What anime lashes are
The look comes from Japanese anime and manga, where characters are drawn with big, doe-eyed looks. In lashes that becomes spiky pieces placed at different points along the lash line, to make the eyes look larger and more striking [1]. Instead of one even, fluffy line, the lashes gather into spikes, with softer, shorter lashes in between. You will see it called anime lashes or manga lashes. It is the same idea.
It is a map, not a different kind of lash. What makes a set read as anime is where the spikes go, how far apart they sit, and how much shorter the lashes between them are. That is why two anime sets can look completely different: one soft and doll-like, one sharp and graphic.
How I build an anime look
I build it on my Wet Set. A Wet Set is spiky and glossy, like lashes just out of the shower. It is made of closed bundles: a few very fine fibers kept lined up in parallel instead of fanned out, so each one comes to a single tapered point [4]. For an anime map I space the longest of those points out and keep the lashes between them shorter, so each spike stands on its own.
Where the spikes go follows your eye shape. Longest spikes over the center of the eye give a rounder, wide-open look, close to a doll-eye map. Spikes that grow toward the outer third give more of a flick. My cat eye vs doll eye guide explains both maps. On the day I look at your eyes open and closed, find where your lashes are strongest, and mark the spikes from there.
| Look | What it is | What I build it on |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Set | Closed, glossy bundles across the whole lash line | The Wet Set itself ($175) |
| Wispy | Taller spikes rising out of a softer base of fans or singles | A Hybrid, Volume or Wet Set, priced as that set |
| Anime | Fewer, longer spikes spaced out, with shorter lashes between them | The Wet Set ($175) |
A wispy map is also a styling choice rather than a separate price; it sits on the set underneath it [5]. If you are torn between the two, the wispy guide shows how the spikes and the base work there.
How long the spikes can go
This is the part most anime photos skip. The rule I keep: an extension should not be more than 2 to 3 mm longer than the natural lash it sits on [3]. Longer than that and the spike works like a lever on the root of your lash every time you blink [6]. So the length of your spikes is set by the length and strength of your own lashes, not by the photo.
If your lashes are long and strong, you can have a dramatic anime set. If they are short or fine, your version will be softer, and I would rather tell you that before you book than after. The guide to thin, sparse or short lashes covers what works when there is less to build on.
Bottom lashes
Many anime photos have spikes on the bottom lashes too. Bottom lashes are not on my menu. If the photo you love depends on them, text it to me before you book and I will tell you honestly what the top set alone will look like on you. You can always text me first with any question [2].
Who suits an anime set
- Lashes that are moderate to full. Closed bundles do not spread across wide gaps the way open fans do, so a Wet Set looks its best on a moderate to full lash line [4].
- Anyone who likes a graphic look more than a fluffy one. The gaps between the spikes are part of the style.
- Hooded eyes can wear it, with shorter spikes through the center so they do not push into the fold. My hooded eyes guide explains that map.
- If you wear glasses most days, tell me in the booking notes so the longest spikes clear your lenses.
Looking after the spikes
The aftercare is the same as any set. No water or steam for the first 24 hours. After that, clean them every day with a gentle, oil-free lash cleanser and keep oil-based products away from your eyes. No mascara, and sleep on your back or side so they are not crushed [7].
For spikes in particular, brush them upward with a clean spoolie while they dry, so the fibers stay together in their points [4]. Because every spike is a focal point, one that sheds shows sooner than a shed fan in a fluffy set, so a fill on time matters more here than with a Volume set.
What it costs and how to book
An anime look is booked as a Wet Set: $175 for the full set, about 2.5 hours with your eyes closed [2]. Every set includes the consultation, the mapping of your lashes, the application and the aftercare walkthrough. Pick the Wet Set and write "anime" in the notes, with a photo sent by text if you have one.
A Wet Set fill is $100 within 2 weeks of your last set and $120 at 2 to 3 weeks. After 3 weeks it is a new set, because there is usually too little left to build on [2]. Fills are only for sets I did. If another artist did your set, book a new set and tell me in the notes, and I take the old one off first.
A $25 deposit holds your time. It is non-refundable and comes off your total [2]. Reschedule with more than 24 hours notice and your deposit moves to the new time at no charge. Cancel inside 24 hours and the $25 deposit is not returned, plus a $20 cancellation fee.
First time booking a full set? Use code FIRST20 at checkout for $20 off. One per client, and it comes off the balance you pay on the day, not off the deposit. It does not apply to fills.
Questions about anime lash extensions
What are anime lash extensions?
Anime lash extensions, also called manga lashes, are lash extensions mapped into separate, spiky points spaced along the lash line, with shorter, softer lashes between them. The look copies the big, doll-like eyes of Japanese anime and manga characters. It is a mapping style rather than a separate type of lash.
Are anime lashes the same as a wet set?
Not quite. A Wet Set is closed, glossy bundles across the whole lash line, like lashes fresh out of the shower. An anime look uses the same closed bundles but spaces the longest spikes out, with shorter lashes between them, so each point stands on its own. On my menu, an anime look is built on the Wet Set.
How long do anime lash extensions last?
The same as any set. The extensions last four to six weeks with proper aftercare, falling out as your own lashes shed, and a fill every two to three weeks keeps the spikes even. Because every spike is a focal point, a shed one shows sooner than a shed fan in a fluffy set.