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24 November 2021
“Do eyelash extensions damage my natural lashes?”
“Do eyelash extensions make my eyelashes fall out faster?”
“Do eyelash extensions hurt?”
It is likely that as a lash artist, you get asked these questions day in and day out. There are a lot of misconceptions about the safety of eyelash extensions, and so today we’re going to do some MYTH BUSTING!
Read on to learn more about lash extensions and eyelash health! ALL these facts will be helpful to know as a lash artist, especially when you’re having conversations with clients or potential clients about whether or not lash extensions are damaging!
We're going to cover the three most-asked questions and serve you some facts. Let’s start with the question that gets asked THE MOST:
“Do eyelash extensions damage my natural lashes?”
When eyelash extensions are correctly applied by well-trained and/or licensed professionals, they do NOT cause damage to the natural eyelashes. You’ll find that many people who have been getting eyelash extensions nonstop for years notice no change in the length, thickness and fullness of their lash line. This is why clients should always do their research when finding a lash artist. It is important to find a lash artist who is certified, knowledgeable about lashes, and truly takes time and care when applying the extensions.
Improper applicationcan lead to damage to the natural eyelashes. However, this is not as common as many may think! Most lash artists nowadays are well-trained, and take initiative to continue their education and stay up-to-date about lash knowledge. In the rare circumstances that the eyelashes do get damaged, it is likely due to these reasons happeningrepeatedly over time:
Applying extensions that are overly thick, long, or adding too many lashes to a volume fan can be too heavy for the client’s natural eyelashes to hold. When there’s too much weight to support, it causes stress to the natural lash.
When eyelash extensions are properly attached, each extension should only be attached to one natural lash. Perfect isolation of the client’s natural lash is necessary before the extension is applied. When isolation is not precise, the extension can accidentally attach to more than one natural lash. The term for this is called “stickies”.
Having “stickies” can lead to tugging and pulling of the eyelashes, which causes discomfort and damage to the natural lashes. In very rare cases, this can lead to traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair/eyelashes due to repeated pulling. The constant trauma to the lash follicles results in loss of lashes, and in the worst scenario, this becomes permanent.
Lash artists should always double check at the very end of the appointment to ensure that there are no “stickies”. The check is done by going in between each and every lash to find and unstick any “stickies”. Usinghigh quality isolation tweezers can make a huge difference when it comes to perfecting lash isolation.
Cleansing Daily
Keeping the eyelash extensions clean using alash cleanser daily can prevent the occurrence of eye infections (also known as conjunctivitis), and other ocular disorders such as blepharitis. According to theNational Eye Institute, blepharitis is most commonly caused by having too much bacteria on the eyelids. One of the possible consequences of blepharitis is eyelash loss.
It is therefore critical that lash artists educate clients on the importance of cleansing their lashes daily, even if they are not wearing makeup. Oil, dirt, makeup, and dead skin can get caught in the lashes and cause build-up. Proper cleansing prevents infections, improves lash retention, and maintains the natural lash health.
Do no pick, pull, or rub
Picking, pulling, or rubbing the extensions can cause damage similar to “stickies”. Constant pulling can lead to traction alopecia.
Booking refills every 2-4 weeks
To maintain the health of natural eyelashes, a refill should be booked every 2-4 weeks. During a refill appointment, the lash artist removes out-grown extensions, and replaces them with new ones. Grown out extensions must be removed because as the natural lash grows, the weight of the extension gets distributed to the tip of the natural lash. When this occurs, the lashes start twisting and turning.
“Do eyelash extensions make my eyelashes fall out faster?”
At any point in time, we have lashes in different stages of the lash growth cycle. The phases of the cycle include the anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting) phase. At the end of the telogen phase, lashes are shed and new anagen lashes replace them. It is therefore normal for the average person to lose two to five natural eyelashes per day.
It is important to educate clients that eyelashes grow, shed, and get replaced just like hair on our head. Many clients are actually NOT aware of this, and therefore get concerned when they see extensions shed along with their natural eyelash. When eyelashes are applied appropriately, they do NOT make eyelashes fall out faster.
“Do eyelash extensions hurt?”
No, eyelash extensions should not cause pain. Any pain or discomfort during or after the service should be communicated to the lash artist immediately. The lash artist should ask questions and gather information to determine the most likely cause of discomfort, and assess whether it requires urgent attention. The most common culprits of pain or discomfort include:
During the appointment: Stinging/burning sensation
Stinging or burning is most often due to the eyes not being fully shut during the appointment. The small amount of fumes released when the adhesive cures can irritate the eyes, and cause a stinging or burning sensation. When the client’s eyes are fully closed, this should not occur. If the client has a hard time keeping their eyes fully closed,tape can assist in holding the eyelid down and keeping the eyes closed.
Another possible reason for stinging is when the gel eye pad shifts into the client’s eyes. Usually when stinging occurs, the client’s eyes will start tearing up. If at any time the client is tearing, ask the client if they feel any discomfort. Then, proceed to check if the client’s eyes are fully closed, and to see if the gel pad has shifted. Make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the client does not experience discomfort.
After the appointment: Tugging / Poking sensation
When eyelash extensions are not properly applied, the client may feel pain due to the tugging or poking of eyelashes. Eyelashes can feel like they’re tugging if there are “stickies” in the lash set. When clients feel something poking, it is likely that the base of the extension was not applied correctly, and is poking the client’s eyelid.
And there you have it! A lot of the myths and concerns about eyelash extensions are really just misconceptions. It’s highly rare to see permanent damage to natural lashes when the lash artist applies the extensions properly, and when they are well taken care of by clients.
We hope that you found value in this blog, and that it’ll help you answer all your client’s burning questions about eyelash extensions and the health of natural lashes! Next time you get asked the same questions, you know exactly what to say😌.
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24 September 2024
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