Do you want eyelashes that don’t need multiple coats of mascara or chunky false eyelashes to get the perfect natural look paired with your favorite red lipstick? Eyelash extensions are the perfect solution.
Say goodbye to the days of poking yourself in the eye with a mascara wand and gluing your falsies to your eyelid rather than your lashes. With the help of a lash technician, you will find that you no longer have to deal with a good portion of your usual makeup routine. Brush out your lashes, put on some lipstick, and head out that door.
Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about getting lash extensions.
What Are Lash Extensions?
Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent fibers that attach to your eyelashes with medical-grade adhesive to create a fuller look. These fibers are individually attached to each eyelash. These lashes can be from synthetic, mink, faux mink, or silk materials. Make sure that if you are vegan or allergic to cats, you avoid mink lashes.
Clients can customize the look based on:
- Length
- Curl
- Tint
The eyelash adhesive that the technician uses will be a combination of between 90 to 95% cyanoacrylate with 5 to 10% of a complex compound. The cyanoacrylate is from a family of strong adhesives. The complex compound contains the stabilizer, thickener, hardener, and colorant.
Eyelash extensions are different than eyelash lifts and tints, though they help to achieve the same goal: enhancing the eyes.
Types of Lash Extensions
The curl, length, and thickness of eyelash extensions vary based on your preference. The different types of curl available are as follows:
- Subtle- I curl, J curl, and B curl
- Dramatic- C curl, D curl, and U curl
- Lift up- L curl and L+ curl
- Straight up- M curl
- Better bonding- EZ-J curl, EZ-B curl, EZ-C curl, and EZ-D curl
The range for thickness varies from 0.03 mm to 0.30 mm. The length of the extensions goes from 5mm for a shorter lash to 18mm for a longer lash.
Benefits of Getting Lash Extensions
False lashes tend to look fake or tacky. With lash extensions, they look more natural while containing that luscious appearance that you crave when rocking the false lashes. Lash extensions also last approximately six weeks, so you don’t have to put them on every day. They generally don’t hurt to have them applied and they aren’t damaging to your natural lash.
Eyelash extensions help you to save time because you don’t have to wait around applying false lashes or eye makeup. Lash extensions help to enhance the eyes, making them look bigger without adding mascara to the mix. They are also a waterproof alternative to mascara. They won’t smudge or run when they come in contact with water.
They tend to be great confidence boosters and you are likely to get a lot of compliments.
Drawbacks of Getting Lash Extensions
As with any great thing, there are going to be a few drawbacks. You just have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons.
Getting eyelash extensions tends to be on the more expensive and high-maintenance end of the beauty spectrum. You can count on spending a few hundred dollars for the initial application and then another chunk of change when you need to get them refilled. Not only will you spend a lot of money, but can expect your appointments to take up a lot of valuable time.
Every beauty product has the potential to cause skin or eye irritation. The lash extensions may cause damage to your natural eyelash if the wrong size lashes are used. You should consult with the lash technician before choosing the ones that you want in case they aren’t the right fit for your eye size and shape.
You may have to make some adjustments to your daily skincare and makeup routines because of the ingredients in the products that you use.
Eyelash Extension Care Tips
When you have lash extensions, you need to make sure that you are using oil-free cleansers and makeup removers because the oils can cause your adhesive to break up prematurely. This, in turn, may cause your extensions to fall out early. You will also want to avoid using oil or cream-based makeup products for the same reason.
To make sure that your extensions last as long as they should, it’s important to:
- Avoid touching or picking at them
- Keep them clean
- Untangle them with a spoolie brush daily
How careful you are with your lashes (along with how fast your lash cycle lasts) determines how long you can wait before having to go in to get them filled again.
Before Your Lash Appointment
Before you book an appointment, do your research. Is the salon certified? Do they follow rules and regulations? They will be fully equipped with supplies for lash extension applications. They will most likely even have an eyelash extension kit like this one.
Once you are sure that you’ve chosen the right location, you need to show up to your appointment with a clean face (eyelashes included). Your eyelash tech will clean, prime, and then dry your lashes before starting the application. However, it makes the entire process easier if you forego makeup for the day.
You will have a consultation before the lash application takes place. During this time, your lash tech will go over the different types of lashes that they have available. They will be able to help you get the perfect custom fit for your eye type.
The appointment will look something like this:
- Evaluation/consultation
- Decision on chosen length and curl
- Thorough cleaning of the eye area
- Application of eye gels and tape to hold them in place
- Application of the lashes with tweezers
- Time for the glue to dry and set
- Removal of the eye gels and tape
Make sure you clear your schedule for this appointment because applying eyelash extensions does take up quite a bit of time.
After Your Appointment
After your lashes are on, it takes between 24 and 48 hours for the adhesive to dry and set. You want to avoid wet situations, strong winds, and high humidity for the first 24 hours. After that, you should be able to resume normal activities within reason.
If you decide that you don’t like your extensions, make sure you go back to the salon to have them removed. The salon will have the proper products and tools to do so safely and without damaging your natural lashes.
Now What?
Now that you know the basics, you should have decided on getting lash extensions. With the help of a trained eyelash extension technician, you can have luscious, natural-looking eyelashes in no time at all. Make sure you find a certified lash technician to perform the eyelash extension application.
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