I love long lashes and they make such a difference in opening up your eyes and making them look bigger and more awake. Lash extensions are perfect for when you want to save time on applying eye makeup and in particular, mascara. But to be honest, I don’t feel the need to spend money every 3 weeks or so to get lash extensions to maintain my look. Also, I like to use oil-based makeup removers and I tend to rub my eyes a bit and with lash extensions, these are no-no! BUT, I do find that lashes extensions are great to have for when I travel – especially if I’m in a hot place where makeup can melt off or if I’m going to be spending a majority of my time in the water and still want to maintain my look. I don’t get them for every single trip I take, but I think I plan to do so for the most part in the future!
My Experience With Lash Extensions
When Did I Start Getting Lash Extensions?
I’ve always been interested in getting lash extensions and I finally had my first experience with them in 2019.
How Often I Get Lash Extensions
Since then, I’ve had lash extensions about 3 or 4 times with 3 different lash technicians when I travel or have some sort of road trip. I just find it more convenient to have them and not necessarily have to put on too much makeup while I’m on the go. Plus, depending on the climate, it’s nice to be able to have a makeup look that will survive almost any kind of weather without it melting off.
How Long Do Lash Extensions Take?
Lash extensions take between 2 and 2.5 hours for a fresh set to be applied and that depends on the type of lashes you get and how experienced your lash technician is. I think I’ve had an experience with a newer lash tech which took about 3 hours (so remember to use the bathroom beforehand!) For refills, it could take between 1 to 1.5 hours.
Is It Uncomfortable To Get Lash Extensions?
In my experience, the only uncomfortable part was just when the lash technicians were figuring out how to apply the under-eye pads and tape around the eyes properly to separate your bottom lashes from the top so they don’t get stuck together by the glue that’s used to apply the extensions. There was only one lash technician (The Lounge Aesthetics) I recently found in the Toronto area that did a really good job on this and I didn’t feel any discomfort during this process. There was also one lash technician I’ve had where when she was applying the extensions, she kept pinching the skin on my lids with her tool and I knew for sure that wasn’t normal. It was quite painful and this happened for almost every single lash she applied during a 2.5-hour period! Even though she had really good reviews, sometimes getting a good lash technician can be a hit or miss.
Besides that, the lash extension application process can be quite relaxing and I actually fall asleep for a bit during my sessions. I mean, you are lying there for a few hours and you have to keep your eyes closed the whole time!
Type Of Lash Extensions I Get
I’ve only tried the Classic and Hybrid lash extensions with both a C and D curl at about 11 to 13mm in length in the cat-eye style. So far, I think I prefer the Hybrid set with a D curl at 11 or 12 mm long in the cat-eye style. I have yet to try the Volume set, but that is next on my list!
Do I Still Wear Makeup With Lash Extensions?
I found that after I got lash extensions, I tend to almost not wear any eye makeup at all, even when I travel. And for those who know me, know I love my winged eyeliner looks but it was nice to be able to occasionally skip this step. It also felt like a hassle to put makeup on and having to be so careful about how I remove it at the end of the night that I just choose not to wear any. Also, a big part of choosing to get lash extensions for when I travel is so that I can minimize the amount of makeup I need to wear.
For the times when I need to have photos taken or want to dress up a bit more, I do a full glam look but I do admit the lash extensions do get in the way slightly. I originally have pretty short lashes so it was just having to work around the extensions which wasn’t too hard to do.
But at the end of the night when I need to remove my eyeliner, sometimes it was tougher to do so since I like to use waterproof or water-resistant eyeliners and it’s hard to get right up to the lash line and avoid damaging the lash extensions. You’ll just want a good oil-free eye makeup remover and avoid Q-tips since the cotton can get caught in the lashes. Opt for a sponge tip makeup applicator instead.
How Long My Lash Extensions Last
When the lash technician does a good job and has quality materials, they should last about 3 weeks. All the times I’ve done my lash extensions, they have lasted this long but I’ve had one experience (the same one that pinched my skin), where almost 100% of the lashes fell out within 4 days! I am very careful with my lashes so I was surprised how so many of them kept falling out every day. I had gotten them done less than a week before I had to go on a work trip and an extended vacation and had hoped to have them nice and ready for when I travel but I had to go back to wearing mascara and false lashes. This one had also irritated my eyes to the point they wouldn’t stop watering and had irritation under one of my eyes for a few days afterwards. I was traumatized and thankfully I have found a good lash technician to go back to!
Every person has different growth cycles and we can shed between 1 to 5 lashes per day. Lash extensions will last as long as your natural lashes grow and get replaced.
Do I Get Refills?
I’ve only gotten refills once and for the most part, I probably won’t as I really only get lash extensions for when I travel to make things a little more convenient for me. So when they grow out and I don’t need a refill but want them to look “normal”, I actually carefully trim down the random ones with a pair of scissors so they are the same length as my natural lashes and I don’t need to wait for the extensions to fall out which can take up to 8 weeks for all of your lashes to be natural again.
How Much Do Lash Extensions Cost?
This really depends on the lash studio, the lash technician, and the type of lash extensions you want. I’ve seen them advertised anywhere from $40 CAD to around $200 CAD or more for a set.
Recommendations On Choosing Your Lash Technician/Lash Studio
Even though I’ve only had lash extensions a few times, I could really tell between each lash technician’s technique and whether they were good or not. There were 2 that I really liked, and although I prefer one over the other (will share with you below) and will rate it a bit higher, I always like having backups and options as you can probably tell from my other beauty blog posts.
I highly recommend doing your research and going to a place that has good reviews, has a good amount of experience in the industry, and/or are referrals from friends or family. You also want one where they provide you with the options of how you want your final look to be like rather than just start your session without asking for your opinion (also the same one that pinched my skin).
Luckily, as I’ve mentioned above, I found a really good lash technician at The Lounge Aesthetics on Groupon (surprisingly, since a majority of my Groupon purchases were a miss!) where she had the softest touch and a really expert technique to make sure the whole lash extensions process was comfortable, easy, and done in a good amount of time. Not only was the way it was applied really good, but the way it felt afterwards was also surprising to me because it felt like I didn’t have anything on and I was able to easily wash my face and do my whole skincare routine and even apply makeup as usual without any interference or ruining the lashes! If you’re in the Toronto area, I highly recommend a session with the The Lounge. Use my code DANA for 20% off your first lash extension application. You can mention my code when you book your lash appointment and trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
How Do You Choose What Type Of Lash Extensions To Get?
It really depends on the final look you want to achieve. Lash extensions come in different materials, volumes, curls, and lengths and can be applied to have a certain style or shape. Below are the basic differences to help you make a decision on what you’d prefer and I’ve also gotten some input from The Lounge Aesthetics on this information to help you out!
Type Of Lash Extensions
- Classic – A Classic set is a great option if you’re new to lash extensions and if you want a natural look. Here, the number of lashes you have will be the number of lash extensions you’ll receive as it’s one lash extension per natural lash. It is like having permanent mascara on.
- Hybrid – Hybrid sets are a combination of classic and volume lashes. With this lash type, you can add length and volume without overdoing it. It usually has 30% of classic lashes and 70% of volume lashes.
- Volume – With a Volume set, multiple lashes are fanned out and applied to one natural lash which creates a full, fluffy, doll-like look. This is perfect if you want more drama to your eyes.
- Mega Volume – For really dramatic eyes and a full glam look, opt for the Mega Volume set! 6 to 10 or more fanned-out lashes are applied to a single natural lash and provide a denser and darker look.
Style/Shape Of Lashes
The style and shape of your lash extensions are based on your personal preference and the type of look you’d like to achieve – so let your lash tech know! Here are a few styles to choose from:
- Natural Style – Frames the eyes by following the shape of your eyes.
- Cat Eye Style – Elongates the eyes and gives the illusion of a winged liner which I love!
- Open Eye Or Doll Eye Style – They’re great if you have smaller eyes and want them to appear bigger.
How To Choose Length And Curl
C and D curls are the most popular to choose from. C curls match almost all eye shapes and have a more subtle curl so it’s considered more natural, but it also allows for a more open and fuller look. D curls are more dramatic as the curl is deeper and the shape is almost like a crescent moon so it is very visible when looking at a person head-on.
Lash lengths vary between 5mm and 18mm and your lash technician can help you determine which length is most suitable for you and the look you’re going for.
How To Take Care Of Your Lash Extensions
- Use a clean spoolie to brush out your lashes every day and any time they get wet.
- Avoid lash curlers and oil-based products as they will have your lash extensions falling out prematurely.
- Stay away from extreme blasts of heat as it will also cause your lash extensions to fall out sooner than you want!
- Don’t rub, pull, or tug on your lash extensions.
- Some lash technicians will tell you to wait for 24 hours before getting them wet, some will say it’s not necessary. Listen to what your lash tech says as they may use different glues!
- Clean your lashes regularly to prevent bacteria.
- For upkeep, schedule a refill within 2 to 3 weeks.
Aside from having lash extensions for when I travel, here is also What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag!