Robotic Lash Extension System Cuts Salon Time in Half

Luum, a startup created by Nathan Harding after his work on medical exoskeletons, has introduced a robot that automates eyelash-extension applications. CEO Jo Lawson says the hardware is designed so it cannot touch closed eyelids, and magnetic wands detach if the client flinches, ensuring safety. The system can treat both eyes simultaneously, finishing a full set in about an hour—roughly half the duration of a conventional salon appointment.

With around 150 TB of session data feeding its AI, Luum aims to shrink appointment times further to about thirty minutes. The company has raised a total of $36 million, with investors including Long Journey Ventures, Artifact Capital, Boardman Bay Capital Management and early backer Ulta Beauty, and now runs locations in Dallas, Newport Beach and Oakland, as well as kiosks inside Nordstrom and Ulta stores. Lawson envisions expanding the technology to other beauty services such as eyebrow shaping and microneedling, creating a new category of “intelligent beauty services.”