Natural Lash Health

This is my most favorite topic to talk about and is what I consider to be the backbone of what my business represents. First, I would like to address the number question I get asked by clients or potential clients which is, “Do eyelash extensions ruin the natural lashes?”  The answer is complex because the answer can be both yes or no.  Damage to the natural lashes is dependent on both how the lash artist applies the extensions, as well as how the client cares for them.  Lash extensions are designed to be worn indefinitely with absolutely zero damage done to the natural lashes and lash line, however not everyone follows the lash rules and this can lead to some serious disappointment for both parties.  So let’s discuss what we should both be doing in order to keep your lashes healthy.  The nice thing about having eyelash extensions is that they really don’t require a ton of work – I always tell my clients the less you mess with them, the better.  However, the few things that they do require are absolutely crucial and it is up to you, the lashee, to take care of them when you leave your appointment.  We as the lash artist can only control what happens during your appt while you are in our chair.  The rest of the time, it is the client’s responsibility to be following care instructions and take care of their own lashes.  Cleansing is numero uno.  By not cleansing your lashes, your lash line is a petrie dish for all kinds of debris and bacteria to harbor, and this can lead to irritation, allergic reactions and even infections or lash mites.  Yes lash mites.  If you don’t believe me, google them.  I guarantee you will never go a day without washing your lashes again!  You might even be recommended a lash growing serum if your artist feels like the health of your natural lashes are not up to par or is declining for some reason.  There are a million factors that can affect our hair growth & health, and your lashes will be first to see the changes.  Certain medications and supplements can thin the blood, resulting in less blood flow to the hair follicles, which can cause the hair to thin or grow slower than usual.  This can be a major cause in lash loss.  Rubbing the eyes or picking at your lashes can cause premature shedding of the natural lashes, resulting in sparse areas in the lash line.  Think about what happens to our brows when we tweeze.  Those hairs are being pulled out before they’re ready to shed, which causes those areas to produce less hair over time and become thinner than the rest of our eyebrow.  In this case we don’t mind because that is what we intend to do, but for our eyelashes, every lash is precious.  This can also happen depending on how you sleep.  If you’re a face sleeper, chances are those poor little babies are being pulled out left and right, without you even knowing it.  If you’re a side sleeper, you may notice that you have longer lashes on one side over the other, or that your lashes shed faster on the side you sleep on.   This too plays a big part in the overall health of your lashes.  Brushing your lashes to aggressively can also lead to premature shedding.  Make sure you are only brushing the ends of your lashes, and avoid the base where the extensions are attached.  If the brush catches on the base of the extension, it can pull it out which will probably hurt a bit.  That being said, if you notice lashes are shedding when you brush or cleanse them, this could just be the lashes in their final stage of life, which is fallout.  I promise, this is normal.  As long as you don’t see that little white bulb attached to the end of the hair when it comes out, that means it has ran its course and is shedding naturally.  Another big factor that will cause deterioration of your lash health is stress.  Stress is the #1 cause of hair fallout and is a huge sign that the overall health of the body is declining.  If you are noticing your extensions falling out at a more rapid rate than usual, ask yourself if you’re dealing with more stress in your life than usual.  This isn’t always something that can be controlled, but unfortunately your lash health will take the brunt of it.  While there are many things you can do to keep your lashes in good health, there are many things we as the lash artist must ensure as well.  Using proper lash length and weights and isolating each lash during application is the best way we can avoid any damage from occurring.  Making sure the right amount of adhesive is used in order to hold the extension in place, while also letting the hair move and bend like it is supposed to, will also factor in to natural lash health.  Maintaining healthy lashes while wearing extensions is a joint effort.  If you and your lash artist are taking all the necessary steps to maintaining lash health, you should be able to enjoy your extensions as long as you would like, without compromising your natural lashes in any way.  😉