What to know before getting your Eyelash Extensions done for the first time

If you have thought about getting eyelash extensions before, but have feared the process due to hearing horror stories, well here's what you need to know about them and how to avoid those horror stories!

Knowing what you want

Not only does it benefit you knowing what you want before you go in, but it also allows your lash technician to truly know what you want. It's easy to say you want length and then after they do what they think you want you are like "Oh it's too long" it will help to find a little bit more about the way eyelash extensions work. Read up on Instagram stories or blogs about styles and different curls etc, and then you will be much happier with the result!

Expectatiton VS Reality

The Expectation = extensions that are amazingly long and thick

The Reality = extensions that are suitable in length and thickness

When it comes to eyelash extensions, it is important to know that healthy natural lashes = amazing outcome for your eyelash extensions. Which basically means if your natural lashes are sparse, there is no chance you would be able to have thick long lashes. So when it comes to knowing what you want, try to account for the health of your natural lashes. We're not magicians after all!

Curls

You may already be aware that there are different curls in extensions. If not, you soon will! There are so many varieties of curls and they all work with different natural lash curls, thickness and eye features. Here is what they look like:

It is up to your lash technician to decide which one works best for you as you may not be able to get the best angle to see what suits for you. But as a general idea, most lash tech's use a C or D curl, C curl is more natural but long, whereas D curl is very dramatic and out there!

Lengths

As I mentioned earlier, it is important to have a length suited to your natural lash length. If you are after super long eyelashes, but have natural short lashes then you will be unable to have long lashes - unless, you opt for thinner lashes, but then results will vary and it is also subject to lash health. Let's say your thickness is 0.10 and your length is varying from 9mm - 11mm but you want something that is 16mm long, a) your lash tech should not allow for this, b) you should only go 2mm - 3mm longer than your natural lash so 14mm should be the absolute longest and c) you could opt for thin extensions like 0.03mm which will not give you your desired result. So what you will need to do is one of two things, either get the thin ones done or get a lash serum to increase your lash health (which could take a few months) and also upkeep once you get your extensions done. Or secret option 3, is not get extra long extensions and get ones that are suited to your natural lash or secret option 4 not get eyelash extensions at all and wear strip lashes instead!

Watch out for cluster extensions

These are NOT proper extensions! I repeat these are NOT proper extensions! These will damage your natural lashes and cause irritation. Cluster lashes are used for single use only for makeup sessions not for long term wear. You will be able to tell them apart from normal extensions as they have a very thick T base. They will most likely block your follicles and cause issues like in-growns or worse.

Different Eye Shapes mean Different Styles

Same as in with eyeshadow in makeup, there are different styles to suit your natural eye shape. This is very simple and straight forward and theres not much too explain. Get familiar with your eyeshape, it's not mandatory to do this before your session, but it will help you realise or understand if you like the way your eyelash extensions sit.

Aftercare - Why is it so damn important?

This can mean the difference of 2 week retention to 3-4 week retention. You have to clean your lashes daily, you have to look after them. It's just like when you buy a car that cost a few $$$$ thousand dollars. You don't leave it to rot and break down. Though lash extensions are not as pricey, they still deserve to be looked after.

Does it really make a difference? Yes it does! Why? Because aside from ridding your lashes from dirt, bacteria and debris, you also decrease the chance of contracting blepharitis, which I explained in my last eyelash extensions blog - which you can find here.

Classics VS Hybrids VS Volumes

Okay, so this is an important topic. For some people they expect fullness when they book classic lash extensions or they think volumes are too much. Well, lets have a look at how they all compare front on. These will look different to what they may look like you depending on your natural lashes.

The Ratio

Classics - Very natural, 1:1

Hybrids - Mix of classics and volumes, so classics are 1:2 and between 2:2 - 5:2. Hopefully this makes sense! Number of fans : To every lash. So 1:2 is one extension to every 2nd lash and 2:2 is 2 volume fans to every 2nd lash or 5:2 is 5 volume fans to every 2nd lash

Volumes - Can range from 2D - 5D fans and placed on every single lash.

Volumes VS Mega Volumes

The difference is the amount of fans, the method is all the same but mega volumes are 6D fans and up to 16D which is extreme! Personally, I would say volumes are much nicer as they are not so in your face - but of course, to each their own!

But wait, what are Russian Volumes?

If someone is advertising Russian Volumes, you are paying for the skill involved and you will want to make sure they deliver Russian Volumes, this is very hard to check with your eyes closed but the difference between Volumes or Mega Volumes and Russian Volumes is that Russian Volumes are handmade fans created during your treatment. Personally, I would love to include this but this is something you need to go to another course for, which at the moment is hard for me!

What's the difference between Pre-Mades & Russians?

Pre-Mades are as they are named, pre made volume lashes, they usually only go up to 5D. In comparison to Russians, of course you would want to have Russians, but then you also have to pay for that, so pre-mades are more cost friendly for clients. There is nothing wrong with pre-mades as long as they are good quality and made well to mimic russians.

Okay, I think I have gone on long enough in this blog, but I hope it was some what informative for you!

If you are interested in booking a service, please feel free to book online or contact me on 0430 687 772.

xx