High Maintenence? Try a Lash Fill

Extensions... the New Frontier

I had the pink and white solar acrylics put on three times in my life, none of which made it to a fill. (I'm a chronic nail sabatoger.) I still don't know if I could be high maintenance enough for this

I have had several clients with Lash extentions, these women are not shy about admitting their newfound addiction either. I would compliment their lashes, only to hear them unabashedly claim, "Oh honey, they're extension!" They go every 4 weeks to get their lashes filled.

There is a definite downside. Oil based products can prematurely erode the bonding. So that means, no waterproof eyeliner, waterproof mascara, or oil based makeup removers.

Also, just like how repeated use of acrylic nails weakens your natural nails, when the lashes slowly fall out, they can take your natural lashes with them.

I have met women from both extremes. I know women who have tried it once and lost too many lashes to consider extensions again, but I also saw at a beauty show a few weeks ago that they were using a new bonding formula that was completely protein based. They were using keratin (the protein that makes up hair and nails) to bond the lashes, and claiming that there was little shedding compared to the competition.

I actually got to watch a full application on a woman. It looked very tedious for the technician applying each individual lash into the client's lashline. I didn't seem too bad from the client's perspective. It takes time, about 45 minutes, and it takes committment.

At first I wrote it off as for someone who is high maintenance with, pedicures, manicures, lasering, waxing. I have found it has a similar demographic to tanning. A lot of these women wear the lashes and little to no makeup. They want to look great with as little fuss as possible. This idea shatter the mold, for me.

Here I found mink (yes mink, like the fur coat) lash application starting at $349 when they only last 4-6 weeks.

Xtreme Lash is a well reputed brand and method available in salons has a $250 starting cost with $50 fills every two weeks.

I have also seen women with really bad "Lash Jobs," especially in African American women with extremely curly lashes. Their technician gave them a clumpy, lashes glued shut look that tangled their lashes, and eventually causes them to fall out.

I love my lashes, but I am not ready for this yet, although it does sound tantalizing. I certainly bet that it's a popular service in Hollywood, not to mention, Las Vegas.

Have you ever had lash extensions?

Would you do it again?

Any tips on pricing and brands?

Thanks again,

I'm yours, The Go to Girl