Realistic Expectations Eyelash Extensions

Realistic expectations about eyelash extensions begins with being educated about many things.

• About your hair growth
• About Aftercare
• Today’s ads in magazines

A Little Bit Of Science

Providing eyelash extensions and receiving them require being educate about the “how, what & why” of “expectations”.

One of the most popular questions is how long will or should they last?

Did you know that your natural eyelash hair sheds?    Yes!…it does.

Professionally, I feel this little bit of science will help set up your expectations to be realistic when it comes to getting eyelash extensions for the first time or answering questions about “durability or longevity” after wearing them for a while.

My eyelashes will shed?

Yes, and here is why:

You natural hair for your eyelashes and hair on your head, goes through a life cycle of growth.   The cycles are anagen, catagen, and telogen.

What does this mean exactly and how does this affect the longevity of your eyelash extensions service?

Your extensions will be applied to one human hair or attachment site.

(The photo shown give you a close view of a what a classic eyelash extension application looks like.  Your natural lash hair actually grows in rows.)

Each one of those “attachment sites” are at a different cycle of life.     Everyone’s shed rate or growth rate will be different.

Are My Extensions “PERMANENT” ?

No.   They are semi-permanent.

They are going to require maintenance at home and regular visits called either “fills” or “re-lashing” appointments to keep them looking fresh.

How Long Can My Extensions Be?

This is another popular question.

There are safety limits, as your extensionist, that will be predetermined by the natural length of your lash hair.

The artificial extensions come in a whole variety of lengths, thick, curvatures and colors!     The customization of your service is endless.

Will My Extensions Always Look The Same?

The “same” is an objective perspective.   Given that the natural canvas, your own lash hair, will always be going through its life cycle of growth and shedding….it really is challenging to give a definite answer to this question.

Your own natural lash hair does not stop growing when extensions are applied.   If you eyelash hair grows it will be necessary to put a longer extension on it or them.

The look of your design may change over time, and this is perfectly normal.

The purpose of the “fill” appointments is to re-plenish the extensions that have shed with the lash hair that is was attached to.

A fill appointment requires that you have 50% of your extensions left when you come in.

What if I lose extensions days after getting a fill?

This is still “normal”   and can happen.

Tips At Home:

Tip:  Do your best to sleep on your back.  

Why this is so important is that it can take up to 24 hours for the adhesive to completely cure.

Sleep on your stomach with you face more in the pillow?    This is the worst for your extensions.

Be kind to your extensionsist because they cannot wake you up when you are at home to correct your head position.

First 24 hour RULE:   DO NOT GET EXTENSIONS WET.  No water, steam or excessive sweat can come on contact with the extensions for the first 24 hours during the curing time of the adhesive.  This rule applies to each treatment.

Showering:    Avoid direct water pressure on your face.     It is ok to get your extensions wet, and you can even go swimming but take care of cleansing your face when you are in the shower.

Using a little common sense will save you stressing out about your extensions, and help with the longevity.   For complete aftercare directions be sure to ask at your consultation or at our lash extension appointment.

Your aftercare will play a huge role with the longevity.   You will need to take care of them just how you are instructed.

NO Crying:   WITHIN first 24 hours  If you are going to be attending an event that you may become emotional, be sure to schedule you appointment accordingly.   You need to keep your extensions dry for the first 48 hours.

During & At Your Salon Appointment

You can expect to have all aspects explained to you and subsequently you will be reminding on the “how to” care of your extensions.

This type of luxury service is a “semi-permanent” cosmetic procedure that is extremely precise.    Your natural lash hair is isolated with tweezers and the extensions are applied with surgical grade adhesive very close to your eyes.

How will you be prepped for your service?

Tip:  It is best not to drink a lot of liquids before your extension service because once your treatment begins you will not be able to get up to use the restroom.

Preparation: 

• You will first have a extremely thorough consultation.
• Your design and expectations will be discussed.
• The necessary aftercare products & care  will be gone over
• Paperwork signed

Treatment Room Experience:

• You will be relaxed and fully reclined on a massage table
• Your lower eyelashes will be secured out of the way with soothing under eye gel patches.
• Quiet music with be playing
• Your natural lash hair will be prepped by being cleansed & primed
• Your relaxation will now begin.

Can I talk during my treatment?

It is advised that you do not, and the reason being is that your facial area needs to remain still because of how precise this procedure is.     It is extremely important that the focus remains on the extension service itself.

Is is ok or will I fall asleep?

It is very common that my clients fall asleep, however if you can just go to that “quiet/happy” place that happens before deep sleep, that will be the most helpful.

Sometimes, when we go into a REM sleep it can cause our body’s or head to jerk.   This will make it extremely difficult to be able to facilitate the procedure and will cause repetitive head repositioning to provide the services.

Why will my head need to be moved during my service?

When you extensions are applied, the application will be applied to your lashes on one side or one lash and then the next application site will next being on the other eye.    The step of going back and forth on each eye, will ensure that the adhesive dries in that isolated area.

Final Words

Realistic expectations about eyelash extensions are that you can expect that once you get eyelash extensions that you may never want to go back to your natural lashes.

You can expect to become quickly accustomed to how much the extensions will enhance the look of your eyes or the length of your lashes.

You may quickly forget what your natural lashes looked like, and will definitely be more conscious when they shed.

Also realize that if you are going to get eyelash extensions it is so important to not compare your lashes to those that you see in the magazines, etc.   Many times the photographs are enhanced with Photo Shop or if not with that, then the companies will choose a model that has enough natural lash hair for three villages.

Your dietary habits or if there are any changes in medications that your are on can potentially affect your service.   You will need to communicate this to your lash stylist.

Clear Communication

Having a fun relationship with your lash extensionist is key.  (Bella Lash has a great ‘Lash Etiquette’ article)

This service is very artistic in nature and with your natural lash canvas constantly   growing & shedding the “look” you want may be an ongoing experience.

Trust your lash extensionist.     Experienced ones are hard to find.

To Learn More Or To Book

Call 413-734-6204

Thank you for reading.

Ann Marie Walts

Advanced Certified Lash Stylist