We live in a world where the answers to our questions are only a Google search away, so it will come as no surprise to you that your clients are Googling questions all about eyelash extensions - how do they work? Why are they so great? Do they hurt? We have a pretty great tech team at London Lash (if we do say so ourselves) and they’ve done the legwork to find out the most commonly Googled questions about eyelash extensions so that we can help you help your clients - existing and potential.
Something that helps us to make a decision about which technician to go to is how knowledgeable they seem - this can come down to how many courses they have taken, how they speak about the products that they are using, or even how well they answer the questions we haven’t even asked yet! Adding a little bit of information to your website or social media feeds can really help to showcase just how knowledgeable you really are! Trust me, it will go a long way!
WHAT ARE EYELASH EXTENSIONS MADE FROM?
The majority of eyelash extensions on the market today are made from a synthetic fibre called PB which is a kid of plastic that is typically used in wiring. This makes it perfect for lashes as it is heat resistant, water resistant, holds its shape, and is mouldable to different lengths, thicknesses and curls and you’ll no doubt have seen in our store!
You might have noticed that SO MANY lash brands have two main ‘types’ of lashes - Mink and Silk, why? Back in the early days of eyelash extensions, this is what lashes were made from! Why did we ditch these?
- Cruelty to animals became something that was shunned by beauty suppliers, consumers and professionals YEARS ago! If you don’t know, a mink is a small animal that looks a bit like a ferret - they’re very cute and very soft, so their fur was coveted for aesthetic reasons. Silk is also something found in nature, but comes instead from worms and the production of silk for materials actually overworks the worms who produce it. Worms might not be cute to all of us, but we should still be nice to them!
- Natural fibres simply do not hold their shape - if you have straight hair and you curl it with heat, how long does it hold it? Does it stay curly after you wet it? Not at all - same for fur.
- PBT is hypoallergenic, meaning no one is allergic to it. People can very easily be allergic to natural substances so not only do you have to consider that a client may be allergic to glue, but you also need to factor in that they might be allergic to the lashes too. That is so much effort!
- Fur and silk don’t arrive in neatly packed boxes of measure lengths, curls and thicknesses.
These days, we might refer to our lashes and Mink and Silk, but only to signify that there is a difference in appearance or texture. For us, Mink is shiny, Silk is matt.
HOW LONG DO EYELASH EXTENSIONS LAST?
Generally speaking, semi-permanent lashes can last for 4 - 6 weeks, but we always suggest that a client comes in for an infill at around 3 weeks to keep their lashes looking fresh and full. Due to our natural hair growth cycle, lashes can begin to grow out or even fall out after a certain period of time.
WHAT IS AN EYELASH EXTENSIONS INFILL?
An infill is your ‘in-between’ appointment. You’ve had a full set, and 3 weeks later you’ve shed some of your natural lashes, so they’re looking more sparse. An infill simply attached new extensions to the new lashes that have grown where the old ones fell out. It keeps your lashes full and fresh!
CAN YOU WASH YOUR EYES WHEN YOU HAVE EXTENSIONS?
Yes! And moreover you SHOULD! Not washing your lashes can result in some really icky things happening to your lashes - eyelashes are designed to keep dirt and sweat out of our eyes, so not washing them leads to a residue build up, which is not only super gross for your lash technician but can lead to little bugs taking up residence in your lash line and snacking on the hairs - please join me in a big ewwww!
Consider too, that the cleaner your lashes are when you arrive at your appointment, the more time your technician can spend giving you the best lashes ever, instead of cleaning all the sebum and makeup residue off of them.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RUSSIAN VOLUME AND CLASSIC LASHES?
Classic lashes, or single eyelash extensions are one extension per natural lash. They typically give more of a mascara type effect but can be more dramatic, depending on the lashes being used. Why are they called Classic? Because they were first.
Russian Volume lashes are fans of single lashes which are much thinner and lighter than their classic sisters. Fans ranging from 2D (two extensions) up to 20D (20 extensions in one fluffy fan!) can be applied to each individual lash, depending on the desired look. The size of the fan will depend on the thickness of the extensions, and fans in any given thickness will only be created in a size that the clients’ natural lashes can handle. Russian Volume is characterised by the very even top line of the lashes, and are very neat in their appearance. You may have also heard of Hollywood, or American Volume, which is characterised by a more wispy, devil-may-care finish - think Kim K or Kylie Jenner. Russian Volume is the more widely known term, simply because the technique was developed in Russia and for a time was only offered, taught and practiced there and in the closely surrounding countries. Fun fact - London Lash CEO Hanna Putjato was the FIRST to teach Russian Volume in the UK! (You’re welcome)
Hybrid lashes are a combination of Volume and Classic.
Express lashes or party lashes are a completely different ball game - they are applied to lashes without isolating the natural lashes and are usually heavier than your average fan/classic lash. Yes, they might be faster but my goodness, if you ask any lash tech about the damage they can cause, you will see their soul leap out of their body for a moment whilst they relive the horror of fixing a set of express lashes that weren’t removed in time, or had far too much glue applied. Please just don’t do it to yourself.
DO LASH EXTENSIONS DAMAGE LASHES? DO EYELASH EXTENSIONS HURT?
Not if they’re applied correctly! During treatment, 95% of clients will fall asleep because having your lashes done feels so darn relaxing! If you haven’t had lashes before, an appointment from start to finish will look like this:
- Consultation to find out what kind of look you want
- Cleansing the lashes and surrounding eye area to ensure the lashes are free from dirt, makeup, oils etc
- Isolating one natural lash at a time and applying one extension/fan to it
- Giving the lashes a little fan to get rid of any fumes
Then you wake up - wait?! Is that Beyonce!? Oh, no, it’s just you looking Flawless*** with your new lashes (you woke up like this)
After the treatment, there should be no pain or discomfort as lashes have been isolated prior to application, so none should be stuck together - if you do have a sticky, it will feel a bit like your eyelid is being pinched.
CAN YOU BE ALLERGIC TO EYELASH EXTENSIONS?
The Extensions themselves? No. As covered above, they are made from a synthetic fibre which is hypoallergenic. You can definitely be allergic to the glue though, which is why a Patch Test is widely recommended.
HOW DO YOU REMOVE EXTENSIONS?
Lash removal is easy peasy, but you MUST go back to your technician to remove them, you simply cannot do it at home. Eyelash extension adhesive is so incredibly strong, it will not be broken down by oils or anything you have lying around at home that should ever be near your eyes! Can oils lead to poor retention? Yes - they can get between the glue bond and the hair (unless your lash tech used Booster) and cause the extension to slide off - this will not work for all of your extensions and the oil will not break the glue down. You need to go to your technician and have them remove the lashes as they will have a professional product which they know how to apply safely. This will break down the glue cleanly and will have your lashes all clean and naked in as little as 5 minutes.
HOW MUCH DO EYELASH EXTENSIONS COST?
This is a tricky one, because all over the world eyelash extensions treatments are priced so wildly differently from one area to the next - if you get your lashes done in a city centre, it will be more expensive than in the suburbs. This is not because city slickers can afford it more, or because the technicians there have ideas above their station, but because when your technician is factoring in everything as they are pricing their treatments, they are considering:
- The cost of materials
- Their rent and bills
- The time they spend on the treatment
- Their level of skill
If your lash artist has been lashing for only a few months, yes they are very skilled - we’d never take that away form anyone, but they don’t have as large a portfolio! They may be offering an introductory discount so if their prices are lower than others, by all means give them a chance, but be aware that their prices may change.
On the other hand, if a lash stylist has been lashing for 6 years, has attended multiple courses during their career and has been to competitions and won, they are likely to charge a bit more, after all, they’ve put lots of time, energy, money and commitment into their craft!
The best thing to do is to look up lash artists in your area, check out their lash photos on their website/social media and read some reviews.
I hope this shed some light on the types of questions your clients ask behind the scenes - these answers are all written to the client as if we’re their friend - feel free to memorise some of them for future use!
Lots of love,
LLP x
