First, your lash artist should be certain that your natural lashes can support your request if you have very short, sparse lashes that are very thin, Sylvia would recommend that you do not walk away with the thickest, longest lashes available.  Instead, your lash artist should recommend a design that will not cause harm to your natural lashes.  To add some fullness without weighing down your natural lashes, your lash artist can use the tape back method to add in some very short lashes (6 to 8mm depending on the longest lash length you selected) to the 2^nd and 3^rd rows.  You could also have your artist apply Volume 2D if your lashes are very thin or 3D to 6D extensions if your natural lashes can support them.  2D to 6D lashes will be more expensive than classic one-on-one eyelash extensions because of the time involved and because more product is used.  You could also have your lash artist use Ellipse or X-wrap (flat) eyelash extensions to create the illusion of voluminous lashes.

When someone says they want natural looking extensions, Sylvia’s first recommendation is a softer J curl and no longer than 10mm to 12mm and a lash no thicker than 0.15mm.  It is recommended for a natural look to go only 2mm beyond the natural lash length and because most people’s natural lashes are about 8mm to 10mm in length, going 2mm past that would be natural but enhanced.  Most people’s lashes are much less than 0.10 in thickness, so going with 0.15mm is enough to be noticeable.  Also going with a baby doll or natural style works for most eye shapes.  A consultation prior to lashing is pertinent. You need to discuss how long you want them and how noticeable you want them to be.  “Natural” can mean something different to everyone.

Make-up artist extraordinaire, Stacey Bourne, talks about all things Eyelashes and shows some love for our book.

First, you need to be specific as to where the reaction was.  Was it all over your eye?  Was it both eyes?  What kind of reaction was it? Was there both edema and erythema present?  You must first determine if the reaction was caused by the adhesive or if it was caused by the eye pads or cleanser used during your procedure.  You could try a patch test, have the artist apply 10 lashes to one or both eyes and see if you react. Some clients can tolerate Xtreme Lashes Flex Fusion adhesive, which is formulated specifically for sensitive and reactive eyes with no reaction.  Some clients will still have a reaction to Flex Fusion and the only way to find out is by doing a patch test.

You can also try a few of these suggestions:

Prior to your appointment take an antihistamine, continue that for 3 days after your application.  You can also use allergy eye drops to alleviate itching, but be careful when applying the drops so that they do not get on the eyelash extensions.  Doing so can cause the extensions to fall off prematurely.

For a day or two before and a few days after your appointment use Claritin and Pepcid AC.  Claratin blocks histamine receptor site H1 and Pepcid AC block receptor H2.  See if that makes a difference for you in how your eyes react.  This information is in no way meant to take the place of advice or recommendation from your physician.

Ask your lash artist to avoid using eye makeup remover, cleanser, primer or anything other than eyewash around your eye area and lashes.  You may consider trying our own eye makeup remover intended to be used with most extension adhesives, it is oil-free, gentle, free from harsh preservatives, and instead contains a natural preservative).

 We recommend using mineral powder eyeshadow or a mineral powder that matches your skin tone on your eyelids to absorb excess oil.  Also, some lash companies offer a protective coating that also helps to prolong lash life, the coating is intended to fill in any little crevices in the adhesive, seals the bond between the adhesive, the extension and your natural lash and keeps the adhesive from breaking down.

Your lash artist should go through care and maintenance with you at the end of your service.  Do not be afraid to cleanse your lashes, after your initial 48-hour cure period.  It is extremely important to keep the eye area free of debris, excess oils and makeup while wearing extensions.