Eyelash Extensions: The Good, Bad and Wonky

This article was originally posted on December 17, 2017.  I decided it was a good time to update this post.  

“Jeepers creepers, look at those peepers!” is exactly what I’ve said to a few friends who have had fancy eyelash extensions.  So, naturally, I finally buckled and got some of my own wispy lengths added to my otherwise boring and straight eyelashes.  My history, knowledge, experience and alternatives are listed throughout this post.  Here’s what I have to say about eyelash extensions: the good, bad and wonky.

Eyelash Extension Resistance

First, I will tell you my long journey of resistance to lash extensions starting in 2012.  Back then, I was attending esthetics school as a student.  I was joyfully learning how to do European facials, peels, waxing and massage.  It was fun.  I was fulfilled. 

Then, an eyelash extension brand vendor came in and offered lash extension classes for a measly $1,200. I was jolted at the thought of there being more to the esthetics world outside of what I was already paying tuition for – and that it cost that much.  Now, I’m grateful it was a little too much for me to afford at that time.  Here’s why:

The girls from my class who could afford the eyelash extension class, coughed up $1,200 and a full weekend of their time to learn how to apply eyelash extensions.  Their testimonies on the following Monday morning were frightful.  Like, scary enough to keep me away from lash extensions for years.  They spoke of hand pain, back pain and eye strain – from doing them one weekend!  

It sounded awful.  They were hunched over clients for a full day of class while they were learning this new skill.  And they hated it.  I believe that only one girl out of five still does lash extensions today.

Eyelash Extensions Now

Fast forward a few years, and I now see that eyelash extensions, lash glue and techniques have all come a long way.  The lash extension industry has improved so much, I have even offered trainings through my company with a dear friend that teaches them.  

Don’t get me wrong – as many great lash extensions I see now, I still see some pretty wonky ones too.  By wonky, I mean lashes curling the wrong way like fangs poking in towards the eyeball (ouch!) and unnatural gaps between the lash extensions themselves.  I find it extremely distracting.  But when eyelash extensions are done well, they look like a million bucks.

Overall, my confidence in the lash extension industry has improved greatly.  I have even had a couple sets of them myself.  I typically get my lash extensions from esthetics school graduates of mine.  As lash techs, they usually go through a training period and need to produce models for a period of time before they can receive full pay for the lash extension service.

Word to the wise – please make sure your lash tech is licensed in esthetics or cosmetology.  There are too many people that do online trainings or even in-person lash trainings and have never touched someone else’s skin before.  Licensed professionals learn about health, anatomy and most importantly – sanitations – in school and beyond.  When it comes to your eyes, make sure you are hiring a real professional to touch your peepers.

My First Eyelash Extension Experience

Below is one of my first sets of lashes from a student of mine named Camille.  She did a great job. Here are the details:

She was offering a special: $100 for a full set while she was in training.  Her eyelash extension work impressed me on social media, so I tried her lash extensions out.  I honestly loved them.

At first.

After Camille had put them on, my lashes looked full, natural and I didn’t need mascara!  It was the greatest thing ever!  I was ALL ABOUT the lashes. Check ’em out:

I noticed it was hard for me to shower and wash my face, because you are only supposed to use water on eyelash extensions for cleaning.  I usually just wipe the water out of my eyes after soaking my face in the shower spray, but I had to gently push down on the lashes to squeeze the water out instead of wiping.  I didn’t like that.  It was weird.

Six days later, I had noticed that a few extensions had already fell out.  Camille told me that they would, so I was totally fine with it.  Here’s what the lash extensions looked like six days later:

They were still pretty good that whole first week with only a few gaps.  By the second week, I noticed more gaps in my lashes and it was probably due to my roughness with them.  I got sick of baby-ing my lashes and just wiped them in the shower like normal.  I had a few wonky lashes that liked to stick straight out to the side.  Again, I would blame this on my rough and tough ways with them.

Now, as I write this post, I am glad I tried them.  I should have scheduled a refill as Camille recommended a fill at three weeks, but I didn’t have the time.  And that is what makes for a bad lash extension client – ha! Being in the industry, I should have known that the upkeep of lash extensions is just as important and getting the first, full fill put on.  It’s definitely a commitment.

In conclusion, I like eyelash extensions.  They are not my “thing”, but they look pretty on other people.  (See the next section for my lash obsession.)

If you haven’t tried them yet, give them a whirl!  My advice is to take care of them and schedule your fill appointment after your first application to ensure your eyelashes remain to look like pretty.

Alternative to Wonky Lash Extensions: Lash Lifts

My favorite new beauty service to receive is Lash Lifts! The brand I prefer my lash tech to use is Eleebana.  That’s being a little picky, but hey – they are my eyes.  Lash lifts work like a perm on your eyelashes and gently curl them up.  I schedule a Lash Lift and Tint at the same time so I get my lashes curled and colored black all at the same time.  

The results of Lash Lifts are not nearly as dramatic as eyelash extensions (unless you have goddess length eyelashes already), but they do the trick for me.  With a lash lift, my lashes are perfectly coifed in the morning, whether I decide to wear mascara or not.  

That’s the other thing: mascara.  You can’t wear a lot of types of mascara when you have lash extensions.  There are two main reasons: 1) the ingredients in the mascara can break down the glue and 2) you shouldn’t need mascara because the lashes are already dyed black.  You can wear mascara with lash lifts though.  

Summary: Lash Extensions & Alternatives

In summary, eyelash extensions have come a looooong way in the past few years – and thank the lash gods they did.  I don’t see nearly as many wonky lash extensions as I did back in 2017.

Now, I would prefer a good mink lash extension artist or a solid lash lift instead.  Lash lifts give a similar look without as much drama, fuss or time commitment.  The look is not quite as pretty and dramatic, but still good enough for me.

Eyelash Extensions: The Good, Bad and Wonky

Cheers!

Shannon

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