Eyelash Extensions: What You Need To Know

I had my first eyelash extensions put on last May for my wedding and it was the best decision I could have made for such a big life event. We all long for those Kim K. or Adele inspired lashes and for a pretty little penny you can have them {and become addicted} too. Today I’m going over every question you might have and all the little details you need to know when it comes to getting eye lash extensions.

Before we get started I wanted to share with you my before and after photos. Now, I must say I do have pretty short natural lashes compared to most people. They also are very blonde at the ends so they look even shorter without mascara.

{ Before & After }

Before with zero make up

Natural Lashes with mascara

After with just eye lash extensions on top and mascara on bottom

{ The Basics }

It’s crazy to think the tiny little hairs that grow on our eyelids have such a roll in my appearance, confidence, and time when it comes to getting ready in the morning. Eye lash extensions not only enhance your overall appearance by adding a bold frame to your eyes but literally save you SO MUCH time when it comes to getting ready each morning. Lets be honest, I barley have the time to curl my eyelashes every morning so I definitely don’t have the time or the patience to put on false lashes every day. There are three types of lash extensions: synthetic, silk and mink. Once selected, the individual lashes are applied one at a time using a specially formulated, semi-permanent glue that will not irritate the eye nor damage the natural lash.

Lash extensions take any where from 2-3 hours for the initial set. Yes, that’s a long time, but it’s literally the definition of beauty sleep – nothing like a nice long nap while someone else is pampering you. Once applied, your technician will give you a lash wand to comb out your lashes daily to kept them from getting tangled and keep that curl. It’s recommend that you do not wear mascara with your lash extensions to insure a longer lash life but if  you must then only apply to the corners of the lashes. Mascara will make your extensions clump up and break off faster. You can wear both eye shadow and liner with lash extensions just be sure {this is crucial}  to only use an oil free soap {baby shampoo is best} or oil free make up remover wipes. It’s also advised to not sleep on your lashes or rub your eyes to insure a longer lash life – sucks for us stomach sleepers! oh the things we sacrifice for beauty.

{ What about the horrific allergic reaction stories I’ve read!? }

Your eyes are closed during this 2-3 hour process so the chance of glue getting into your eyes is very slim. To avoid any irritation, however, the first safety precaution you can take is to be sure that the glue is safe for your eyes and doesn’t contain anything that can harm them, like formaldehyde. Buildup of formaldehyde comes from glues being shipped across the world by the time they reach the salon.

{ How often do you need a lash fill? }

Did you know on an average, 1 to 5 natural lashes fall out every day. New lashes grow frequently and replace the lost ones to maintain the complete thick look, so your lashes never get damaged by extensions. When applied properly, semi-permanent extensions can last up to a full month, or even longer, depending on the growth cycle of your natural eyelashes. To maintain the look fills are necessary every 2 to 3 weeks to replace the lashes that have shed or outgrown. An initial set is typically between $200 -$250 with a fill between $70-$80.

{ CONS vs. PROS }

Cons

• The application time is long. Like mentioned above be ready to schedule out a chunk of your day for an initial set and the maintenance of a fill appointment every  2-3 weeks.
• Cost. Lets round up and say you get a fill every 4 weeks, you are paying $1040 a year in refills – yikes. That’s also only if you keep up with the refill appointments, miss out on one and you’re going to end up paying more as you’ll need a full set to get started again.
• You’ll have to be cautious. Some might find it inconvenient to have to be cautious and gentle when it comes to your extensions and washing your face (oil free), sleeping, and making sure not to rub your eyes.

Pros

• Gorgeous Lashes! This goes without saying but you know I had to say it. This is the main reason you put the time and money into this beauty trend.
• Convenience! Your make up routine will be cut in half and you will save so much time. I can’t tell you how much time I save and you will find yourself just throwing on some tinted moisturizer and heading out the door confidently.
• You always look put together! Extensions have a way of making you look like alert and awake even without a drop of make up on. Extensions are SO NICE when it comes to vacations too, coming up out of the water not looking like a drowned raccoon from running mascara is always a huge plus.

 { My Advice }

 If you’re thinking there’s no way you an afford to keep up with the maintenance, you’re not alone and I find myself in this same boat. So I’ll tell you this, I highly recommend eyelash extensions for any and all special events like your wedding day, if you have a photo shoot coming up, an important party, or if you have multiple events in one month – think wedding season. I loved my lash extensions when on our honeymoon last summer as I literally just woke up and didn’t have to do a thing but put on some moisturizer. It was so nice that after getting in the water I didn’t look like a raccoon from my mascara running  and instead my lashes looked perfectly in tact and fabulous – extensions for vacations are a must! You should be out exploring not stuck in your room getting ready.

What do y’all think!? Please let me know if you have any questions what so ever or if you have any lash extension tips, advice, or testimonies of your own, I’d love to hear them!

always,

x – L e a h