There are so many options in this modern age to level up your look and style. One of these options is eyelash extensions which has become increasingly popular and becoming as routine as saying you’re going for a manicure. It was a trend that I wasn’t particularly interested in, mostly because my natural lashes are pretty decent and I was slow to get on the train of yet another body part to add to the maintenance schedule! But I was noticing more and more girls have amazing, fan like lashes that you couldn’t get with just mascara. I then began to experiment with false lashes, both the glue on and magnetic versions. The glue on wound up being a mess. The ends would constantly curl up, they would lift off, you had to trim them to “fit” your eye and bits of glue would stick to your real lashes (not fun). The magnetic versions were slightly better in that your lashes didn’t get damaged and they are re-usable. But they are pricey (the good ones are about $65.00 a set) and if you don’t set the magnets right, they look awkward on your eyes; and as careful as I am, the lashes don’t look as good after 5 wears (not budget friendly). I pretty much gave up on any type of false lashes on a daily basis and saved them for special occasions. Mascara is tricky also. I’ve tried every brand of mascara, from Cover Girl to Dior Show and they all flake and clump, just in varying degrees. I probably would still not be a convert to lash extensions were it not for my hair stylist. I could not stop staring at her lashes! When she said they were extensions, I knew I had to try them. My first experience was at a local multi-service salon. For $99.00 I opted for the “classic look”. While a lot more lashes than I currently had, they just didn’t give the “glam” look that I wanted for the cost. When I was due for a fill, I did some online research and chose DekaLash in Naperville (franchise with national locations, I linked the website below). They have a variety of looks to choose from; natural, to classic, to cat eye and doll eye as well as a variety of volume and length options. I worked with my lash technician and chose a hybrid cat eye. This would add a lot more volume yet allow us to tweak the look at my next fill in. Ladies, if you are on the fence about getting extensions, here are my thoughts:


Eyelash Extension Pros.

1) Your makeup time is cut in half. I love eye makeup. I apply a full eye look every day that I’m leaving the house. But by having your lashes done, you don’t need hardly any eye makeup because the lashes speak for themselves! They accent and really open up your eyes, making you look wide awake (even if you’re not!) and you can cut back on shadow and liner; mascara is a definite NO as it could result in damage to the extensions.


2) Customizable. Depending on the salon, there are a wide variety of looks, from natural to classic to all out glam. The stylist will consult with you and look at the shape of your eyes to determine what look is best. Also, what is your lifestyle? Is this just for a special occasion? A vacation? Or something you want to maintain regularly. It’s all very individualized so you can create your own personalized eye “look”.


3) No more raccoon eyes. Flaking and clumping are gone. Also, the more eye makeup you wear, the longer and harder it is to remove. All of that tugging around the delicate eye area stresses the skin and can lead to wrinkles and lines around the eyes (not good!).


Eyelash Extension Cons.

1) Cost. If you are already regularly keeping up with hair and nail appointments, you need to be prepared for this additional cost. While your initial “full set” appointment is the most expensive (can run up to $350.00), and depends on the amount of lashes you are getting, the financial set back every 2-3 weeks really can add up. Places such as Deka Lash (where I’m going) have memberships that do offer a slight cost savings if you pay for packages up front. Do research about the providers in your area and compare costs.


2) Maintenance. Not only do you have to keep your appointments every 2-3 weeks to maintain the look you want, but you have to maintain your lashes at home. There are a set of “do’s” and “dont’s” as with any extensions. Most salons will give you instructions and guidelines to help preserve your lash investment. For example, you can’t get them wet for 24 hours, you have to be mindful of how you take off your makeup (no oil based removers), and no tugging or rubbing the eyes.


3) Time. The initial set can take up to 3 hours, with fills taking about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Again, you have to weigh the time you save in getting ready every day vs. the application time (it’s actually quite relaxing since you are laying down during the application, if you opt not to talk with your technician, you can almost take a nap!)


Conclusion: if you have the time and willing to spend the money, lash extensions are a great investment. Make sure you go to a reputable, licensed salon to avoid any serious eye problems. You can always go back to your natural lashes at any time, you just won’t be batting your lashes as frequently. Happy lashing! XO, Char

http://www.dekalash.com