environments as some companies claim. Minks would not be able to be kept autonomous because they are aggressive when threatened, for example if humans tried to pull on their fur. Instead, most minks are confined to small, cramped wire cages in unsanitary conditions. As minks are not domesticated animals, being kept in cages goes against all of their natural instincts. Minks also display signs of distress when in captivity – a pretty sound conclusion that they’re definitely not enjoying their time.

Furthermore, European minks are endangered. Breeding and killing them for fur or mink lashes does nothing to help conserve mink populations. In fact, real Mink eyelash extensions don’t even effectively hold curls and can cause irritation to the eyes.

Although these unethical practices may only be the case of a few farms, all mink farms are scrutinised. In North America at least, there are strict codes mink farms must adhere to. The codes of practice and operating guidelines provide further guarantee that the minks being farmed are being well-cared for. In addition, mink farmers may voluntarily abide by even more stringent codes of animal welfare and become certified in the Fur Commission Humane Care Farm Certification Program.

Our verdict? Opt for truly cruelty-free lashes by using synthetic ones instead. Cruelty-free eyelashes come in a wide range of animal-friendly materials, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) synthetic fibres or repurposed human lashes, to suit every budget and every look. How can we make a difference? Make everyone aware of the reality of mink lashes and why silk and faux mink are superior options.