My Experience With Lash Extensions.

Just like everyone else I caught on the hype of lash extensions. I have pretty long natural lashes as it is so I never thought I needed to apply anything to them other than mascara. I actually never learned how to apply strip lashes till I was about 21! I first saw lash extensions on Instagram and honestly I can't remember with who or when but I know it was there, and I liked what I saw. I started following some lash techs from all over just to get an idea of what is what and how much it cost probably around 2 years ago now. Out here in Palm Springs there wasn't really any lash techs that where up to date or had Instagrams to show case their work. After a while of following some lash techs, on my recommended to follow a new lash tech that popped up in my area. She hadn't started yet or opened her business she was just building a following. Once she opened I gave it a little to see her work and I really liked it, so I booked my first appointment.

My first appointment I asked for a volume set, as she offered a classic, volume and hybrid. She did a great job on the volume set but I think it was overwhelming for me at that point in time, I had never had anything on my eyelashes other than mascara. They were dramatic and bold which was what I thought I wanted but I think it was just a bit too much for ya girl. It took me a couple days to get used to them and once I put a full face of makeup on I was actually pretty comfortable with them, but the look I felt that I gravitated for towards was a natural looking long lash that could be done well with or without a full face of makeup.

My second appointment (my favorite set of all time) I ended up going with a classic set. Some of my lashes were still on from my volume set so honestly looking back I would consider it a hybrid and let me just tell you, I felt like that bitch. These lashes were perfection, pure perfection. After this set I knew a classic set was my go to. I kept getting my lashes done from the same lash tech for a few months, always requesting the same set.

After a few months of getting my lashes and following other lash techs I realized I also needed to clean my lashes. I noticed they were falling out pretty quickly and I felt like I wasn't getting the longevity I was getting when I first started getting them. I do remember my lash tech giving me a step by step guide on how to take care of my lashes but honestly being the person I was, I was like nope I got this I know what to do and I didn't. I ended up using a micellar water that I had to clean up my lashes every night and morning but I personally think they were a little too far gone and I just needed to start fresh. Unfortunately with that, I noticed my eyes were getting pretty irritated right after I'd get a new set/fill. I was pretty convinced that I was just a dirty bitch and I needed a new set or that I needed to clean them more. So I kept getting them and trying to be as clean as possible but that wasn't working.

I ended up getting a new set an I remember during my appointment when my lash tech was removing some of my lashes that were barley hanging on my eye was on fire. It felt like if I didn't have my eye shut completely but I definitely did. I honestly thought maybe it was my lash tech, maybe the products she was using were expired or something. I had never had such a reaction before during my appointment. Of course I didn't say anything because me being me I wanted the lashes so bad I thought, beauty is pain eh? After she was done removing the couple lashes and starting applying the new ones I felt fine, so I really kept thinking the product she used might have been a little old, which no biggie it happens right?

The next morning when I woke up my eyes were so swollen and they felt super itchy and sore. I went to the bathroom and it looked like both my eyelids got stung by bees, they were huge. I freaked out. I immediately messaged my lash tech asking if she used anything new, if anything was expired and how can I get this to go away. She let me know that nothing was new and that actually the products she used on me where brand new and she assured me that about every 2 week she gets new products to make sure nothing is old/expired. I felt a little relieved but also still distraught because I knew I probably had developed an allergy. I let the lashes stay for 2 or 3 days and they continued to be itchy and red, luckily the swelling went down after the first day but I couldn't bare to keep them on anymore and I did what you should never do, took them off myself. This was my mistake, don't ask me why I didn't ask my lash tech to remove my lashes because honestly I wasn't thinking straight. I ended up using oil to remove them thinking that'd suffice and nope. I ripped out pretty much all my eyelashes and I cried. I looked like a little naked mole rat.

I didn't go back to get a fill as I was mortified at what I just did to myself and I also was afraid it'd happen again. I began to do my own research about people getting lash extensions and then developing an allergy and it's pretty common. I thought it wasn't for me then and I tried stip lashes for a little but I legit can't apply them for the life of me and I didn't want to learn how honestly. I missed my eyelash extensions so much and I couldn't find a strip lash that looked the same as my lash extensions. So i started looking into hypo-allergenic lash glue. I know I'm a genius. I found some reviews on several lash glues, some requiring a license to purchase so I ended up going with 'Maximum Sensitive Eyelash Extension Glue by Revelation' which I could buy myself and bring to my lash tech. I let her know which glue and I let her know what some of the reviews were saying, which some saw that the lash retention was shorter and that the hold wasn't as strong but I didn't care I just wanted my lashes back.

So I booked my appointment. When she lashed me the first time back they felt great. I was so happy to get my lashes back I felt all cute again. I ended up going back a couple more times and this time was really making sure to keep my lashes clean as well as I really didn't want to go through what I went through before. After a couple of appointments back to back I started noticing I was getting itchy eyelids/lash lines again. I got super nervous and was extra precautions and made sure again, to really clean them thoroughly every day and night. One morning after I had just gotten my lashes done again, I noticed that my lash line was super hard, I couldn't really brush through my eyelash exentsions on one eye in particular so I went to the bathroom to check it out and I noticed there was a build of dried something all around my eyelashes from overnight. It was as hard as a rock, I again freaked out. I this time calmly thought about what to do as I wasn't about to rip out all my lashes again. I ended up getting a really hot wash clothe with water and just left it on my eye for a hot minute and I started picking at the nasty-ness that was on my lash line. I actually got it all off and my eye felt raw as if I had been rubbing it for hours. I looked a little closer and noticed it was like my lash line was scabbing and trying to get the lash extensions off my lash line.

That's when I knew lashing was done for me for good. I was super sad that even my hypo-allergenic glue couldn't hold up with my body. I let the lashes grow out and fall out naturally and I haven't been back since. I miss it so much and have crazily been thinking about going back to get more and just trying to go in moderation versus getting fills and appointments back to back, but that's a whole other blog post. I also think my lash tech has grown a lot with her work and would happily recommend her to anyone looking for someone in the valley, she's super friendly and accommodating as well, @babycslashes. If you are in the LA area I follow this BOMB lash tech, @lashplugla_. I've never gotten lashed by her but her work is literally a wet dream. Overall my experience with lash extensions was great and I would still be getting them now if I didn't develop an allergy. I would recommend looking into who you are going to, everyone should be licensed and take time to look at their work and determine what you like think of it the same as getting your nails done, and if it's cheap you'll get cheap, if it's expensive it's probably worth it.

xx Analisa