For the Lash of It!

Posted by GladGirl Team on July 12, 2013

The spa industry is all about helping a woman feel her best through beautifying and enhancing her natural attributes. The art of eyelash extensions is the perfect way to achieve this effect. In the U.S, eyelash extensions are a relatively recent addition to the makeup and salon repertoire. Because this is a non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical way to make a woman feel special, the practice has become hugely popular and is in increasingly high demand. Much like hair extensions, eyelash extensions involve adhering an extension to a natural lash making the lash itself physically longer. Extensions are very popular among celebrities and are fast-growing in the makeup and spa industries. However, there is still a lot of room for growth in this arena, and you can be the first in your area to offer this amazing client service. One of the greatest things about offering eyelash extensions is that it provides the potential for a brand new stream of income and it is one of the few treatments with an immediate and on-going ‘Wow’ factor. This can be a terrific boost to your client retention and increase referrals! Doing lash extensions well requires training on both the procedures and the materials available. A technician who wants to become an extension expert will have to learn how to prep the eyes, select the right lashes to extend, and how to choose the extensions which will achieve the best look for the client. You will want to allow yourself a considerable amount of practice time before offering this as a regular service in your spa. Also, check with your state licensing/regulating board to be sure you know the licensing requirements for this procedure in your state. Professional eyelash extensions are applied on a lash per lash basis. Once proficient, the process for a full set of eyelash extensions takes approximately 1-2 hours depending on how many lashes are applied. The average number of applied lashes range anywhere from thirty to eighty lashes per eye. A single lash extension is literally attached to a single natural eyelash. Eyelash extensions have several variables to consider: curl, thickness and length. Lashes can be manufactured from synthetic mink, synthetic silk and 100% real mink. There are several types of eyelash extensions to give your customers different looks and speed up the application process. These include: V, W and Y types. Adding eyelash extensions to your spa or salon menu can make your business unique among those in your area. Extensions also provide a service that requires maintenance and therefore, repeat business. The appearance of these long, natural, luxurious lashes is so appealing that once your client has extensions, she will want to keep the look going.

The Basic Procedure for Eyelash Extensions

Although you might see variations in tools and materials by some technicians, there really is only one proper procedure for doing single strand eyelash extensions. Prior to performing the treatment, you should discuss with the client the desired look; be it sophisticated, natural, length or density, et cetera. We suggest taking photos and setting up a file for your client to help keep the look consistent over time. In brief the procedure is as follows: Set up your workstation with excellent lighting. A magnifying glass might be helpful.

1. Lay client down, make them comfortable
2. Cleanse the eye area with oil-free makeup remover and cleanser
3. Apply eye patches or medical paper tape under lower lid trying to capture lower lashes
4. Tape can be applied to the upper lid in a gentle manner to give the eyelid a slight lift
5. Lay out the extensions by length and diameter
6. Set out your glue and your curved and straight tweezers
7. Suggested technique: Start at the outer corner of the eye and go back and forth from eye to eye to keep a balanced and symmetrical appearance
8. Lay in varying lengths and diameters as you move along the eye line, graduating the lengths
9. Check to make sure nothing is adhered to the lower tape or lash line
10. Finally, dry, comb and remove the tape and eye patches

*Additional Tip: Make sure your adhesive is stored upright with a tightly closed cap and in a cool and dry location for longevity. It is critical to work in an efficient, precautious manner using the utmost care to protect the eyes so adhesive does not get into the eyes. Your choice of glue and materials also greatly impacts the safety and quality of the procedure. After care instruction is important to help your customers protect their investment. If necessary, your customers should only use water-based make-up around the eyes. They should never rub or pull on their extensions and they should not use a crimping lash curler however, they can use our heated non-crimping lash curler. To allow the bond to cure, we recommend that the client does not get the lashes wet for 24 to 48 hours.

What Type of Spa Professional is Best Suited to Perform Extensions?

The best eyelash extension technician will like detail work, be patient, and possess a creative flare. An artistic person can find this kind of work enjoyable and very rewarding. It is a beautifying treatment that is extremely effective and instant. As soon as the client opens their eyes that ‘Wow’ factor emerges! To become a technician, hands-on training is the best route. Practice is the key. You would also be well advised to follow the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for both sanitation and working around the eyes. This is a service that requires maintenance, which makes it perfect for the day spa or medical spa. Typically clients return for fill-ins every two to four weeks. Fill-ins usually take about 30 to 60 minutes, and it is more economical for the client to have frequent fill-ins because as the lashes grow out, fill-ins can take longer. As you would any new treatment, you will want to get out in your community and market the service. For this purpose, before and after photos will go a long way in drawing new clients. Post the photos on your website, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Encourage referrals and network with other professionals in your area including doctors who offer other types of beauty services such as laser treatments or Botox. Eyelash Extensions are the perfect way to expand your business while maintaining the beauty industry mission of helping a woman look and feel her best! Happy Lash Loving!