One of the biggest beauty routine changes I had in 2019 was getting lash extensions. I first did this somewhat on a whim around February when I decided to get them because I was off to The Brits. I felt like I needed to dial up the glam a tad and you know what. I am hooked. So now nearly a year into the lash extension life I thought I would share the tips and tricks and ‘words of wisdom’ that I’ve picked up over the time I’ve been living that lash extension life. Because let’s just say, there’s been some highs and lows.
First things first, before you set foot in the salon it’s worth knowing the ins and outs of options and what you’re signing up for. In a nutshell there are three types of lashes:
Individuals: One lash extension on one of your natural lashes. In the lash extension world, this is considered the most natural option.
Russian: Two or three lashes on each natural lash. A fuller and fluttery effect. This is the more dramatic extension option simply down to it being more lashes involved.
Hybrid: A combination of the two. Some Russian and some individuals. Basically a custom option.
For all lash options above there are various lengths and curls to suit the overall look you want. Plus different lashes and brands come in different weights (how thick/heavy each lashes is) and all of these can make a difference to the final look.
What you go for will be a combination of the look you want and what is right for your own lashes. If you have fine or short lashes you might want to consider the weigh of each extension This is where the person you go to for your extensions is pretty much the make or break moment.
This is my biggest piece of advice. Do you research on where you go and who you book with. Have a look at the salon/person’s Instagram and see what their work looks like. See what they consider good enough to promote their work. Of course, a lot of what is a good lash look is subjective. For me, I wanted something that looked like natural lashes, but really really good ones. I personally didn’t want them to look like chunky black blocks of lashes. Too uniform and false looking.
On my first ’round’ of lash extensions I made a few rookie errors. I chose to go somewhere because it was convenient but didn’t really do the research to see if it was the best option for the look I wanted. The end result was lashes a tad too heavy and long for my natural lash which caused my lashes to be damaged.
This is the biggest question and in my experience, yes – lash extensions can damage your lashes. BUT there’s a number of steps you can take to reduce or totally avoid it. My tips for this are:
*I don’t always take my own advice on this… I did say I was hooked…
The lash extension life isn’t for everyone. It involves regular maintenance and that comes at a price (both time and money). I tend to have ‘top ups’ every two to three weeks (two in an ideal world, but sometimes has to be three) and each one is around £25. It means you can’t give your eyes a good rub and avoiding all oil based products around the eye is a must. Mascara becomes a no-no – which isn’t a big deal as you don’t need it. But if you adore a mascara then skip the extensions.
BUT if you go for it. You can go makeup free and still look ‘together’ (this is my major plus), I can wake up and feel like I can head out without a scrap of makeup and doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Even when I feel my most tired, the lash extensions take me through and make me look less shattered than I feel.
All in all, I am a huge fan of lash extensions. I am already pre-booked to get my next set applied as I’m currently having a break. I can’t now see a time that I wouldn’t want to have them. For me the time and money investment is well worth the every day ease and the confidence they give me.
Any lash extension questions let me know as always happy to answer them!
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I’m soooo tempted. And yes I have questions – you knew this right?! Okay, do you wear eyeshadow at all, and if so how do you take it off? I usually use a Beauty Pie balm cleanser – can I still do that? And how do you get the eyeshadow off if you can’t rub your eyes? I think that’s it 🙂
Ok so answers. I use eyeshadow but use a non oily eye makeup remover to take it off. Going a bit more gently than I would otherwise and using a cotton bud to get closest to the lashes. With the cleanser, you could still use all over your face but then maybe use an oil free one close to the eyes. Hope that helps!