Proper Lashing skills (not all Lash Artists are created equally!)

Ok, this is a big one.  There are a lot of important factors that go into Lashing properly, and believe it or not, a lot of science behind the skill.  There are a lot of amazingly talented Lash Artists out there today, however not all lash artists are aware of the proper techniques and standards.  This may stem from a lack of training, or you may run into someone who just likes to cut corners – either way it will unfortunately be at your expense.  Lashing is an art so there is a ton of room for creativity in this industry, but there are certain rules that should be followed in order to maintain the client’s safety and produce superior results.  So let’s talk about said rules.  The first responsibility of your lash artist should be to maintain the health of their clients lashes as well as educate you as the client about proper home care.  During the initial appointment and at each refill appt, the artist should assess your natural lash length, diameter and overall health, to determine what size of extension or how many extensions each natural lash can hold.  This is taught in most reputable Lash training courses and is also learned over time from experience.  Another key factor in proper lashing, is isolation.  This is just as important as sizing, because even if your lash artist is using the correct length of extension, but gluing all of your lashes together, there’s gonna be some major issues, not to mention discomfort for you.  Isolating each natural lash from one another takes time, and cannot be rushed.  So if your lash artist is getting your full set done in an hour or less, chances are she isn’t taking the time to separate all your lashes.  “Speed lashing” is not a thing.  This isn’t waxing, people!  The importance of isolation is not only for the client’s comfort, but it allows the lashes to shed individually, as opposed to shedding in clumps.  Ouch!  Our lashes grow and shed just like any other hair on our body, and it is our job to make sure your extensions are not getting in the way of your natural lash cycle.  It is also up to us to determine which lashes are ready to be lashed and which should be left alone to grow out more.  All of our lashes are at different growth stages, (without getting too technical we’ll just call them 1-4), and when a lash is in stage 1, the baby lash phase, it is not strong or long enough to support an extension, of any length.  These baby lashes will continue to grow and after a few weeks, when you’re ready for your refill, they will hopefully be ready to be lashed.  During the 2nd & 3rd phases your lashes will be growing and the hair itself will be slowly separating from the root, and creating a new hair in the follicle.  These are the best lashes to lash.  Finally in the last stage, the lash will shed out, ideally with the extension still attached to it.  It is very important that your Lash Artist has a full understanding of the lash cycle so she is lashing safely and can properly educate you on what to expect while wearing lash extensions.   That brings us to the next important part of proper lashing, educating clients on proper home care.  Most lash artists will go over how to clean and care for your lashes, during your appointment, and some may even send you home with a Lash Care card to refer back to.  There are specific products and activities to avoid while wearing lash extensions, in order to get them most life out of them, and these should be discussed with you.  If you leave your lash appointment confused, without any idea about home care or that lashes even need caring for, the artist has not done her job.  Educating you as the client means setting you up for success, and is just as important as the lashing itself.  😉