Most people who get eyelash extensions get synthetic, i.e. plastic, fibers. If that sounds tacky as all f&$#, trust -- it's really not. Technology has made it possible to produce soft and whisper-thin synthetic fibers comparable to human eyelashes. But synthetic eyelash extensions are stiffer to the touch than god-given lashes, and someone with an educated eye can probably tell if you're sporting fakes.

Mink extension devotees swear that mink lashes are softer, more flexible and more realistic-looking than their faux counterparts. "They are worth it if the look you're going for is very natural," says Wroblewski, an Xtreme Lashes-certified lash technician who has been in the business for 12 years.

Countless celebrities have relied on mink lashes for red-carpet events; Beyoncé and J. Lo love them, and OK! Magazine claims Kim Kardashian spends the equivalent of a modest annual salary on mink lashes. To that end, some lash-extension manufacturers have capitalized on the mink extension trend by marketing their synthetic lashes as "faux mink."

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Mink eyelash extensions are, in a word, controversial. These fine fibers come from the tails of minks and are sanitized and dyed before they're packaged as lash extensions. Many lash-extension manufacturers market their mink extensions as cruelty-free, explaining that the hairs are simply brushed from the animals' coats. However, animal-rights groups such as PETA and SAFE claim there is no such thing as cruelty-free mink lash extensions.

Wroblewski explains it's unlikely your lash extension technician can know for sure if her mink extensions are humanely sourced. "I think it's extremely hard to find out the truth behind all products," she says. (In an effort to control the production and quality of the eyelash extensions Wroblewski uses in her salon, she is working with manufacturers on her own, custom line of extensions.)

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Mink lash extensions are some of the most expensive lash extension fibers available. If you invest in a starting-price set of lash extensions, your technician will almost certainly be using synthetic fibers. Natural-fiber extensions (which may also include fox fur, sable fur, human hair or silk) are much more costly than synthetics.

Wroblewski says a small minority of her client base asks for mink extensions. "I have only a few clients on my mink," she says, attributing the lack of popularity to simple dollars and cents. At Lash & Beauty Lab, a full set of lash extensions ranges from $150 to $250; upgrading from faux mink eyelash extensions to Siberian mink would add a reasonable $40 to the bill, or $20 for a touch-up. However, costs vary wildly depending on your location and salon of choice; in large urban markets, a set of mink lashes may set you back as much as $500.

The process of getting mink lash extensions is no different than getting a set of the faux variety. (If you don't know what it's like to get lash extensions, read more about the experience here.) Wroblewski invited me onto her comfy table, dimmed the lights, and went to work; after a swift but thorough application that only a master-level lash technician could pull off, I was out the door.

First impressions? My mink lashes look nothing short of fabulous. My lashes look so thick and lush, yet there's a distinct lightness to the mink fibers. Mink also feels more comfortable than any brand of synthetic lash extensions I've worn in the past. Faux extensions feel blunter and more rigid at the base, so they occasionally feel a little poke-y and awkward, which mostly happens if I tweak them during a toss-and-turn night of sleep. (Waking up to a wayward extension is the lash equivalent of having a pebble in your shoe.)

Image courtesy Katie McCarthy

I love eyelash extensions. And I really love my mink eyelash extensions. Wroblewski is as much a magician as her effusive, five-star Yelp reviews would suggest. While I would never hesitate to entrust Wroblewski with my lashes, I think I'll be going back to synthetic extensions -- and you probably should probably stick to fakes, too.

For the layperson, it's very hard to tell a set of faux lash extensions from a mink set; the difference is incremental, not to mention faux extensions look really good. (Here is a photo of me with synthetic extensions.) And the allegations surrounding the inhumane treatment of minks -- TBH, the claims seem credible -- have convinced me that synthetic extensions are the way to go. Avoiding mink lash extensions is a hell of a lot easier than turning down the surreally delicious bacon at my favorite brunch spot, and I've managed to do that.

Asking your lash technician for faux mink lashes is a great way to slash the expense of a lash extension service with a barely perceptible difference in look and feel. Plus, you'll be keeping animals off your face -- a win-win. And if you're in the hands of a lash extension like expert Wroblewski, you're going to look stunning no matter what type of extension you choose.

Image courtesy Katie McCarthy