Learn all about retention and aftercare to make your lashes last! Lashes are a luxury investment, so it's important to follow aftercare to protect your investment! Tutorials are included in this post to give you a detailed step by step!
Retention: All There Is To Know
Retention refers to how well your lashes last over a period of time. There are so many things that affect retention including genetics, medical conditions, aftercare efforts, application, and environment. In this section, we are going to go over all of it.
Genetic factors that affect retention: Everyone's natural lashes go through a growth cycle. At any point in time, you will have some eyelashes in a resting phase, while others are in a growth phase. All of your eyelashes will shed eventually, and new lashes will grow in their place. This growth cycle occurs whether you have extensions or not, but because lash extensions are darker and longer then your natural lashes, you may notice this shedding more so than you notice your natural lashes when they fall out. There are genectic differences in the rate of which shedding occurs. Some people may have faster growth cycles while others have slower growth cycles. On average, though, it is very normal to lose up to 5 lashes a day. Some people have strong and thick natural lashes which are more resistant to shedding, whereas other people have thinner more fragile natural lashes which are more prone to shedding. If you have thinner lashes, it doesn't mean you can't get lashes, it just means that your lash artist will have to use lighter weight extensions.
Medical & health conditions that affect retention: A weak immune system, thyroid disorders, alopecia, and trichotillomania are some examples of health conditions that can lead to hair loss and poor retention. It's important to talk to your lash artist if you have any of these conditions to see if you are able to be lashed. Certain medications, recent medical procedures, pregnancy, and hormonal changes can affect retention as well.
How aftercare affects retention: Aftercare efforts can make or break your lash retention. It is important to follow aftercare by the book to get your lashes to last as long as possible. I will get into aftercare below, but it is important to know that aftercare products are not an upsell, but are actually crucial to maintaining your lashes.
Application & environment's effect on retention: This one is on your lash artist. They should be applying one lash extension per one natural lash. Additionally, they should be placed close to, but not touching, the lash line so the extensions have a large enough attachment zone. Your lash artist also adjusts the humidity of their environment to match the curing rate of their adhesive.
All About Aftercare
These are all of the things you should be doing to maintain your lash extensions. We will go over cleansing, do's, and don'ts of lash extensions.
Cleansing: I suggest washing your lashes 3 times a week. If you have oily prone skin and hair, you may need to wash them more often. Additionally, you want to wash your lashes after everytime you cry and everytime you wear makeup. You should only be washing your lashes with lash shampoo and a cleansing brush. If you are one of my clients, you can purchase lash shampoo at my studio after your appointment. It is important to use oil free skincare products, as oil causes the adhesive to breakdown. I will insert video tutorials below on how to clean your lashes and how to remove makeup and wash your face with lash extensions.
Do's: It is very important to clean your lashes. It is also crucial to brush your lashes with a spoolie. You want to brush them regularly, but excessive brushing stimulates blood flow, which can lead to premature shedding. It is also important to sleep on your back or purchase an extension safe sleeping mask to avoid sleeping on your face/ lashes. It's great to schedule fills every 2-3 weeks to keep your lashes fresh, full, and healthy!
Don'ts: You want to avoid getting too close to extreme heat sorces, so it is important to be careful opening the oven or getting close to open flames. These extreme heat sources can singe your lash extensions. It is also so important to avoid rubbing, tugging, twisting, and pulling on your extensions as it will lead to premature shedding. I reccommend touching your lashes only while brushing them out or cleaning them, keeping your hands themselves off of the extensions. You also want to avoid putting makeup around your lash line unless it is extension safe, as the oils will create a barrier between the extensions and the natural lashes, leading to premature fallout. Mascara on your extensions is a definite no, but it is okay to put mascara on your bottom lashes as long as you are cleaning them properly afterwards. Be extra careful with cotton products around your extensions as it can snag and pull them out.
A tutorial on removing makeup and washing your face with your extensions
A tutorial on how to clean your lash extensions
Your lash artist is doing their part in ensuring good retention, so it's important to make sure you have good aftercare practices to get the longest lasting lash set! I hope this helped you understand lash retention and good aftercare, and always feel free to ask questions!
xoxo, Ari On The Lashes
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