Should You Do Eyelash Extensions On Yourself?
You might be thinking about purchasing an individual lash extension kit to do your own eyelash extensions at home. Doesn’t sound too bad does it? Well, we have a different opinion…
At the salon (which we know seem like a distant memory) trained lash artists apply individual lash extensions to individual natural lashes. This is a LOT more difficult than you might think, and it isn’t safe to do this at home.
How to do your own eyelash extensions?
We don’t advise doing your own eyelash extensions but there are some safe alternatives, such as applying strip lashes. You should be leaving the application of individual lash extensions to a trained lash artist.
Lash artists are trained, assessed and insured for a reason; learning how to correctly and safely apply lash extensions is a skill. Most people wouldn’t attempt to do their own home electrics, they would hire a professional. Beauty treatments should be no different.
Is it safe to do eyelash extensions at home?
Unless you’re a trained professional, there are associated risks with doing your own individual eyelash extensions. Eyesight should be the driver of all eye related treatment decisions. “The eye area is one of the most sensitive parts of the face,” explains Justine Hextall, Consultant Dermatologist. “The skin here is much thinner than other areas and can quickly become dry and irritated.” This is especially true if you were to accidentally drop any adhesive on the delicate skin surrounding the eye – or even worse, the eye itself. This could lead to a nasty eye infection or sensitivity.
Angela Thiagarajah (our Head of Product Development) highlights that the primary ingredient in all strong adhesives is Cyanoacrylate. The uncured chemical is a strong irritant, a well-known cause of allergic reactions and is extremely reactive. “Cyanoacrylate works by quickly curing on contact with moisture, polymerising to form a strong and unreactive solid, bonding together anything it touches,” says Angela. “Any uncured fumes will immediately seek the closest source of moisture with which to react. If you have your eyes open this will be the place, which can cause red eyes, burns or worse.”
Angela stresses that the most important thing when using adhesive is to minimise the risk of adhesive fumes being inhaled or getting in the eyes. “We ensure clients keep their eyes closed for the entire treatment; this allows time for the adhesive to cure and to minimise the risk of reaction. When lashing yourself, you can’t do this and the chances of uncured adhesive getting into your eyes are ridiculously high and seriously not worth the risk.”
Francesca Marchetti (Consultant Optometrist) also warns about the dangers of applying individual eyelash extensions at home. “Poorly applied extensions can damage the hair follicle. This causes lashes to drop out completely and in some cases the damage can be permanent. This can then lead to blepharitis, a condition in which the edges of the eyelids become inflamed.” Using tweezers so close to your own eye is also dangerous. You could easily scratch your cornea (the surface of your eye) and cause a corneal abrasion… which we don’t want!
It’s also worth considering the quality of the products available from companies prepared to sell professional products to people who are not trained – particularly adhesives. Realistically, you should avoid doing your own eyelash extensions at home due to the risks involved.
What alternatives are there?
Focus on your lash health and growing your natural lashes instead. Our Triple Enhance Lash Serum helps to improve lash length, strength and volume in as little as 30 days*. If you focus on nourishing your own lashes, you’ll be happy with improvements that you see and will be well-prepared for your next set of lash extensions. If you want to see instant changes or a more dramatic look, we also offer a range of strip lashes in 12 different styles that are tailored to individual eye shapes! For tips on how to apply them, check out our blog.
*Based on an Independent Consumer Trial of 99 users applying the product twice daily for 12 weeks.
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