COMBINATION TREATMENTS EYELASH LIFTING AND EYELASH EXTENSIONS

COMBINATION TREATMENTS EYELASH LIFTING AND EYELASH EXTENSIONS.

Combining treatments is a very hot topic for the lash and beauty industry.

Who doesn't like being able to maximize their time and profits?

We live in a modern world where many of us are short on time, we all have clients who like to be able to get in and out of the salon as quickly as possible.

Some combination treatments are a match made in heaven, so when our very own CEO Jessika Aude Gautier recently presented at an international conference, she decided to address the very pertinent question:

“Can you get a lash lift before getting eyelash extensions?”

The short answer here is yes, you can, but I'm pretty sure you clicked on this blog because you want more than just a short answer, so here goes...

The first thing to know is that there is a chemical reaction that takes place between cyanoacrylate (eyelash extension adhesives) and the perming lotions used in the eyelash lifting process. When these two products come into contact, the reaction is called heat release.

When you are doing a Star Lashes World Lash Lift Pro Vegan lash lift followed by a lash extension application, you will need to rinse the lashes to remove the lotions, which reduces the risk of these two products coming into contact, should you choose to apply lash extensions after a lash lift. It is vitally important to rinse, soak the eyes after a lash lift. Star Lashes World lifting and setting lotions are designed to penetrate the natural lashes and coat the entire natural lashes, meaning that simply wiping off the lotions prior to applying a lash extension application is not enough. If you are using another brand that does not require rinsing to remove the lotions, you may end up with product left on the lashes and you may find that the adhesive on your lash extensions behaves very differently or that a heat release reaction occurs.

Additionally, if you are using a brand of lash lift or lash lamination that requires an application of lash botox, nourishing lotion, sticky coating, or serum applied to the lashes as a third step of the treatment, you will also need to rinse and thoroughly clean the lashes, otherwise your eyelash extension adhesive will not perform ideally. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult your current lash lift distributor to determine the best course of action.

Because the chemical process of lash lifting, lash lamination, or similar treatments is designed to break down the chemical bonds that are naturally present in natural lashes, natural lashes are slightly more porous as a result. If you are getting a lash tint after a lash lift, you will notice that you do not need to tint your natural lashes for the same amount of time as a normal lash tint treatment time because the scales of the natural lashes are lifted and the cuticle is inflated, allowing the color to deposit onto the natural lashes much faster. When we apply eyelash extensions, by having a well-prepared lash with the scales along the lash shaft lifted, we can create a greater bond and potentially increase the retention of your eyelash extension applications.

Better retention of lash extensions is always a bonus, however, your infill process for applying lash extensions can become more challenging. This can be worked on, but the overall finish could become a little messy, because as the natural lash line disappears, the new growth that appears will not be lifted, it will be in its normal state (only slightly curled, straight, or facing downward, depending on the direction of the natural lashes growing). Infills may be placed differently on the lash line due to the inconsistency between the lashes that are lifted and the new, straighter growing lashes. Additionally, when wearing lash extensions, you cannot lift the client's lashes again. You may not notice this at a 2-3 week infill appointment, but by their second infill appointment it will be obvious and this is due to our natural lash growth cycle.

For clients whose lashes are naturally extremely curly, crisscrossed, or downward-facing, which makes the lash extension application process much more difficult and time-consuming, performing a lash lift or lash relaxer (for those who do not do lash lifts or lash relaxers, Star Lashes World offers in-person or online training) prior to the lash extension application can make the application process easier for the technician. You will need to inform your client that a full removal of their lash extensions and a new lash lift/relaxer would likely be required for their second fill (however, this would also be determined by their natural lash growth cycle - which can also change seasonally, but that's for another blog post...)

Carefully considering your treatment time and pad selection before performing the lash lift will also help to achieve a cleaner finish. Creating a gentle lift with a shorter treatment time ensures that you are not over-treating, which could result in having to remove all of your lash extension applications in order to relax the lift. It is essential to tread carefully here. Choosing a larger pad size than you would normally choose for your client’s lash length will provide a gentle lift.  which will lift the ends of the lashes enough without risking curling them too much.

Please consider that the processing time spent with your client for their lash lift and eyelash extension aftercare may see the processing time extend longer than you or your client would like.

Although this service can be done together, we feel it may not be a very viable service/treatment to combine in a salon.

We highly recommend performing the Star Lashes World Lash Lift Pro Vegan and waiting 48 hours before applying eyelash extensions.

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