Eyelash Extensions

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about my eyelashes. That’s because for the last couple months, I’ve been rocking eyelash extensions! The idea was that they’d be a great thing to have during the last couple months of my pregnancy, since we didn’t really know when the babe would actually come. And this way even if he came in the middle of the night, I’d have something that made me feel mildly presentable. Turns out none of that ended up being necessary (baby was a week late and I was induced!), but I sure have enjoyed my eyelash extensions all the same!

The truth is, I had my skepticisms about getting them at all. Would they make my real eyelashes fall out? Would they weigh my eyes down? Would they itch or get infected or just be wildly annoying? Would they even look good? Would I get attached to them and then feel like I wasn’t cute without them? LOTS of concerns – cuz I’m a freak like that.

In case you’ve wondered about eyelash extensions yourself and/or had any of the same questions, I wanted to share my experience with you! I’ve pulled in the master-mind who did my eyelash extensions to answer some FAQ’s and do some myth busting.

Here we g0!

 Photos by KNW Photography

 

Eyelash Extensions FAQ’s and Myth Busting
per Lindsay Farrell, Bay Area Eyelash Extensionist

Q: What are eyelash extensions?

A: An eyelash extension is a single synthetic hair that’s shaped with a curl and applied individually one at a time to the natural lash itself, using a small amount of safe, odorless surgical adhesive. There’s no contact with the skin.

Q: Can I get eyelash extensions if my natural lashes are super straight? What my eyelashes grow downward?

A: If you have very straight natural lashes or lashes that grow downward, you can still get eyelash extensions! You’d want straight extensions (called J curl). You can do curled extensions (called C curl), but be aware that because of the shape of the natural lash, they made not be adhered to the entire natural lash so they may grow out faster.

Q: What can I expect during the appointment?

A: Clients are reclined on a comfortable massage table. With eyes closed for the whole procedure. Most clients fall asleep and awake with fuller lashes that instantly yield a groomed, polished look – eliminating the need for eyeliner and mascara.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: It can range anywhere from $100-$300 for the first time. It SHOULD take a good 2hrs for the first time. Lindsay’s advice: I would NEVER pay more than $150 for the first time. Any higher is a rip-off.

Q: How long do they last?

A: Naturally, lashes fall off and grow back on a regular cycle. Once the client has received their initial set of lashes they will return every 3-4 weeks for a “Fill” in order to maintain the appearance of a full set of lashes.

Q: Will getting lash extensions make my natural lashes fall out?

A: No. Your extensions will grow out with your natural lashes and fall out on their own. The only way your natural lashes could be compromised is if the extensions are pulled, pinched, or picked at, or if you expose them to water too soon after your appointment (including crying and sweating).

Q: Will getting lash extensions weaken my natural lashes?

A: No. As long as you are gentle with your extensions, your natural lashes will maintain their normal strength. Natural lashes are weakened with repeated exposure to prodding, pulling or irritation, so as long as you let your extensions grow out naturally with your lashes and with minimal irritation, they will be as strong as they normally are. If you fear your lashes are naturally very weak I recommend getting a lash lengthening serum that is extension safe. I can recommend those products to you.

Q: I have naturally short eyelashes; will I look crazy with extensions on?

A: The length of your lash extensions is entirely up to you. You can choose how natural or dramatic they will look. I have a wide variety of lengths so no matter what length your natural lashes are there is no reason why they should not look beautiful and natural on you.

Q: How long does it take to have them applied?

A: My job is to get an extension on every single one of your natural lashes, which means the length of the appointment can vary depending on the amount of natural lashes you have. Plan on it being around 2 hrs. Refill appointments generally take 1.5hrs.

Q: Can I wear mascara with my lash extensions?

A: No. Mascara weakens the glue and shortens the life of your lash extensions. Also, makeup removers and facial cleansers used to remove mascara that are oil based will weaken your lash extension glue and probably result in their premature removal. Again, I recommend getting the special sealant mascara to keep them looking beautiful and dramatic as well as healthy and strong.

Q: I’m blonde- will it look unnatural for me to have black lash extensions?

A: No. It will only look like you are wearing black mascara. Brown extensions are available though if that is what you prefer.

Q: What do I do during the appointment?

A: The best part of getting your lashes done is that you get to have your eyes closed the whole time. Clients lay flat on their backs on my professional massage table. Clients typically fall asleep, listen to audiobooks/music, or listen to movies playing in the background. My goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible. Be sure to come comfortably dressed. Blankets, pillows, mints and water will be available to you.

Other Tips:

-Keep in mind that when your extensions have all grown out, the contrast may make you believe at first that your natural lashes have been damaged. But don’t worry – it’s just the contrast that makes them appear shorter.

-Tell your extensionist to mimic the lengths that your natural lashes already are and be honest with them about what your lashes naturally do. You know your lashes better than they do.

-Make sure your extensionist goes back and forth from one eye to another frequently. If they put all the extensions on one eye before putting any on the other they are not allowing time for the extension glue to dry and all the lashes will be stuck together, which does cause lash damage.

-A lot of extensionists use tape to secure the bottom lashes out of the way but the tape can be irritating and can cause an allergic reaction. Ask them to use a lint free under eye pad like this instead.

-Make sure that if you talk during your appt, you don’t move your head or eyebrows.

-There are different styles of lash extensions: Cat Eye=longest extensions at the very end. China doll=longest extensions in the middle, shorter on both corners.

-Lash extensions come in different thicknesses, the thinnest are whispy looking, the thickest are dense and black.

-For the most natural of looks, ask your extensionist to vary the lengths at every point, to have long and short extensions in every area so it’s not too uniform.

Hopefully that helps with some of your questions about extensions! For the record, my personal experience has been that I’ve LOVED these things. The greatest appeal in my opinion has been how low maintenance they are – it’s so nice to get out of the shower and feel like a huge part of my makeup routine is already done – the mascara! No cleaning off mascara residue under my eye, no curling my lashes or applying a million coats of mascara. Wham bam thank you ma’am!

Admittedly, I AM a teensy bit nervous about how I’m going to feel once they’re off, but I think it will just take adjusting to my natural lashes again and I’ll be jusssssst fine. I feel like my natural lashes have always been pretty decent, so I don’t think I would keep up with having lash extensions all the time. However, I WILL say that if I had short, thin lashes, this is something I would totally pay for on the regular, simply because it makes such a difference in your appearance. They’re so pretty! And it’s nice to know that when I want to do something extra for special occasions, I can call in some eyelash extensions for the win.

 

So what do YOU guys think? Would you ever get eyelash extensions?
Have any other questions that weren’t answered here? Let us know! 

p.s. If you’re in the Bay Area, Lindsay is the absolute BEST in the biz (and incredibly reasonably priced). Give her a call if you’re interested in having her do your lashes, or just book an appointment with her online.

Have a Winning Wednesday!

Thanks for reading!