DIY Lashes vs Salon Extensions: How Much Could You Save in a Year?
Salon lash extensions look incredible, but between the appointments, the tipping, the travel, getting time off work, organising a babysitter and the inevitable infill every 2–3 weeks, the cost of lash extensions in the UK adds up fast. So we did the maths: here's what a year of salon lashes really costs, compared to a year of DIY lashes with iLash.
The Cost of Salon Lash Extensions
A full set of salon lash extensions in the UK typically costs £60–£120, depending on your location and lash technician. Add infills every 2–3 weeks at around £30–£50 a visit, and a full year looks something like this:
- Initial full set: ~£90
- Infills every 3 weeks (roughly 17 visits a year) at ~£35 each: ~£595
- Total: around £685 a year
And that's before factoring in travel time, appointment cancellations, childcare or tipping.
The Cost of DIY Lashes with iLash
With DIY pre-glued or pre-mapped lashes, you're in control of both the cost and the schedule. Here's the actual maths:
Getting started: Our Starter Kit is a one-off £40, and gives you everything you need to begin, lashes, Bond & Seal, remover and tweezer.
Staying stocked up: Our lash subscription delivers 5 pairs of lashes for £35, plus a reduced shipping rate, on a monthly, bi-monthly, or every-3-months schedule, whatever suits your routine.
If you're changing your lashes weekly, 5 pairs covers you for 5 weeks, which works out at just £7 per infill, less than a coffee and a pastry.
Over a full year, changing lashes weekly, that's roughly 52 weeks ÷ 5 weeks per box = just over 10 subscription boxes:
- Starter Kit (one-off): £40
- 10.4 subscription boxes at £35: ~£364
- Total Year 1: around £404
- Total Year 2 onwards (no starter kit needed): around £364
That works out to £7 a week for salon-quality lashes, delivered to your door, on your own schedule.
Where the Real Savings Come From
1. No appointment fees or tipping. Every visit-based cost disappears when you're doing it yourself.
2. No travel time. No commuting to and from a salon, no waiting rooms, no rebooking around your technician's availability.
3. Subscribe & Save. Our monthly subscription box locks in your £35 rate plus reduced shipping, so you're never paying full price.
4. Reusable essentials. Your Bond & Seal applicator and remover serum last for multiple sets, so you're not paying for them every time.
What You're Trading (and What You're Not)
To be fair, salon extensions offer one thing DIY can't fully replicate: someone else doing the work while you relax. But you're not trading down on results, iLash pre-mapped and pre-glued styles are designed to deliver salon-level fullness and up to 7-day wear, applied in your own bathroom in minutes.
The Bottom Line
| Salon Extensions | DIY with iLash | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | £685 | £404 (Year 1) / £364 (Year 2+) |
| Cost per week | £13 | £7 |
| Appointment needed | Yes | No |
| Time per session | 1–2 hours | Minutes |
| Flexibility | Fixed schedule | Wear when you want, pause or change subscription frequency anytime |
That's a saving of around £280 in Year 1, rising to around £320 a year from Year 2 onwards, enough for a proper treat elsewhere in your beauty routine, every single year.
And if you don't need a fresh set every single week, switch your subscription to bi-monthly or every 3 months and save even more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do lash extensions cost in the UK? Salon lash extensions typically cost £60–£120 for a full set, plus £30–£50 per infill every 2–3 weeks, averaging around £685 a year. DIY lashes with a subscription average around £364–£404 a year, including a one-off starter kit.
Are DIY lash extensions as good as salon lash extensions? iLash pre-mapped and pre-glued styles are designed to replicate salon-level fullness and shape, with up to 7-day wear when applied correctly, at a fraction of the cost and without the appointment.
How often do you need to replace DIY lashes? Most customers refresh their lashes weekly for continuous wear, though many styles last 5–7 days per set depending on aftercare.
Can I cancel or pause my lash subscription? Yes, our subscription is flexible, you can choose monthly, bi-monthly, or every-3-months delivery, and adjust or pause anytime to suit how often you're wearing lashes, a minimum of 2 shipments is required before making changles/canceling.
Do DIY lashes really last a week? With correct prep, application, and aftercare (avoiding oil-based products), iLash pre-glued and pre-mapped lashes are designed to last up to 7 days.
Curious what a year of DIY lashes could look like for you? Take our quiz to find your perfect style, grab a Starter Kit for £40, and subscribe and save to keep your lash game strong for just £7 a week.
Prices are approximate UK averages as of 2026 and will vary by salon and location.