LASH EXTENSIONS AND WHERE DO I START
By Natalie Naumenko
Eyes are the windows to the soul, has to be one of the most popular sayings in the world for a reason and I couldn’t agree more with this.
If you ever catch yourself thinking about getting lash extensions or trying false lashes but are not sure how to start and what to choose, leave everything aside and keep reading the article!
The first and most-widely used by all makeup artists are false strip lashes. There are dozens of lash varieties, so you should choose according to the look you wish to achieve. Who said it’s not possible to use false eyelashes and still look natural? Getting that stunning red carpet look, can happen just by adding the right type of lashes.
To start with, you should know that the right choice of glue for your lash extensions, plays a huge role in how your makeup is going to end up. For beginners, I would suggest going for black glue, which is easier to blend with the rest of makeup. For the application, you can use tweezers or fingers, just try and see what’s best for you. There is also a lash applicator but if you are not planning to wear false eyelashes every day, maybe you can hold off the investment.
So, once you have all of your tools together (eyelashes, glue, fingers or tweezers and small scissors) you can start the application.
- Gently pull the lash extensions from the box and place it on your eyelid.
- Measure, and if it is too big, cut it to the right size (it’s okay, don’t worry).
- Apply glue on the lash extensions and let it dry for 30 seconds
- Place the false eyelash on your eyelid as close as possible to the real lash line
- Let it dry for a minute or so
- Apply mascara to blend your natural lashes with false ones
To remove the lashes, just put the cotton bud in oil-free makeup remover and gently rub the lash line. Also, if you choose this method, you can re-use your lashes later on. To clean them, just put hot water and liquid washer in a bowl and softly clean your eyelashes.
The Natural Look
Are you a fan of the “natural look”? I have a solution for that too. You can either cut the strip eyelashes in half and place them in the outer corner of your eyes, or you can use individual eyelashes (lash clusters). The application technique is the same, the difference is that you don’t have to cut them since they are already cut in small pieces, therefore you can choose for yourself how many you want to put on. Start from the middle of your eyes building up the volume towards the outer corner.
I have personally tried both, inexpensive and expensive eyelashes, and can assure you that on the first day the results were the same. Of course provided that the right technique was used. Although, cheap eyelashes have more varieties and are more suitable for reuse, the expensive ones will give you more of a natural look.
Both strip and individual lashes can be worn for 2-3 days, until they start losing their original look.
If you are looking for some long-lasting solution, I suggest doing semi-permanent lash extension. It is the technique where the professional attaches the extension to each lash individually (be ready to spend at least 2 hours at the salon), offering the most natural or dramatic look, whatever you choose. The touch-ups should be done every 3-4 weeks, the procedure usually takes about one and a half hours.
Contrary to natural lashes, lash extensions look more intense, which means that you do not need to apply the same amount of make up as before. Less is more in this case ladies!
