I have a little secret to admit. My amazingly long lashes might not be as real as one might think. I know that I have probably not been fooling people too much, but I’ll come clean and say that I’ve been getting a little assistance by way of lash extensions for the past few months. And I love them. I am a complete and total addict.
To start out with I already have thick and long lashes. But the problem is they are incredibly straight. This required me to curl the heck out of them and then glob on a bunch of mascara to try to get them to stay in place and look good. I hate mascara. I have never found any mascara that doesn’t run all over my face or get in my eyes. So I turned to lash extensions after seeing a friend with them. Admittedly I was hesitant at first. I’ve never been a fan of being terribly fake. My makeup and hair is pretty conservative. Hair extensions seem pretty gross to me even, so this was a stretch to even get me onboard. But I decided I’d try lash extensions once.
The first appointment is a pretty lengthy. It takes about two hours of putting the extensions on your eyes. The experience is not entirely pleasant, but I’m patient and don’t mind things being stuck near my eyes so I fell asleep. I can imagine that it might not be as easy for everyone to have their eyes messed with.
I am lucky to have found a reputable lash salon with Lash Spot in Japantown here in San Francisco. Every person that I have had apply my lashes has done so with the upmost care which is hugely important when you are dealing with someone having the likes of super glue next to your eyes. Shout out to Hana who is my go-to lady! She does a great job.
Overall I must admit that I love my lashes. I can wake up in the morning and not have to put on makeup and they I look great. I haven’t had any issues with sports or swimming or going into saunas they stay on. Highly recommend if you have the time and money to splurge on these suckers.
Pictures of the process and the outcome:
Here is a quicky Q & A of lash extensions:
How Does It Work?
There are three types of lash extensions: synthetic, silk and mink. Size availability ranges from 6mm to 17mm. Once selected, the lashes are applied one at a time using a specially formulated, semi-permanent glue that will not irritate the eye nor damage the natural lash. However, since allergic reactions are possible, there are different types of glue based on one’s sensitivity.
What happens if glue gets in your eyes?
Since your eyes are shut the whole time lash extensions are being applied, no glue will ever get into your eye. To avoid any irritation, however, the first safety precaution you can take is to be sure that the glue is safe for your eyes and doesn’t contain anything that can harm them, like formaldehyde.
Can you go blind?
No. Your technician should be trained properly to apply the adhesive and lashes in a way that is completely harmless. Your eyes are closed the entire time of the procedure. No matter how bad an allergic reaction may get, you will never go blind. The worse case scenario is that you need to go to the eye doctor to get specific eye drops to treat an allergic reaction.
Will your natural lashes get harmed or damaged?
The biggest myth is that lash extensions ruin your own lashes. They do not. If applied correctly and properly, they are safe and do not ruin the health of your natural lashes. Be sure not to rub your eyes or tug or pull on the extensions because this can cause lash loss and even damage to your natural lashes. If lashes are applied properly and to each individual lash, they won’t fall out.
How do you care for the lashes?
Keep water away from your lashes for the first 12 to 24 hours after application or touch-ups. Water can weaken the adhesive before it is set and cause lashes to fall off. Oil-based products or makeup removers around the eye area are not recommended.
How often do you need to get lash extensions redone?
Lash extensions last through a full growth cycle of natural eyelashes, typically six to eight weeks. That said, because each person’s lash growth is somewhat variable (just hair growth). I get mine done every two weeks, but could probably go three weeks in between and they would look fine.
Where should you go?
Lash Spot SF
1746 Post St
2nd Floor, New People Building
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 525-8683
