Eye Lash Extensions: My Experience

I have a real love hate relationship with mascara. On one hand I love the volume, colour and curl that a good mascara can offer which really makes my eyes pop, and on the other hand I really hate removing it at the end of a long day especially if it’s a tough waterproof type which can sometimes see me scrubbing away for some time and upsetting my sensitive skin. Despite this I have to admit that I do feel a bit naked if I leave the house without my lashes being properly prepped.

When I came across an advert for a local lady who does eye lash extensions I was suddenly struck with the desire to see what exactly this entails and what the results would be. Would it be the end to my mascara woes and yet give me the look I wanted? Before spotting the ad I had never even considered such a thing, but having been inspired I took it upon myself to do some research and having decided that I wanted to give them a go I booked an appointment.

I chose individual eye lash extensions which are applied with a tiny bit of glue separately to each of the natural lashes to give a fuller, longer lash without looking too artificial. There are many different styles and types and I requested a more natural look rather than the more party-style lashes which I think would be inappropriate for daily life. This type of lashes lasts  for 2-3 weeks and fall out along with the natural lashes so they do need refills every couple of weeks to keep them looking top notch.

The process is relatively simple. First the eye area is prepared with tape beneath the eye to keep the lower lashes out of the way and offer a good contrast for the beauty practitioner to be able to see the lashes. The top lid is also taped with the lid slightly tight as to enabled the practitioner access to the lash roots where the extensions are applied. It certainly felt odd and a bit uncomfortable a first, but I soon got used to it.

Once ready the practitioner will work from one corner of the eye to the other carefully gluing the extensions to the natural lashes, which can take a long time depending on how many lashes you have. My practitioner, Claire of Make Me Beautiful, informed me that although my lashes were quite fair (and therefore not always very visible) I do have a good number. The whole process for me took around 3 hours. Make sure you are comfortable at the start because once your eyes are tapped you can’t open them again! I did feel the occasional  poking and tugging during the process and my eyes did water a little, but overall it was a painless process.

At first when I gently opened my eyes they were a little glued stuck, but Claire gently sorted this out and the first thing I noticed was that the lashes were in my range of sight enabling me to see them which was a little odd! When I looked in the mirror I was shocked at just how different I looked, my lashes were far more visible with more length and an obvious curl to them. This was my first time having extensions so I have to admit that I was a bit worried that they were too much (and that I looked like a drag queen), but Claire reassured me that I looked fabulous (as did my husband and colleagues).

I have had mine now for 3 weeks and am getting them refilled next week. They have lasted well and despite having lost several lashes don’t look patchy or silly! I have very much enjoyed not having to use mascara and it has enabled me to quicker getting ready in the mornings as my eyes need very little doing to them – only a quick brush of the lashes with a clean mascara wand to keep them tidy.

Overall I have really loved the look my lash extensions have given me, despite my initial shock, and I intend to keep them for the foreseeable future. Here are some photos showing the process and difference between the before and after – what do you think?