Lash Envy? The Good the Bad and the Nail Glue?

It has come to my attention in recent weeks that there is a growing problem with legitiment eyelash extensions. You may have read one of my earlier columns on lashes and what to look for when thinking about getting them. After talking with several girls recently and hearing numerous stories from other salon professionals I felt like this was something people needed to know about. Before I begin with the horror stories here is my number one advice to you when even thinking about getting extensions, make sure the person doing your lashes is licensed and trained in lash extensions. You not only have to be a board certified aethescian or cosmotologist but you also have to have outside training from lash line you are using.

When it comes down to it most of us would love to have eyelash extensions, however, the price is a concern for most people. Enter in the “nail spa” where things always seem to be cheaper somehow. I recently heard a story from a woman who went to a nail spa in Centerville that was supposebly doing extensions. They offered her a great and much cheaper price than leading salons in the area so she said yes. She had the extensions applied and within 24hrs she was begging to have them taken off. She quoted, “they burned and were painful” luckily the place took them off and she headed to Enhance Spa and Lash Studio. Angi Wolfe, an award winning Xtreme Lash professional was able to get some real extensions on the client but stated that lashes were definitly compromised and would need time to grow back in. This is just one of the stories that we are hearing every week . I have had model clients who have told me they went to nail spas and they attached lashes with nail glue!! This is absolutly terrifying. To put things in perspective for those readers who have not had extensions, when done correctly you do not have any pain or burning in fact you cant even feel them. These are just a couple of the stories that have been going around. I have also heard of people working out of their homes and not being certified but charging far less to attract customers. One woman who went to such a place stated “the woman worked out of her home not the flashy ad she had on the internet of a beautiful spa” she went on to say ” the woman who applied the lashes said she had just learned in the last month from a friend” The result, “the lashes were clumped together and uncomfortable. Some were even turned around a poking in my eye” Another woman who went to an uncertified technician complained that when she washed her face all the lashes fell out along with many of her own.

So what happens when you do get extensions from a real place? I can tell from my personal experience that I go every two weeks to get mine filled. The initial set took about two hours and the fills usually take 45min to an hour depending on how much I am shedding. It is a spa atmosphere, there is a comfy bed and a warm neck pillow and I lay there nearly falling asleep. I have never experienced any type of pain when getting my lashes done and I have never lost an excessive amount of my own lashes. In fact my lashes have grown in thicker from not wearing so much mascara. I constantly get compliments on my lashes and people cannot believe they are not mine. What can you expect when you get lash extensions? You will arrive and meet with your lash artist he or she will go over all the details of your lashes and find out whether or not you are a good candidate for them. They will discuss the proper way to care for them and how they are applied. Once you both have decided that they are a good match for you, you will lay down and have undereye patches placed under your eyes. This is so that the artist can see your lashes more easily. Then they will begin placing lash extensions on your own lashes with tweezers with a medical grade glue. (see why you dont want just anyone doing them?) Many lash artists will use magnifying lenses to get a closer and better view of each individual lash. All in all its relaxing and you sit up with beautiful lashes! There is no pain, no sticky glue mess and no lashes poking you in the eye. You can wash your face, go swimming, wear mascara and even cry (within reason lol and still have fabulous lashes. Now that is not to say that they wont fall out. The extensions fall out naturally with your own lashes so there are things that will make them come out faster. For example if you are an “eye rubber” an overzealous fashwasher, or excessive sweater and or cryer these are things that make your own lashes come out faster. As long as you take care to be gentle with them and brush them once or twice a day you will be good to go with fabulous lashes in tow.

What should you look for when deciding to try lash extensions? First and formost the technician must be certified, not only by the state but also by the lash company. Xtreme lashes is the most popular brand and the one I personally wear. You can go on their website and find certified technicians in your area. Be sure and ask questions and find out how long the person has been applying the lashes dont let just anyone get near your lashes! Finally dont be attracted to cheaper pricing, Xtreme lashes set a standard that salons cannot price under so if you are seeing a cheaper price they are not Xtreme lashes. You can expect to pay around 200.00 for your first set and then around 50.00 for your refills. Look around at certified spas and see what they are charging dont be fooled by false advertising. If you have any questions or concerns regarding lashes or if you think you would like to have some of your own please contact Angi Wolfe at 937-748-7294 you can also visit her site at http://www.enhancespaandlashstudio.com/