Just so we are clear, mink are not a domesticated animal. It would be like trying to brush a squirrel. Mink hair that is ‘brushed’ out from a living mink coat can only be done so in any quantity at a mink farm, where I very much doubt there is anything gentle about the process at all. It will be positively brutal. Even if the mink hair is brushed from the animal, please remember that these animals are destined for death anyway for the fur industry. Brushing out minute hairs for the lash trade is just a way to make their journey to the destination just that bit more dreadful. That said, there is no real evidence that such brushing exists to any great extent and it is just as likely that your mink lashes are taken from off-cuts of discarded fur after death.
And if you are still in doubt, any fur farms, including mink farms are utterly hideous. They’re death camps for animals, really. Speaking today to a spokesperson from PETA, he explains, “on fur farms, normally free-roaming animals are condemned to spend their entire lives confined to tiny, filthy wire cages. They are denied the opportunity to engage in natural behaviours such as climbign, burrowing and swimming. The anguish and frustration of life in a cage causes many animals to go insane. They can be observed frantically pacing and circling endlessly, and self-mutilation is common.”
So, good, if it’s okay with you and really *that* important to wear mink lashes, because you think it symbolises quality or luxury, then do it. But shame on you because in reality, it symbolises the opposite; and talk about staring death in the face – you really are, literally! The whole ‘cruelty free’ lashes thing is an out and out lie and if you fall for it then you are an utter fool. There are video links aplenty on-line of fur-farms, so a little self-educating would go a long way to being rid of this horrible practice.
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25 comments
Thank you so much for this post! There are no cruelty free mink lashes and there will never be.
Great post!!! Well done for highlighting this! Hopefully people will not be so ignorant! The fur trade is a horrible industry, I don’t know how anybody can support it! i cannot actually believe people would wear mink on their eyelashes!?! What on earth has the world come to!!
Keep up the good work on these kinds of issues!
Jen xxx
Thank you very much for this article. A stupid as it sounds I just presumed that Mink was a brand name – have never looked into it. It did not occur to me that they were mink fur – ugh! Am actually gobsmacked! Have never had eyelash extensions, but if ever do will certainly be reading up about what they’re made of now!
I couldn’t agree with you more. I just can’t live with myself knowing that I’ve got the hairs of tortured animal sitting on lashes, no sir.
Maybe they are brushed, who knows however these people have most certainly not found the mink in the forest, merely given them a little brush and et viola they’ve got themselves a nice pair of lashes. They’re already in the torture camps that are fur farms so I can’t believe any silly marketing claim like that because they’re probably omitting some truths.
Thank you so much for speaking out on this!
Who on earth would anyone want mink eyelashes fullstop?! x
I agree with you, this is cruel – and this is your blog so obviously you have the right to say whatever you wish however, if someone is reading your post they are clearly a ‘reader’ and I think you could get your point across just as aptly with out insulting us/ them …”you are an utter fool” etc…
Hi Becky.. thanks for your comment..you are probably right..I was trying to make an impactful point, so please accept my apology for any offence caused to you x
Oh God I’d never even heard of mink eyelashes. How horrible! D: I completely agree with your last paragraph.
I think using language like “utter fool” is appropriate.
We need more outrage in general when it comes to the discussion of animals who have to suffer for our stupid vanity and ignorance. Too many people are of the “I don’t want to know because it’s upsetting” camp. They NEED to know. They NEED to be outraged.
What you didn’t mention is the way the mink are killed, after their horrible lives. A poker inserted up their rectums and electocuted that way… so as not to harm the precious fur.
Fur always looks better on its original owner!
Totally agree with you Mia. Ignorance isn’t an excuse and to be honest I think actively trying not the find out how things are made/where they come from is even worse.
Thanks for writing about this.
That is horrific and needs to be said esp when the companies are making out this romanticised notion of ‘gently brushing minks’ for your false eyelashes. Well said *applause*
Great post! shame on people wearing min lashes totally
That is disgusting I too assumed Mink was just a brand name not thinking such a well known brand would do something like this, and I do think if you wear these lashes you should be ashamed there are plenty of other eyelash brands out there you could use that dont abuse animals in any way, the minks welfare comes before fashion/beauty/selfishness. I am a great animal lover and this truly disgusts me, as 16 year old Im very into make up but I will certinatly not be using nor reccomending such a disgraceful brand!
That is disgusting I too assumed Mink was just a brand name not thinking such a well known brand would do something like this, and I do think if you wear these lashes you should be ashamed there are plenty of other eyelash brands out there you could use that dont abuse animals in any way, the minks welfare comes before fashion/beauty/selfishness. I am a great animal lover and this truly disgusts me, as 16 year old Im very into make up but I will certinatly not be using nor reccomending such a disgraceful brand!
Thanks, that’s quite informative, I have never thought there were false eyelashes made of real fur. Now I’ll pay more attention to the materials although I always buy the very cheap ones 🙂 It just seems horrible to me to even think about wearing eyelashes made of real fur… Yuck
How about shaving brushes for men that are made with badger hair? I wonder if it’s the same process.
Ali
Fabulous post, thank you for not holding back. You are the beauty blogging Queen!
I know quick fixes for beauty are the way to go these days, and our vanity monsters can be easily sated with lunchtime treats, nips and tucks, but are we really so vain that we have to put mink hair on our lashes to feel beautiful? I sincerely hope not. I for one will not be going the mink lash route. Thanks for bringing this out into the open and let’s hope this dies a death, not the darling little minks.
How delightful for a mink to be ‘gently brushed’ and pampered, then generously donate its fur to make people’s eyes look pretty.
I can’t see this being the reality, however. As if fur farmers would sit around and wait for minks to shed their fur when they can get the whole lot in less than five minutes. It’s idealistic to believe it and unfair for companies to try and sell this far fetched notion.
Thank you for this post. Natural hair makeup brushes and false lashes that are marketed as “cruelty-free” seem to be becoming more and more common. It’s really hard to find factual information on this topic, I know I personally have had trouble finding information, so your post is really so useful.
Thank you so much for this post. I remember first reading about these Mink Lashes some time ago (I believe they were touted by the magazine I was reading as “being Kim Kardashian’s new favourite”). I guess I could be cruel & make the point that this about says it all…
The very notion of wearing fur from an animal raised in appalling conditions only to meet a grisly demise makes me feel sick! Mind you, the idea of wearing “actual Human Eyelashes” has a similar effect. Maybe it’s just me being squeamish… [Kidding].
It’s sickening to think what these animals go though so that some woman, somewhere can stick bits of fur on to her lashes. It just shouldn’t be allowed. Trying to trick consumers into thinking they are buying ‘cruelty-free’ is seriously wrong. I hope these companies are stopped.
Preach on girl! Why are people so ignorant? Because they don’t want to believe the truth. It makes me sick. Do your research people.
Great post! It angers me that people will disregard the thought of how the fur actually ends up as lashes, just for the sake of a ‘trend’ and to make money! There is absolutely no need when there are so many varieties of lash extensions available that produce a similar effect! x