6 reasons your lash extensions aren't lasting

Tis the season of weather change and harsh shedding of lashes. Before we get into that, lets learn a little about our natural hair growth cycle with and without lash extensions.

The Natural hair growth cycle is the same for everyone... Natural eyelashes grow in and fall out in cycles, every 60 – 90 days. When a natural lash matures and sheds, a new lash will grow and quickly replaces it. Most people seldom notice when their natural lashes shed.

A few things that can modify or mess this cycle up; If you pull your natural hair out prematurely, or you break the natural lashes, poor diet can cause fragile hair, etc.   Now why dont you see this happening when you don't have extensions on? well its easy the size of a natural lash is much less visible than a lash extension see below for example. You can see how much more visible the extension is, than the natural lash? of course you will notice when your extension falls out. The diagram is a good example of what they should look like when they shed with an extension attached. 

Now with that being said, what a bad application looks like? The following picture is what will cause your natural lashes to fall out, and cause serious damage. Many places do this method, and use "cluster lashes" and apply way too much adhesive. These clusters are designed for an evening out, and must use a gummy glue, not the extension adhesive. If you opt for the following look, good luck to you. Cheaper almost always turns out like this. Saving time, and rushing you in and out. A good technician will take up to 2 hours to apply a full set of individual lashes. A fill can take 1 hour, to 1.5 hours every 2-3 weeks. 

OK - Got it? now lets discuss what can cause premature shedding, or loss of extensions... 

Premature shedding can occur by sleeping on your face, rubbing your eye, watery eyes, extreme weather changes, steam, sauna and other activities may damage the adhesive or crimp the extensions and may require more frequent re-lashes. 

Now looking at each of these individually: 

1. The Pillow Smothering Sleeper  -  Sleeping on your face will be the demise of your lashes. When you have lash extensions it is advised you sleep on your back, or side (when using a lash pillow). Sleeping on your face, your lashes can get stuck to the cotton in your pillow case, you will smash them and usually you don't stay in one place while you sleep. You are likely rubbing your face, turning it side to side, and smothering your lashes into the pillow. This will create your lashes to be compromised and fall out, break, and just be ruined! If you are a pillow smother, lash at your own risk!  

2. Rubbing your eye - You aren't a baby, so when you are tired, don't rub your eyes... Just go to bed! By rubbing your eyes, you will definitely break the bond, your natural lashes, and create some swelling, that will cause for the natural lash to fall out. Allergies can sometimes urge you to rub your eye. I have gotten really good at finding another way to relieve the itch!

3. Flooded eyes - That's right water is the worst enemy of lash extensions, especially for the first 48 hours. The adhesive must be cured before any moisture may reach them. This means; steam, watery eyes, crying, showering, bathing, swimming, any type of moisture will ruin the bond and they will likely fall off one by one within the first 3-4 days. This is something all lashers will warn you about, and if you find yourself doing any of these within the first 2 days, its your fault! Take ownership, I know we will honor any fix if it indeed is something that we did. But Be honest! Don't take advantage of your technician. 

4. Extreme weather changes - Hormones released in the body during the summer can increase the rate of growth. It has been found that hair shedding also increases in the spring, and the summer. By fall as many as 100 hairs per day can be lost. This does include LASHES! This varies from person to person, and some may shed more, others may shed less. In the lash world, we call this the "dreaded shed", or "Seasonal Shed", or the Fall/Spring Shed... Its not uncommon. with being in Arizona, we have had a funky season so far, it was winter for a week, and then we had spring for a day, and jumped into summer for a week, now back to spring. This chaotic season/weather change can have a huge effect on your lashes, just like it can with your allergies!  I cant stop mother nature, so prepare that for this season change issue, you may need to schedule your fills closer together than you did in the winter.

5.  The final Demise of your lashes - Saunas, Steam, and Heat. Excessive steam, or humidity will affect your lashes. If you have them applied in a dryer climate, that lash technician has adhesive that will hold in that climate, if you are traveling to the Bahamas from Phoenix AZ, please expect that you will likely be bare upon your return.  Steam of any kind will loosen your bond of the extension and they will literally just fall off! This means, when you are cooking, you better be wearing goggles. ha ha can you imagine? JK just be careful not to stick your face into the oven when pulling out the cookies, or standing directly over the stove when your boiling the noodles. Or how about that poof of wet heat when you open up the dish washer? Often times too, the heat of these elements will take the curl out of the lash and you will have very long straight lash extensions. This often results in getting a new set, they aren't pretty when they are straight. These are synthetic and the curl is created with heat, so heat will also remove the curl.

Speaking of heat, stay out of the tanning bed, not only for your lashes, but hello lets not get cancer while we are at it... Straight lashes and increased chances of cancer, NO THANKS!

6. Makeup - if you are getting lashes, either you are a makeup lover, or don't wear makeup at all. either way its important to know what you can and cannot apply to your lashes or near the lashes.  , Makeup is tough, as the ingredients aren't always labeled. Be sure you are not using any oil based product, or any waterproof makeup. Lotions and sun screens around your eyes can be an issue too - the oils from your makeup, and products, will seep down and rest on your lashes. If you aren't cleaning them properly, this will start to loosen the bond. The more makeup you wear, the more you have to remove, and the harder it is on your lashes.
Eyelash curlers and fiber mascara are a NO NO - Just don't do it... I will fire you as a client. Just don't do it.

I hope this has helped clear up some questions, and always check with your lash technician to ask additional questions, or address concerns.

Best wishes,
Bashful Lash
https://www.facebook.com/bashfullash
www.bashfullash.com
https://www.vagaro.com/BashfulLash