It's definitely a question that I personally contemplated with for a while, but ultimately decided in favor. Are lashes for me? Like manicures and pedicures, and massages, tanning, hair extensions - lash extensions are a luxury. They also require continued maintenance as your eyelashes follow your body's natural hair growth cycle, meaning you have a whole new set of lashes every 2-3 months. If you're not committed to maintenance, but perhaps want to get them for a special occasion, that works too! I would just recommend that if you're a picker (you know who you are - constantly touching your face searching for imperfections) to have your lashes removed once you're done with your event and ready for your fill. Otherwise, they will fall out on their own over time. My personal experience during quarantine this year, at the end of the 2 months that I had to go without my bi-weekly fills, I had four lashes left on my right eye and three lashes left on my left eye. Luckily, I wasn't seeing anyone because #quarantine.
And that was the photo I sent my lash artist updating her on my lash loss progression, and letting her know that I couldn't wait for my next lash nap.
NEXT BIG QUESTION: Can anyone get lash extensions?
YES! Almost everyone is a candidate for lash extensions if applied properly and thoughtfully. However like most procedures, there are contraindications that would not make you a candidate. These include:
- Swollen, red, or itchy eyes (or any other sign of an abnormal condition)
- Active eye infections (stye, conjunctivitis or blepharitis)
- Recent eye/ nose surgery (including laser eye surgery)
- Recent permanent make-up application in the eye area
- Allergies to adhesives (specifically Ethyl cyanoacrylate, PMMA, Hydroquinone, or Carbon black)
If you have allergies or are sensitive or reactive to products, a great way to test and see if you're a candidate for eyelash extensions is to do a "Patch Test." During a patch test, the lash artist will apply 3-5 lashes to the outer eye area on both eyes. After 48-72 hours, if no reaction has occurred, it is safe to move forward with your full set.
While lashes are safe during pregnancy, we would recommend discussing it with your doctor to ensure your health and safety prior to application, and would recommend completing a patch test prior to a full set if you haven't had lash extensions previously.
If you have any questions or hesitations, feel free to DM me on instagram @bluebirdiebeauty or email bluebirdiebeauty@gmail.com. I'm happy to help or be of service!