They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so why not give them some beautiful drapes? Eyelash extensions have been trending in the beauty world for years ever since they first came on the market. Eyelash extensions can give you a flirty, effortless look to your face and majorly cuts down on your prep time in the morning. If you’re considering adding some drama with these flirty fancies, make sure you know what you’re in for.

Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent false lashes glued on top of your own natural ones by a trained technician. Lashes can be made of mink, sable, faux mink, silk, cashmere or synthetic acrylic. The lashes are applied to individual hairs, making every set fully customisable depending on the clients requirements. A typical appointment takes between 1.5-3 hours to complete.

Extension styles are typically broken down into two main categories: classic and volume. Classic is when an individual false lash is applied to an individual natural lash, leaving the most realistic final look. Volume curls offer much more drama as 2-6 lashes bonded together are applied to an individual natural lash. You’ll also have to consider what type of curl you’d like your lashes to have. You can choose between a J curl, B curl, C curl or D curl. The curl you choose should mimic the curl of your natural lashes. Lashes vary in length from 8-14mm, and multiple lengths can be used per set.

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Eyelash extensions typically cost between R350 – R800 depending on the salon / technician you use. Refills are cheaper, typically coming in at R200-R450 per fill.

Eyelash extensions typically last 5-6 weeks, but you can get refills from as early as 2 weeks after your initial appointment to main fullness. As your own lashes naturally shed, your extensions with fall out along with them.

There are some that believe that lash extensions cause traction alopecia as the lashes can put weight on your own, but the chance is very slim. This would typically only happen after years of consistent lash extensions and bad aftercare.

Pre-appointment:

• Pre appointment, make sure to remove any makeup in your eye area.
• Ask your technician what ingredients are in the lash adhesive they will be using. Glues that contain formaldehyde will irritate your eye, so best steer clear of that! Instead, look out for ingredients like butyl cyanoacrylate and octyl cyanoacrylate, which are much more gentle on the eye.

Post appointment:

• Make sure to avoid getting water on your eyes for the first 12-24 hours after your appointment to allow the glue enough time to set.
• Use oil-free cleansers to clean your eye area.
• Gently brush your lashes with a spoolie brush twice daily
• Don’t apply mascara to your extensions

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