I understand about this desire, because I have been known to pull on or pick at my eyelash extensions. Generally it is a mindless activity that can happen while watching a movie or surfing the web; quickly something that started off as “just feeling” the lashes can result in removal of quite a lot of extensions. Or sometimes the person is very present in the moment, enjoying the feeling of sliding that extension off.

Generally it is obvious when a client has been picking her lashes, as there is normally damage to the natural lash. Over time this can cause irreparable harm to the natural lash. If you do find that wearing extensions does cause the urge to pick or pull, by all means let’s talk about it. There are ways to help the problem, whether it be moving to a lighter weight extension, applying shorter lashes, or just figuring out what the trigger of pulling is to help avoid it. Sometimes having a “zero tolerance” policy when touching lashes (other than cleaning them) really helps avoid the spiral of a lash picking session.

I want all my clients to not only have amazing Flawless Lashes eyelash extensions, but happy, healthy natural lashes as well.

To read about trichotillomania please go here:

http://www.trich.org/about/hair-pulling.html

Many clients prefer the look of a very full set of eyelash extensions. The more the better! Today, let’s go over how to maintain your eyelash extensions to keep them that way.

A full set of lashes is achieved in 2 ways, diameter of eyelash extension, and number of eyelash extensions applied. The diameter of extension is determined by the condition of your natural lashes. If someone has baby fine natural lashes, they cannot support a super thick diameter extension. I do have clients with extremely fine lashes, that find using a product like revitalash or latisse helps their natural lashes gain the strength needed to wear extensions that they could not otherwise.

Now, as for amount of lashes applied, during your initial appointment for a full set, I apply as many lashes as I can possibly get on within that 2 hour time frame. My average is 85 lashes per eye(LPE) in a 2 hour period. That is an average, and can go up or down depending on the person’s natural lashes, as well as factors like, how still the person can be during application.

So let’s say client gets set of lashes put on at 85 lashes per eye. At this point, the client can do several things to maintain this set.

1. Come to touchup appointment before you are down to less than 50%. If you think of it as a mathmetical equation, 85 LPE in 2 hours, if client comes in for an hour touchup appointment with 25 LPE left, she will not be at 85 LPE again at the end of the hour.

2. Come to your appointment on time. If you are 15 mins late, that is 15 minutes less of lashes you are getting! I try my best to go over if at all possible, but cannot guarantee availability.

3. Come to your appointment with squeaky clean lashes. I would much rather be putting on lashes during the appointment, than cleaning eyeliner.

This is your appointment, and I want you to get the most out of it!

In addition to these steps, if you have not, please look at some basic FAQ on how to care for your lashes here:

http://www.xtremelashes.com/faq_lash_extensions.aspx

I want all my clients to have the most dramatic, beautiful lashes they could ever want, so following these steps helps us both to achieve it!

painful and clumped up

And after removal of lash clumps:

And her final new set of lashes, applied to one natural lash at a time. No clumping, itching, or breakage; easy to comb through, soft, and beautiful. *please note what appears to be a gap is just a combing issue that will disappear when lashes are combed.

Please be aware, when you go for an eyelash extension service find out if they are applied to “one natural lash at a time”. The process should be about 2 hours on the first appointment. If it is $60 and takes 20 minutes, definitely beware. The problem with these lashes is not only are they unsightly (I feel theydetract from a woman’s beauty, rather than add to it), they are also uncomfortable and damaging to your natural lashes. Once you spend the initial cost of a full set of real eyelash extensions, the upkeep for them is similar in cost to the cluster lashes, but with a much more beautiful result.

The client below had been coming to me for lashes, but went back to California for the past month. She had her lashes done by a certified lash stylist who was supposedly very reputable.
Her lashes could not be combed, multiple lashes were stuck together with glue, and had been coming out in chunks.
She could not get a touchup, as this was very uncomfortable, and just not workable.
I took them completely off, and did a quickie set with the remaining time on her appt. She will come back soon to get them back to her original thickness.

I am so glad this was not her first experience with eyelash extensions. If someone does not know how it is supposed to be done, they will think eyelash extensions are a very bad idea, when really they should be soft, flexible, and undetectable.

Big problem!

After removal and light set. Much better!

Here’s just a couple of the pics, and I got rid of the Xtreme photo up top as my banner and now have a photo of my work as the header.  Yay!

For the month of March I want to share my client Sandy with you.  Sandy has one of those dynamic personalities that makes you feel like a good friend from the minute you meet her.

Not only does she have wonderful sons who are talented athletes, Sandy also has the admirable spirit of someone who can be a hospice nurse.  She is around so many people in difficult situations, but still maintains a fun, happy, incredibly positive outlook.  She is truly an inspriration.

As far as Sandy’s eyelash extensions go, she likes ‘em long, thick, and GLAMOUROUS!  When she first came to me for lashes, she actually had a couple quite large gaps in her natural lashes.  She had tried everything, different mascaras, stopping use of the eyelash curler, anything, and everything, but these gaps would not fill in.  We chalked it up to hormones, and I did my best to give her the lashes of her dreams.  It took alot of fancy footwork to get the gaps filled in, but they looked nice.  We decided to then give Revitalash a try, in addition to her not using mascara anymore, and her lashes have completely filled back in.  Now I am able to give her the lush, sexy lashes she was desiring, and then some!  Just take a look, and yes her eyes are so pretty and blue!

Here’s what Sandy has to say about her lashes:

“I love how my eye lashes look, how they make me feel pretty and put together all the time ( even if I don’t have time to put my makeup on) and the compliments I get on how my eyes look (and no one can tell that I do not have mascara on). And as you know, your lash extensions have given my own lashes a chance to grow.”

Sandy’s original before and after:

And her final after the lash rehab, using revitalash: