Lash dip? Lash extensions? What are all these crazy new lash products and why do you need them? I used to think people who did these kinds of things were crazy. I couldn’t imagine adding one more beauty procedure to my monthly budget. Then a close friend got extensions and they looked AMAZING! I was still on the fence about whether I could spend the money on something so frivolous but I least knew they looked great.

It was on a rainy lonely Thursday that I was reading my new Allure and found an article about this new product called “Crybaby” it was supposed to darken your lashes as well as make them fuller and longer. Sounded good to me and the price was right at 45.00 which didn’t seem to bad for something that would last 4 to 6 weeks. I found a salon in Cincinnati that offered the service and I made an appt. I was so excited to try this out all in the name of beauty research. When I went in the lady gave me the lecture on how to take care of them and whether I was a good candidate for them. Once I signed the paperwork she began applying the product. It felt like she was applying mascara then she would turn on a little fan and cure the lashes. The total time was around 45 minutes. The result the lashes were noticeably darker and longer but looked more like doll lashes than real lashes. It looked to me like someone had applied several coats of bad mascara on me. The lashes appeared clumpy, felt hard and were stiff to the touch. Not to be mistaken with “Lash dip” the “Crybaby” was a big no for me.

Here is what the website promotes:

Tints fade. Extensions fall out. Strip Lashes aren’t moisture-proof. And they’re often expensive and laborious to apply. If your salon or spa could offer a durable, longer-lasting, more affordable service to your clients, why wouldn’t you?

Cry Baby Semi-Permanent Mascara is a procedure that curls and coats lashes with our proprietary lash coating. This coating adds volume, length, curl and color to lashes, is 100% waterproof/ smear-proof and lasts two weeks, often longer. It’s ideal for active lifestyles as well as special events like weddings and vacations. Better still, it’s professionally applied by your technicians and can be offered at a fraction of the cost of extensions.

So now I had these creepy spider lashes and had no idea what to do. You cant remove it yourself so I had to make the decision…..I was going to get extensions. I had received an invite to the opening of a new lash spa in Springboro and decided to call them to discuss what had happened. To my amazement they were able to get me in that day and said they could remove my bad lash product. I was so excited I was going to bite bullet and get fabulous lashes! When I arrived the lady who would be working on my lashes took one look at my “Crybaby” mistake and said I wasn’t being silly they were bad. Not only were they bad to look at it had been applied wrong! So far this entire experience wasn’t making me feel good about lash products. Once my “Crybaby” was removed she started on my extensions. For those of you who are not familiar with extensions they are synthetic lashes applied to your individual lashes with medical grade glue. You can imagine how tedious it is for the technician. The lashes stay on 2 to 3 weeks and fall out with your normally lash shedding. My first set took around 2 hours to apply and the result…….FABULOUS!! I love love love them!! They look natural are easy to care for and on most days I don’t have to wear mascara at all. I go in for fills about every 2 weeks and I can honestly say that I am a customer for life. The initial set will put you back about 200.00 and the fills run about 45.00 every two weeks. For me it is totally worth it and I would rather have lashes than a mani/pedi any day. When you look in the mirror you feel completely different and personally I feel like I can get away with a lot less makeup. They don’t feel itchy or like you are wearing anything on your eyes. However, if you are the type of person that picks at your lashes, is an extreme sweater, or cries often this may not be for you. All of the mentioned habits will make your lashes come out sooner. Also you will have to avoid all oil based makeup removers. If you can afford to do this for yourself it is worth every penny. There are several salons in the area offering the service but my personal recommendation is Enhance Spa and Lash Studio located in Springboro. They offer Xtreme Eyelash extensions as well as “Lash Dip” and revitalash products.

Here is what the Xtreme Lash site promotes:

Xtreme Eyelashes are made from synthetic strands which are applied on to a person’s natural lashes. The process is a meticulous one as it involves the attachment of the lashes one by one. An eyelash extension procedure can be as long as two hours, and this depends on the number of lashes to be applied and the expertise of the stylist.

Eyelash extensions by Xtreme Lashes are only done by accredited and certified hairstylists who have gone through the company’s hands-on lash extension training. All sales of the product are available from accredited health and beauty professionals, so you can only get the extensions from legitimate individuals who have been trained to do the procedure. Eyelash stylists are trained to design and style your lashes to meet your desire and needs.

Since the eyelash extensions are attached onto natural lashes, they also fall out when the natural hair does, which is typically after sixty days. There are refills that can be used every two to three weeks, which work to replenish the lashes that have fallen on a daily basis. Procedures should be done every two to three months to maintain the thickness and length of the lashes.

So you aren’t ready to commit to the lash extensions but you still want to try out something to glam up your lashes. There is still one more option, “Lash Dip” Unlike “Crybaby” this is not the clumpy sticky procedure that I described above. Although I have not personally had this procedure done I have seen it on several clients and it looks flawless. Lashes are full, dark, and above all glam! Once again I highly recommend Angie at the Enhance Spa and Lash Studio in Springboro to perform this service.

Here is what the website promises:

LashDip is an innovative cosmetic application that is poised to revolutionize the mascara industry. Imagine the freedom! “Dipping” your lashes just once allows you to wake up to and maintain gorgeous lashes for up to six weeks! No hassling with mascara. No makeup remover. No mess. No more raccoon eyes! Just gorgeous, beautifully sculpted, semi-permanent painted lashes when you wake up in the morning, through your exercise routine, and when you go to bed at night.

Low maintenance, high style – the modern woman’s answer to mascara.

Lush, full, dark, long lashes are the hottest trend on the beauty scene.LashDip is ideal for any woman who wears mascara but is tired of the high maintenance of daily application. Many of our clients are busy moms, executives who travel frequently, flight attendants, and athletes, all of whom have one thing in common – they want to look and feel their best 24/7.

Just dip and go.

Most women struggle daily with one or more mascara-related issues: smearing, running, clumping, flaking, application difficulty, sensitivity, not to mention the inconvenient time factor involved in daily application and re-application.Any woman who wants to feel confident, carefree and effortlessly beautiful around the clock is a candidate for LashDip.

It’s More than Mascara.

LashDip is more than your typical eyelash color formula – it goes beyond even the most perfect application of mascara to provide color and enhancement you don’t have to fight with.Mascara is a temporary application. Lash extensions are an appliance. LashDip is the future of lash enhancement.

So now now you have the good the bad and the wonderful of lash products. Depending on the type of person you are will depend on which product may work best for you. If you have any questions about any of the above treatments Angie at the Lash studio will be more than happy to provide you with more information about what will be best for you. Happy Holidays!!