people often wonder…
“WILL LASH EXTENSIONS DAMAGE MY NATURAL LASHES?”
Nope. This is the biggest myth in the lash industry, and it’s partly due to the beginning days of lash extensions and lash artists not knowing the proper application techniques that we use today, and much of it is due to the usage of the word “damage.” Your natural lashes will not be damaged permanently as long as both you and your lash artist are properly caring for them. Similarly to when acrylic nails are applied, or when bleach is used to lighten hair, both the natural nail bed and head hair are temporarily altered. With proper techniques and client aftercare, your lashes will be just fine. When applying an extension, it’s imperative your lash artist is isolating each individual natural lash to ensure proper separation. If lashes are separated properly, your natural hairs will continue to grow and shed as they would naturally. If they aren’t separated properly, natural lashes can stick together, disrupting the lash growth cycle. Using too much adhesive can also cause lashes to stick together. You can be confident that the sufficient amount of adhesive is used by me, to both maintain the health of your lashes, as well as help them last longer.
Lash extensions can be damaging if your lash artist is not using these proper techniques. The health & integrity of your natural lashes should never be compromised with a trained & educated lash artist. I use a 3x magnification loupe that allows me to see the tiniest detail along your lash line. I also don’t rush the process. Damage can easily occur if the lash artist is rushed or trying to put on as many extensions as possible in a short appointment time. It can also occur if the lash artist can’t see properly.
“HOW DO THEY FEEL?”
Lash extensions feel weightless. Once you've gotten used to them (I usually give it about 1-3 days), your extensions will feel light + painless. The technique that I use achieves the most durable bond with longevity, and a more authentic look. Because of this, your lashes can feel “tight” during the first few days, especially if you have more sensitive eyes. Again, I refer back to acrylic nails, or even hair extensions. When first applied, you can feel both of those until they've grown out a bit to where they just feel like a part of you. This is very similar with lash extensions. I’ve noticed that it varies from client to client - some don’t feel anything at all afterwards, and some (myself included) can feel them for a day or so. If you know you have sensitive eyes, just be aware that they might feel tight until they grow away from your lash line. Maintaining the health and integrity of your natural lashes is of utmost importance to me. While designing your lash set, I am constantly adjusting how much adhesive I use and how “thick” of an extension I am applying based off of what your natural lash is telling me and how it is behaving.
“WILL MY NATURAL LASHES FALL OUT MORE FREQUENTLY WITH LASH EXTENSIONS?”
No. Again, if your lash artist is properly isolating and separating your lashes, listening to what your natural lash is telling them and choosing the most appropriate extension, your lashes will shed as they normally do. Our natural lashes are constantly growing and shedding. We shed about 3-5 lashes per eye a day! You probably remember being young and someone reaching for an eyelash on your cheek that you would then blow away and make a wish on - that’s probably really our only memory of lashes shedding - but it is normal, and not a result of having extensions applied. With extensions it’s a lot more noticeable because all of a sudden they’re darker, thicker, longer and worth more money hehe. But don’t you worry - we WANT your lashes to be shedding like normal because this tells us they’re in good health!
“HOW MANY EXTENSION DO YOU PUT ON?”
I put on about 120-150 lashes on per eye - or as many natural lashes you have. 100% coverage is always my goal. Some people naturally have less follicles and some clients have asked for less. No matter what, I will make sure your lashes look authentic.
“HOW LONG DO EXTENSIONS LAST?”
The industry standard for extensions lasting is about 2-3 weeks before needing a fill. My clients lashes - on average - last 4 weeks, but I like to say 3-5 weeks because your lash growth cycle may be faster or slower. We won’t know this until after a few times seeing each other, so I recommend booking all clients on a 4-week schedule and then adjusting accordingly once we know your growth cycle and once we know if you like to keep them more full looking, or if you don’t mind them being a little thinned out by the time you come back to see me. With that said, it also greatly depends on both the aftercare of your lashes (what you do at home) as well as the natural shedding cycle of your lashes. Our eyelashes grow in stages - a full growth cycle is typically 6-8 weeks. As we age, this process tends to take longer.Another key factor to longer lasting lashes is whether or not you decide to wear a lot of makeup. Your natural lashes can become damaged if you wear thick, heavy makeup with your extensions. This is because this kind of makeup application makes it very difficult to remove at the end of the day, as it can cause your lashes to clump together which puts stress on the roots of your lashes and can prematurely pull them out. The shear force action of rubbing off your makeup also puts stress on your lashes. It is also difficult for the lash artist to remove, which means residual makeup can be left on your lashes and I may not get the kind of bond necessary to ensure the retention I’m known for.It is imperative to keep your lash extensions clean and free of debris buildup. Cleansing your lashes once per day - or more at my discretion - will greatly improve your retention. Kindly refer to my Client Aftercare guide for details.
“WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS LIKE + HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?”
During your first full set appointment, we will talk about the look you desire before we begin the application. When I design lashes, I customize each set by taking into account eye shape, the direction your lashes grow, your facial structure, and your lifestyle. The full set will take 3 hours, although sometimes it takes less time, and sometimes it takes longer. It is quite the meticulous process since we are working with your delicate eye area. Before we begin, I suggest popping in your headphones and listening to music, a podcast or audiobook. I have a comfortable lash bed that I keep cozy with blankets and a bolster for under your knees. Most clients fall asleep and I like to refer to your appointment as your “lash nap.” Once I begin, I’ll cleanse your eyelids and lash area. This takes seconds unless any residual makeup needs to be removed, in which case it can take minutes. I will always ask that you remove all makeup before the appointment. Next, the bottom lashes will be taped down using surgical tape to place a barrier between them and the top lashes. With your eyes closed, I will begin applying your extensions apply your extensions. It is important that you do not open your eyes at any time. The fumes from the adhesive can sting your eyes similarly to when we chop an onion and your eyes immediately tear up. This can slow me down, so do your best to keep them closed. Just how an onions fumes don’t cause any damage to your eye, neither do the fumes from the adhesive. Please see below for details about lash adhesive. Once I’ve finished, I will immediately rinse your eyes out with a sensitive saline solution, which is the most comfortable for our eyes. This helps the adhesive cure, removes the solvent and rinses any makeup or dead skin cell debris that may have gotten into your eyes during the process. Once you open, you will see your beautiful lashes for the first time! Now is a great time to tell me if you feel any discomfort as well as address any design concerns you feel you see.
“WHAT HAPPENS DURING A FILL?”
Everything that happened during the initial full set happens at your fill, but now I am removing grown out extensions and replacing them with new ones. During your full set, I covered 100% of your natural lashes with extensions. During each fill, I typically remove about 75% of your pre-existing extensions. Fills either take 1.5 hours or 2 hours. I will recommend which one I suggest you book if you want them to be 100% full every time.
“WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE I COME IN FOR MY LASHES?”
Please remove all the makeup around your eyes before you come in. If you don’t have the time, I will remove it for you when you arrive, however, please know that it I won’t extend your appointment time. I will always do as much as I can with the time remaining.
“CAN I WEAR EYE MAKEUP LIKE EYE SHADOW, MASCARA OR EYELINER WITH MY EXTENSIONS?”
Lash extensions typically eliminate the need or desire for these altogether. However, I completely understanding wanting to glitz it up a bit for special occasions. Eyeshadow is not a problem, but be aware of cream products - including eyeliners and overly creamy, mousse-like mascaras as they are typically harder to remove. It is also imperative to avoid waterproof eye makeup of any kind, as it is extremely difficult to remove and again will cause too much force when removing that can hurt our lashes and/or cause extensions to shed prematurely. There are mascaras and eyeliners that are made specifically for lash extensions and if I’m sold out in the studio, I’m happy to refer a number of brands you can order online!
“CAN I GET MY LASH EXTENSIONS WET?”
YES! In fact, when I rinse your eyes at the end of every appointment, I’ve already gotten them wet for you. Feel free to sweat, swim, shower, get a facial, sit in a sauna, etc.Not only can you get your lashes wet, you should be washing them at least once daily to remove debris, sweat + dead skin cells that have built up throughout the day. Cleansing your lashes keeps them stronger + healthier, and lasting longer.NOTE: rinsing is NOT cleansing. Please refer to the Client Aftercare guide for details.
“WILL WASHING / CLEANSING MY LASHES CAUSE MY EXTENSIONS TO FALL OUT FASTER?”
No. Sometimes clients tell me they don't want to “over-clean” their lashes for fear of them shedding faster or not lasting as long. This is a myth and the opposite is true. Similar to sunless tanner, if we exfoliate beforehand and moisturize during, we prolong the life of the tan.It’s normal to see a minimal amount of lashes shed while washing, so don’t be alarmed when that happens. It isn’t the extension popping off, it’s the natural lash + extension together, shedding naturally.
“WHAT IF I CURRENTLY USE LATISSE? CAN I STILL USE IT WITH EXTENSIONS?”
I generally ask clients to stop using Latisse (or any other lash growth serum) a minimum of 4 days before they come in, but 7 days is preferred. When a client is using Latisse, it leaves a residue on the lashes that acts like a catalyst and causes the glue to bond instantly. Even if I cleanse the lashes before, it still speeds up the curing process. Because of this, I discourage clients from using Latisse. It also causes the lashes to grow so much that they have to come in more often to take care of their lashes.
“SHOULD I NOT USE A LASH GROWTH SERUM AT ALL THEN (WHILE WEARING EXTENSIONS)?”
You absolutely can, and sometimes I will recommend it. However, please do not use a lash growth serum unless I recommend it. The thing about lash serums is that - they work. They cause your lashes to grow out and shed faster if your lashes are already at their optimal health. I typically recommend a serum for the following reasons:
-if you come to me with damaged lashes,
-if you pick or pull at your lashes,
-if you’ve worn too much makeup with your extensions and need to strengthen them back up again,
-if the roots of you lashes are shallow, causing them to fall out easily when I touch them,
-or in the rare (but it has happened) chance you decide to wear falsies on top of your extensions, and subsequently pull out natural lashes when you remove the falsies.
All lash growth serums on the market do good things, but they are not all made the same. Some are nourishing and help our lashes get healthier, and some are nourishing while also helping our lashes grow. I do not recommend Latisse or any other serum that has a prostaglandin analog in it, such as isopropyl cloprostenate. Please reach out to me for a list of serums I do recommend.
Please note: results vary depending on how often you use a serum and in fact, only work while using a serum. Once you stop using it, the benefits stop.
“WHAT KIND OF LASHES DO YOU USE? I’VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE SILK AND MILK LASHES. WHAT ARE THE LASHES MADE OF?”
I use lash extensions made of 100% polyester fiber that are made to mimic the look + feel of silk or mink. Real mink hair is never used by Reverie Beauty Co, and about 95% of the industry no longer uses it either. The manufacturers can’t prove that minks were not harmed in the harvesting of their hairs, and mink hair loses its shape + curl over time. Overall, it is not a desirable fiber to use for lash extensions.
“WHAT KIND OF ADHESIVE DO YOU USE?”
The type of adhesive used for lash extension application is called a cyanoacrylate. It is medical,-grade, formaldehyde-free and made specifically for lash extensions. My personal favorite is Bomb Diggity adhesive by Lashbomb.
“ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE ADHESIVE?”
Yes. Some people can develop an allergic reaction to the adhesive (3%-5% of the population is allergic to cyanoacrylates). It is not an infection. It is technically called contact dermatitis, which is just to say that the skin is having an allergic response to the adhesive. It typically presents after 3-4 exposures (3-4 exposures in general after the initial application) to the adhesive. For those who are allergic, the morning after their appointment the lids of the eyes will be puffy - more swollen than a night of crying. The actual eyeballs will be normal - they won’t be producing any redness or discharge. You can be assured that there is relief though. There is a prescription ointment available that a doctor can prescribe. Please refer to my guide, Understanding the Allergy for more details.
“IS THERE A WAY TO TELL IF I HAVE THE ALLERGY BEFORE I GET EXTENSIONS?”
There is not. Many lash artists will suggest doing a patch test. It’s crucial to understand that you cannot do a 24 hour patch test because the allergy doesn’t present itself until we are exposed to it at least 3-4 times.
“IF I HAD LASIK EYE SURGERY, CAN I STILL GET EXTENSIONS?”
As long as 2 weeks (at minimum) have passed since your surgery, you can get extensions. If you are considering surgery while you already have extensions, it isn’t necessary to remove them before your surgery, although it is suggested since the eyes are propped open and you run the risk of some possibly being yanked out during the procedure. During the lasik healing process, it is important to avoid rubbing your eyes or doing anything that might lead to infection in the wound or dislodging the corneal flap and since I touch your eyelid, it would be irresponsible of me to conduct a fill until your eyes have completely healed.
“ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?”
Please do no use Strivectin 3 days prior to coming in. It interferes with bonding the extension to the natural lash, which diminishes my ability to deliver great retention.