Welp, here we go. Everything you need to know about my experience with eyelash extensions. This post may seem very long overdue, but I wanted to make sure I got the full experience before writing about anything. I can honestly say that after having eyelash extensions for over two months now, I really know the ins and outs of the entire process.
Before I begin, I should admit that I was oddly nervous before my first appointment and was a bit hesitant to get the extensions in the first place. In fact, I almost cancelled my first appointment! I’d heard so many horrible rumors about eyelash extensions damaging people’s lashes if they weren’t applied correctly, and I did NOT want that to happen to my lashes. You see, I have always had naturally long lashes. Even Amanda, the esthetician applying my eyelash extensions, made comments about how many lashes I had and how long they were. In my lifetime, I’ve had multiple people ask me if my lashes were real (when they were), but with the help of some mascara, people assumed they were fake. Because of this, eyelash extensions were never really something I had considered until Amanda reached out to me.
I voiced my concerns to Amanda about my fear of my lashes permanently falling out and never coming back or never looking the same, and she reassured me that while those fears are justified and that CAN happen, it’s all about how the lashes are applied and whether or not they’re applied properly. Amanda has so much experience that I felt completely confident in her ability to apply the falsies without damaging my real lashes, and I’m so glad I trusted her. She did not disappoint! So, here you have it. The pros and cons, and everything in between. Here is everything you need to know about eyelash extensions:
Appearance
Pros: The good new is that the extensions do look extremely natural, depending on the look you’re going for. I’m sure it differs depending on the salon you go to, but at Lash Dolls Charlotte, there are two options: classic, and volume. Since my lashes are naturally pretty long to begin with, I didn’t want to be walking around with super fake looking lashes. I didn’t want people to take one look at me and think, “those look ridiculous.” So for my first session, I went with the “classic” set, and Amanda mixed in some lashes from the “volume” set as well. You see, for the most part, the whole process is pretty customizable, and your technician would never want you to walk out of their salon with ridiculous looking lashes that you didn’t like.
Cons: No cons at all, really. The lashes looked AMAZING and I received tons of compliments on them from people who had no clue I got them done. At work, so many people mentioned how great my lashes looked and it wasn’t until I told them I got extensions that they realized they were fake. This made me feel a lot better – it was clear that I wasn’t walking around looking like a phony. Instead, it just looked like I was v v blessed with feather-like eyelashes, which was the ultimate goal.
Time
Pros: the whole experience is extremely relaxing. No, really… I almost fell asleep, which is apparently super normal. In order for the lashes to be applied properly, your eyes need to be completely closed for well over an hour. The first time I went to get the initial eyelash application, the process took about an hour and 45 minutes. The second time, when I went for a fill in, I was there for exactly one hour. The whole process takes place on an extremely comfortable massage table, sooooo… you can imagine it’s pretty easy to fall asleep, which is extremely common.
Cons: As you read above, while the process is extremely relaxing, it is also very time consuming. On top of that, this isn’t exactly one of those luxuries that allows you to multi-task. For example, if you take a few hours every couple of weeks to get your hair done, at least you’re able to use that time to make phone calls or catch up on emails. When getting your lashes done, you’re unable to do anything else other than just… lay there and relax. So if this isn’t an issue for you, then that’s awesome! Take those hours and relax — it’s pretty therapeutic. However, I can certainly see how many people wouldn’t have 1-2 hours every 2-3 weeks to get the process done time and time again.
Cost
Pros: The good thing about getting eyelash extensions is that you no longer have the need to purchase mascara. If you’re like me and purchase expensive mascara for around $23 a tube, this is definitely a plus. Waking up every single day with gorgeous lashes, with little to no effort and no need for mascara, is awesome.
Cons: Eyelash extensions are expensive. If you are someone who is fine with spending between $60-$75 every 2-3 weeks, then this process is definitely for you. However, if you are someone with a more strict budget, it’s entirely up to you whether or not you want to invest in longer lashes. While mascara can be expensive, you only need to replace mascara tubes every three months. So, let’s say you’re buying an expensive mascara for around $23 every three months. While this is a lot of money for a high end mascara tube, it’s still more cost effective than spending $60-$75 every 2-3 weeks. So, again, this is entirely dependent upon your budget and where your priorities are financially.
Use of Eye Makeup
Pros: not as much eye shadow is necessary, since you already wake up looking bright eyed and and your eyes already look like they are completely done. As long as you brush your lashes with the spoolie (your esthetician will give you one of these), your lashes will look fluffy and feathery as soon as you wake up in the morning. I should also note that the lashes don’t feel heavy at all, which is something else I was worried about prior to getting them applied. So basically… not much eye makeup needed, not heavy, and automatically waking up with glamorous-looking eyes? WINNING.
Cons: I found myself not wanting to apply eyeshadow as often, which is a sad thing for me, because I LOVE makeup. Even when using oil-free makeup remover, I still found that many of the lashes came out whenever I removed my eye makeup, no matter how gently I tried to remove it. Oil-free eye makeup remover is essential when it comes to lash extensions, since any oil-based products can break down the glue that’s used to keep the lashes together. Eyeliner is also a bit more difficult, as the lashes may fall out if you touch your lash line. It just depends on how often you apply eye makeup in general.
A few last words…
- Read reviews before booking your appointment. I recommend Lash Dolls Charlotte, however if you don’t live in the Charlotte area, make sure to read reviews prior to committing to a salon. The absolute LAST thing you want to happen is permanent damage to your lashes. After all, the goal is to get them to appear longer, not to make them fall out or ruin them completely! Like I said before, finding the proper salon can make all the difference, so make sure you spend a fair amount of time looking into the best lash studios in your area before booking your appointment.
- Don’t wear ANY eye makeup to your appointments when you get your lashes applied or refilled. If you have any mascara residue, the lash glue won’t stick as well and the falsies will fall out sooner. If you can, I suggest not wearing any makeup at all. Your esthetician will need to tape your bottom lashes to your skin in order to prevent the glue from getting on them, and any concealer or foundation on your skin will prevent the tape from sticking. Long story short, just attend all lash appointments completely bare-faced.
- You will want to try your absolute hardest to sleep on your back after the extensions are applied. Sleeping on your side or face can bend the extensions, and that doesn’t look cute. This was a major struggle for me, since I typically always sleep on my stomach! I tried to get in the habit of sleeping on my back, but it didn’t exactly work. Whoops.
- The extensions cannot get wet for at least 24 hours, so be strategic about when you book your appointment (and when you shower, for that matter). For example, if you know you have a super intense workout later in the afternoon, it’s probably not wise to book your appointment for early in the day when you know you’re about to sweat a bunch, which will then require a shower. Ya feel me?
And there you have it. Everything you need to know about eyelash extensions. I hope this post was helpful for some of you who may be considering getting your lashes done! If you have any additional questions that I didn’t cover above, please feel free to leave me a comment, or DM me on Instagram at @thechicaf. You can also shop the outfit I’m wearing in the above photos by clicking the items below.
Have a great week!
xo, Ashlen
