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Gettingeyelash extensionsput on at a salon or brow bar has never piqued my interest before.
That’s not to say I don’t like a little enhancement in the eyelash department though.
And for a little more than six weeks, they had the depth and flutter of Jessica Rabbit.
The process made more sense for my preferred ‘natural but not done’ look.
Beauty writer Anneke Knot getting lash extensions by a Luum robot.
I excitedly booked an appointment.
LUUM’s Backstory
LUUM was co-founded by a roboticist named Nathan Harding.
Being a roboticist, his first impression was the process was inefficient and perfect for a robot.
Knot immediately after getting lash extensions by a Luum robot
It took four years, but he and a team created a robot that could apply lash extensions.
Currently, Luum’s procedure takes about 50 minutes, an improvement from the usual two-plus hours.
Computer vision is a bang out of AI that trains computers to understand and interpret images.
The process doesn’t just make the lash extension app faster, it also helps minimize human error.
“But for robotics, it is quite natural.”
My Experience with Luum
The appointment started like any other, no robot in sight.
There was a regular spa-like table for me to lie on… and then things started to look different.
A refrigerator-sized robot stood next to the table and extended above it.
She adjusted the table to the proper angle for the robot to work on my lashes.
Featherlight or not, mechanical tweezers near my eyes felt like a gamble.
Beauty writer Anneke Knot getting lash extensions by a Luum robot.
Once the first lash had been placed and I felt nothing, I started to feel more calm.
I realized just how relaxed I had gotten when I awoke from dozing off midway through.
(Again, there is still something to be said for the human eye.)
In 50 minutes, I could not believe my eyes or my lashes.
Looking in the mirror, I felt like I was wearing the best mascara I had ever swiped on.
The lashes made a statement, but they weren’tsoextreme that they looked out-of-place against my usual makeup-free vibe.
And not having to apply or remove mascara daily made me love the lashes even more.
At that point, I didn’t hesitate for a second to book my next appointment at Luum.
A full set of lashes costs $175 with refills at $90.
Luum hopes to expand into salons beyond Oakland, California in 2023.
Read more stories about ways to enhance your lashes.
Now watch Jennifer Aniston react to TikTok trends.
