Q&As for Lash Clients

Eyelash extensions are a great way to enhance your natural lashes. The process involves adding synthetic or natural fibres to your natural eyelashes, resulting in a fuller and more dramatic look. Eyelash extensions are available in a variety of thicknesses, lengths and curvatures, and can be applied in different ways depending on the style you wish to achieve.

With classic lash extensions, single lash fibres are attached to your natural eyelashes individually to create an enhanced, yet natural, look.

Russian lash extensions are where lighter weight lashes are grouped together, called ‘fanning’, with each fan being attached to a single natural lash. Each fan usually contains 4-10 lash fibres, depending on client’s preference. This creates a much fuller appearance compared to classics.

Mega-volume lash extensions involve fanning even lighter weight lash fibres compared to Russians, in larger groups of up to 25 fibres per fan, and attaching them to a single lash. This results in a denser and thicker style of lashes for the ultimate striking set of lashes.

When applied correctly eyelash extensions should never hurt, whether it be during the initial application, during infills or afterwards.

This being said, it’s not uncommon to hear of some clients experiencing a little pain or discomfort after their lash tech has completed their lashes, but it usually indicates something needs to be changed. First and foremost, if you experience any pain from your lash extensions, speak to your lash technician as helping them understanding the reasons behind the discomfort is crucial.

Find out more about the causes of painful lash extensions in our article Do Lash Extensions Hurt?.

We’ve all been there. You’ve just got stunning new set of lash extensions, but something unexpected happens, and the floodgates open 😭

Here’s the bad news. Tears don’t just contain water, but also salts, oils and other compounds. Unfortunately, these can begin to dissolve the eyelash adhesive prematurely, which can result in retention being reduced.

However, whilst it’s best to try and avoid crying with lash extensions, we know it’s not always possible, so in the event you do begin to shed a tear, cleanse your lashes as soon as you can with cool water, and lash shampoo, such as this. This will help remove the oils, salt and other compounds from your lashes and lash extensions, minimising the amount of adhesive that becomes affected.

If you are concerned about your lashes getting wet, whether it’s from tears, the shower, or any other source, ask your lash technician to use a waterproof adhesive, such as our Utopia or Phoenix glues. This will help maximise retention, even if you do end up an emotional wreck over P.S. I Love You!

From time to time during, or after an appointment some clients notice their eyes become watery, a little bloodshot, or sometimes both. This is completely normal, and can be caused due to a number of factors.

Cause: Some people may be more sensitive to the products being used than others, so the fumes from the products used such as bonders, removers and glues can cause the eyes to water, or become bloodshot.

What to do: Speak to your lash tech, as they may advise to try a different adhesive. For example, many glues contain a polymer called cyanoacrylate, which can cause sensitivity, so opting for a cyanoacrylate-free adhesive, such as our Cloud 9 adhesive may help reduce or prevent eye-watering.

Cause: Some individuals can have a reaction to the ingredients within the products resulting in their eyes watering. Whilst the reaction is not often cause for major concern, it’s worth taking seriously to help prevent further issues.

What to do: Firstly, always ensure a patch test it conducted as per the manufacturer’s guidelines prior to the lash appointment. This is an essential step towards ensuring your safety. Secondly, not all glues are the same, so finding a glue that works for you can help reduce, or even entirely prevent any forms of a reaction. A common ingredient in lash glue is cyanoacrylate, a polymer which acts as a fast-acting adhesive. Whist this is a common ingredient some clients can be sensitive to it, so switching to a glue that does not contain cyanoacrylate may be best. Glues such as our Cloud 9 adhesive are cyanoacrylate free.

Cause: Applying eyelash extensions is a very delicate and precise process, and it can mean your natural lashes may be pulled and tugged at a little. This is completely normal, but can cause your eyes to water, especially to those who are new to eyelash extensions or not used to it.

What to do: Although pulling, to some degree, is a natural part of applying lash extensions, if you feel your eyes watering as a result of being pulled too much speak to your lash tech and ask if there is anything you can do to reduce it. They may be able to alter the tape or eye pad positioning, or adjust your laying position to help get a better view of your lashes, and reduce the amount of pulling.

Cause: To prevent your bottom set of lashes from getting in the way your eyelash technician will tape down your bottom lashes using either eye pads, tape, or a combination of both. Sometimes during this process your bottom eyelid may be pulled slightly lower than its natural position, which may be uncomfortable, and can lead to watery eyes.

What to do: When your lash technician is applying tape or pads to your bottom lashes, make sure to let them know if it feels uncomfortable at any point. They can then re-adjust it so ensure your eyelids remain in their natural position, which will help reduce water eyes.

Cause: Whilst it’s best to keep your eyes firmly closed throughout your appointment, your eyes may flicker from time to time, sometimes completely involuntarily. In doing so this may cause your eyes to water.

What to do: Try to keep your eyes firmly shut throughout your appointment. If your eyes do flicker, try to take note of what causes the flickering, as this will help you reduce it. Often eyes flicker more when the cheeks are tensed from actions such as smiling or laughing, so being conscious of this can help you be more aware, and reduce the amount of flickering.

Cause: Pre-existing eye conditions, irritations or infections can cause your eyes to water more than usual.

What to do: Always tell your eyelash technician about any existing medical issues, irritations or infections prior to your appointment. You may need to wait until your eyes are fully healed before attending an appointment, which although may be disappointing, is essential to ensuring optimum eye health.

Eyelashes protect our eyes from dust and dirt, as well as exposure to the sun. Without that natural protection, your eyes become vulnerable.

Whislt picking and plucking lashes is common habit, it is not a good thing to do.

Picking, plucking or even fiddling around with your lashes is a bad idea for several reasons. Picking our eyelashes prematurely It can damage your lashes significantly, leading to new lashes not growing back as strong and healthy as before, especially if the roots are damaged. This in itself can lead to longer-term issues. Other complications can include skin infections or irritation where the hair is pulled out, as well as further problems due to the lack of protection from dirt, dust, debris and sun exposure.

Picking out lashes with your hands will also transfer any oils and bacteria from your hands to your eyelashes, which again can cause a range of issues, not to mention a loss of retention.

But why is it so tempting?

Sadly, hair pulling, also known as trichotillomania, is not an uncommon practice. It can be brought on by stress, or can signal an underlying anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Those who do so often do it completely unintentionally, sometimes not even realising they are doing it.

If you are concerned about eyelash, or any other form of hair pulling (Trichotillomania) you should notify your eyelash technician as soon as possible, and consider speaking with a healthcare provider to help you to reduce and eventually stop the habit.

We’ve all been there! Your 3-weeks post lash appointment and your natural lash has grown out with a beautiful fan still attached. This can become frustrating, and a simple solution may seem to be just plucking the lash out early, but this is not the answer! Whist we get that it’s annoying, pulling out eyelashes prematurely is never a good idea, so if you are unable to wait until your next appointment, speak with your lash technician and ask for their advice.

It may involve a short-term solution such as bringing your next appointment forward, or scheduling a lash extension removal. Lash technicians will have special remover which will dissolve the glue enabling the fan to be removed and letting the lash fall out naturally, causing minimal harm. If this happens frequently, you may need to schedule your infills more frequently to prevent the natural lashes growing out too much before they are adjusted.

How long do eyelashes last? The golden question!

Before booking in for a full set of eyelash extensions, you’ll want to know what to expect, and how long the extensions will last.

Lash extensions usually last between 6 – 12 weeks, as there are many factors that can influence their lifespan, as follows:

Natural eyelashes go through a life cycle of 3 phases, anagen (growth), catagen (transition) and telogen (resting). Whilst these stages are the same for everyone, the timeframe, and level of growth that each individually experiences can vary significant, and contributes heavily to the length of time lash extensions will last.

Ensuring proper eyelash maintenance is an essential part of sustaining healthy, strong eyelashes, and long-lasting extensions. Regular cleaning and brushing of the lashes and lash extensions is imperative to prevent premature lash shedding.

As with many human processes, things can begin slow down as you get older. Whilst this is advantageous in many aspects of life, it can mean that natural lashes change overtime, often losing a thickness and strength as you get older. As a result, the lifecycle of natural lashes, and therefore shedding process, changes, causing a shorter overall lash extensions lifespan.

Overall lash health is one of the key factors that impacts how long your lash extensions will last. Strong and healthy lashes will retain lash extensions much longer than weaker, less-healthy lashes.

There are a range of eyelash extension styles, from subtle classics to statement piece mega-volumes, and everything in-between, so the choice of lash-style you opt-for will be a factor in how long they last. If you’re not sure which style to choose from, speak to your lash technician who’ll be able to advise you on the best style for your needs.

Not all products contain the same ingredients, and some products may work best with some clients than others, so taking time to find the right products suited to your lashes is essential. Other factors such as allergies can also play a part within the products used, and therefore expected lifespan. For example, lash adhesives often contain the polymer cyanoacrylate, which acts as a powerful bonding agent between the lash extension and natural lash. Whilst this is thought of as a key ingredient for last lasting bonds, it can cause irritation, or reactions in some, and in which case a cyanoacrylate-free alternative can be used. In these instances, glues without cyanoacrylate may not provide the same level of bonding, which whilst essential if reactions are concern, can limit how long a set is likely to last.

Quality is absolutely key. During a lash appoint an array of products will be throughout the preparation and application of your extensions, so ensuring high quality products are used can make a huge difference in not only the overall appearance of your lashes, but how long they last, and how frequently infills are required.

At Kliko, we put vast amounts of time and effort into our research, design, manufacturing and testing of our products to ensure that we only supply the best quality products possible. If a product is available on our website, it means it has passed our rigorous testing process, ensuring you can use it with full confidence.

The types of activities you do day-to-day can have a big influence on lash retention, and therefore impacts how long your lash set will last. Physical activity, especially that of high intensity such as running, dancing or hitting the gym, not only causes you to sweat, which exposes lashes to water and salts, but also means your lashes get shaken and bumped around which increases the likelihood of lash extensions coming loose or falling out. Often this can’t be helped, and we still recommend to partake is physical exercise daily to ensure a fit and healthy lifestyle, but it’s worth being aware, and speaking to your lash tech if you engage in regular sporting activities so you can devise a plan to ensure your lash extensions last as long as possible.

Eyelashes, both natural and lash extensions, are extremely delicate and very susceptible to damage, so making yourself aware of any habits that can cause disruption to your lashes is essential towards increasing their lifespan. Habits such as the way you sleep, your facewash/showing routine and rubbing your eyes can all cause disruption to your lash extensions, leading to fans coming loose and coming out prematurely. Becoming aware of your habits is the first step in making changes to extend their lifetime, such as sleeping on your back, avoiding getting your eyelashes wet when showering, and not touching or rubbing your eyes, no matter how tempting it becomes.

If you notice a specific habit that you are concerned is affecting your lashes, speak to your lash technician as they will be able to advise on whether it is affecting your lashes, and what changes you could make to help increase lash longevity.

Using a growth serum is an excellent way to increase the lifetime of your lash extensions. Lash serum uses specialist ingredients to nourish and strengthen your natural lashes, helping them grow longer, and thicker whilst protecting them against damage. The stronger and healthier your natural lashes are, the longer lash extensions will last.

For the ultimate lash serum check out our specially formulated Kliko Eyelash Growth Serum designed to promote healthy and stronger lash growth in as little as a few weeks. Simply apply it to the base of your natural eyelashes daily, and watch the results unfold.

If you have any other questions about what to expect from your eyelash extension appointment you should always feel comfortable to ask your eyelash technician first, as they will be happy to advise, and will ensure you know what to expect, and can therefore prepare accordingly.

Eyelash extensions are a popular form of semi-permanently increasing lash volume for a fuller and thicker appearance, and when applied correctly by a trained professional the process is generally considered to be safe.

In the rare instances of complications from eyelash extensions, most are as a result of a skin reaction or allergy to the chemicals used in the glue adhesive. Adhesives contain ingredients to bond lash extensions to the natural eyelash, and often contain ingredients such as cyanoacrylate, which can cause reactions in some individuals. Symptoms of a reaction can include:

• Stinging and or burning in the eye and on the eyelid
• Swelling, from minor to severe
• Itching
• Pain in and around the eye and eyelid
• Red or bloodshot eyes
• Rash

Unless you have an underlying medical condition that makes eyelash extensions an unsuitable choice for you, you can generally avoid these risks by following these guidelines:

• Always complete a patch test as per the manufacturer’s guidelines prior to the lash appointment. If you suffer any form of reaction to the patch test, tell you lash technician as soon as you can.
• Ensure you only get your eyelash extensions completed by a qualified professional.
• If you have any known allergies always ask for a list of ingredients of the products your lash tech will be using to ensure they do not contain any ingredients you are allergic to.
• Make sure your lash technician uses sterile equipment, washes their hands, and provides clean towels or bedding for you to lay on.
• If you have sensitive skin, or are concerned about sensitivity, ask you lash technician if they can use a cyanoacrylate-free adhesive, such as our Cloud 9 Glue. (and See point 1 – always complete a patch test, even with cyanoacrylate free adhesive.

It may not be appropriate for people with certain medical conditions to get false eyelashes, including:

• Eyelid dermatitis
• Blepharitis
• Alopecia areata
• Trichotillomania

If you have any concerns over the safety of eyelash extensions, speak to your lash technician before your appointment.

Whilst heavy may mean different things to different people, the general answer should be... no, lash extensions shouldn’t feel heavy.

There are many factors that contribute to the weight of eyelash extensions, but if applied correctly, eyelash extensions should be comfortable.

Your lash technician should first assess your natural lashes taking extra care to check the thickness, health and strength. They can then determine the right diameter, style and length of lash fibres to apply to your natural lashes.

When done correctly, the extensions may be noticeable, but should not be uncomfortable.

If you find that your lash extensions feel heavy, sore or cause any discomfort, speak to your lash tech as soon as possible.

Find out more about this topic in our article Do Lash Extensions Hurt?.

Eyelash extensions not only give you a stunning, fuller appearance, but also provide an opportunity for you to relax, and enjoy the treatment. You quite literally need to lay-back, shut your eyes and relax, and your comfort is paramount to a successful lash appointment. Therefore, if you wish to fall asleep during the session, that is absolutely fine, and really common.

Many lash technicians take it as a compliment if a client falls asleep during their appointment, as it indicates that their client is fully relaxed.

If you think you may fall asleep during an appointment, it’s always best to let your lash technician know in advance, as they may change your position, or wish to ask you a few questions before you do so.

Yes. Sadly, eyelash extensions don’t last forever, however this is largely due to the lifecycle of your natural lashes, and is an essential part of maintaining healthy and strong eyelashes. Natural eyelashes go through a life cycle of 3 phases, anagen (growth), catagen (transition) and telogen (resting), before they naturally shed, and this process varies in timescale for different people, from a few weeks to several months.

Eyelash extensions are attached to your natural eyelashes, therefore when your natural lash sheds, your lash extensions will also fall with it. This is why you’ll need infill appointments, usually every 2-3 weeks, to maintain a full, thick appearance for your lashes.

Eyelash extensions can also detach from the natural lash before it sheds, however this can indicate an issue with the adhesive, or lash fibres. If you consistently notice lash fans falling out that are not attached to a natural lash, speak to your lash technician, as they may recommend changing glues, types of lash fibres or making lifestyle changes to extend the lifespan of your lash extensions.

Yes, absolutely! Eyelashes naturally protect your eyes from dirt, dust, debris and oils, but in doing so often mean these materials get caught and stuck in your eyelashes and eyelash extensions. If your eyelash extensions are not cleaned regularly, it can result in a reduction in retention of lash extensions, and could even lead to further more serious issues such as infection. It is therefore essential to wash your lashes with an appropriate cleaning agent such as our Kliko Shampoo daily.

Eyelashes and eyelash extensions are extremely delicate, and removing eyelash extensions must be completed exceptionally carefully to avoid causing damage. Eyelash extensions are attached to the natural eyelashes using a strong adhesive, therefore to safely remove the extensions the adhesive must be dissolved, otherwise the natural lashes can be damaged which may lead to long-term issues.

Eyelash remover is a strong agent which should only be used by a qualified professional, therefore in order to remove your eyelash extensions we would strongly recommend you book an appointment with a professional lash technician to do so. We would never recommend attempting to remove your eyelash extensions yourself under any circumstances.

Eyelash extensions are a semipermanent solution for making eyelashes look fuller without the need for mascara, and mascara should never be applied on top of them.

Mascara contains ingredients such as oils which can interfere with the eyelash extension adhesive, ultimately leading to extensions coming loose or falling our prematurely. Eyelashes extensions are also extremely delicate, and the process of applying and removing mascara can easily cause damage.

Eyelash extensions can be styled in a large variety of ways, so if you feel you need a more enhanced appearance speak with your lash technician as they can make a number of changes to find the look that’s perfect for you. Trialling different fan dimensions, lengths, curls, colours and set shapes can dramatically change the overall style of your eyelashes, so finding the right style for you may take some trial and error, but well worth it in the end, and means you’ll have the perfect look without the need for adding further makeup such as mascara – a win win!

After getting a full set of eyelash extensions the last thing you want is to do anything that would cause them to fall out, but also, it sucks to miss out on things just because you can’t get them wet... right?

Here’s the good news! – If your lash technician uses the right products, you won’t have to worry about your lashes getting wet! 👏🏼👏🏼

When using a waterproof adhesive, such as our Phoenix glue or Utopia glue, combined with a high quality, waterproof superbonder, such as our Lionheart Superbonder, you won’t have to worry. These products have been specially designed and formulated to ensure maximum protection against getting wet.

This being said, getting your eyelashes wet can be interpreted differently, so let’s iron out some further points.

When we say you are safe to get your eyelashes ‘wet’, we mean exactly that, your lashes will be fine during activities that involve your lashes getting wet, such as washing your face, and cleaning your lashes with cool water and lash shampoo. There are however some activities that are best avoided.

If you shower with lash extensions on, it’s fine for your extensions to get light water spray, but you should not let the running water come into direct contact with the lashes. Although the water does not pose harm in itself, both lash extensions and natural lashes are delicate, and the power of the water falling and hitting your lashes can cause damage not only to your lash extensions, but also to your natural lashes. For this reason, it’s best to be careful and avoid the falling water to come into direct contact with your lashes.

To get maximum retention from your eyelash extensions, it’s best to avoid swimming altogether. This is not due to the water presenting an issue itself, but the chemicals, salts and pressure from the water can cause damage to both your extensions and natural lashes.

If you do go swimming, it’s essential to clean your eyelashes as soon as possible afterwards with cool water, and a specialist eyelash shampoo, such as our Kliko Lash Shampoo, to remove any chemicals, salts and debris from your lashes.

As with swimming, visiting a steam room and sauna is best avoided to ensure maximum longevity for your lash extensions, as these environments can be harmful to the lash adhesive. Both saunas and steam rooms use different types of heat to promote sweating, and sweat contains salts that can be harmful to lash adhesive.

If you do use a steam room, sauna, or do anything else that makes you sweat, it’s imperative to wash your eyelashes as soon as possible afterwards with cool water, and a specialist eyelash shampoo to remove any salt and debris.

Eyelash extensions appoints can vary drastically from as little as 30 minutes for a simple infill, to several hours for a brand-new full set. There are several factors which can impact how long your appointment will take, such as the following:

The number of natural eyelashes varies from person to person, typically between 100-200 per eye, so an individual with fewer eyelashes will take less time to apply extensions to that someone with more natural lashes.

The various types of eyelash extensions all take different amounts of time to complete, with more complex types, such as mega-volumes taking much longer than simpler types such as classics. Classic eyelash extensions involve attaching a single lash fibre to a natural lash, whereas a set of mega-volumes requires a lash technician to select a group of thinner lash fibres, create a fan, isolate and then attach the fan to a single natural lash. The process of applying a mega-volume fan to a lash may take 10-20 seconds longer compared to classics, when there can be several hundred to do per eye, this builds up fast and results in a much longer timeframe overall.

Eyes naturally come in many different shapes and styles, often categorised into names such as cat-eye, squirrel eye, doll eye etc. The type of natural eye shape combined with the clients’ preferences often changes overall mapping style that your lash technician will apply your eyelash extensions in. This means they will use different length lash fibres on different sections of the natural lashes to ensure the overall result compliments your eyes perfectly. This can result in the appointment being longer or shorter depending on the complexity of the lash-mapping style used.

Like with many skills, the more experience you gain, the quicker you find yourself doing it, and this is true with lash technicians. Lash technicians who are more experienced are often quicker at applying a set of lashes compared to a technician who may be relatively new to the skill. Therefore, by choosing an experienced eyelash technician your appointments are likely to be completed quicker than by choosing a less experienced technician.

Whilst the main goal of your lash appointments is to get a stunning set of lashes, there’s also other activities to factor into the appointment. This can include discussing your preferences, needs and allergies prior to starting the appointment, as well as possible paperwork if it’s your first time. Once your lashes are complete, you’ll also want to check them yourself, and ask for any adjustments. After you’re happy with your set of lashes, you’ll likely need to schedule your next appointment with your technician, and arrange payment for their services.

All in all, you’ll likely want to factor in plenty of extra time on top of the time it takes your lash technician to complete the actual set of lashes. If you need to know specifics, speak to your lash technician before your appointment, as they will be able to provide you with a rough guideline for the duration of the appointment.

Eyelash extensions come in a variety of styles, and finding the right style that suits you can be tricky.

Firstly, take note of lashes that you see, or images that you see online of styles and looks that you both do and don’t like. You can then show and discuss these with your lash technician in your appointment to ensure you help your lash technician understand the exact styles you prefer. Your lash tech may also make suggestions based on their experience and your preferences and lifestyle choices over what may be the most suitable lashes for you.

The variables in lash extensions are in abundance, with different lengths, finishes, curls, styles, mapping shapes and more to consider, you may need to try a number of different options before you find the perfect match for you.

It’s also important to consider that not all lash styles look the same on different people, as eye shape, make-up style, skin tone, and natural lash factors can all make an impact on the overall appearance of a set.

Whilst it’s easy to expect your lash technician will get it spot on first time, it’s important to be patient and work with your lash tech over time to make adjustments and find the perfect style for you. Trust us when we say the results are worth waiting for!

Ensuring you make adequate preparations for your appointment is essential to getting the best results from your lash extensions. Whether it’s your first time, or you’re a veteran infill-er, heading to your appointment with clean lashes is paramount to a successful appointment.

Eyelashes are the body’s natural defence against dirt, dust and debris, and they also pick up other elements such as oils from your hands, and salts from your tears, all of which can make lashes extremely dirty. Often particles of dirt and debris aren’t always obvious to the naked eye, so just because you can’t see anything doesn’t mean your lashes are pristine.

You should keep your lashes clean by washing them daily with eyelash shampoo, such as our specially formulated Kliko Eyelash Shampoo, and always wash them before your appointment.

It’s important to arrive with clean lashes as any dust, debris and other dirt will prevent products such as primers, adhesives and bonders from working properly. As a result, not only would your retention be affected, but it can also cause more severe problems later down the line, such as reactions or even infection in a worst-case scenario.

Unless otherwise agreed beforehand, it’s not your lash technician’s responsibility to clean your lashes during your appointment, so always go prepared with clean lashes every time.

Eyelash extensions prices vary across the UK and between different lash salons and technicians, so you should always check the prices directly with the salon or technician you are considering prior to booking your appointment.

That being said, here are some price examples for different lash sets.

The prices can vary depending on factors such as whether the lash technician is freelance or working as part of a company, whether the appointment takes place in a studio, at their home or whether they come to you, and prices will also differ in various parts of the UK.

When considering finding a lash technician pricing should only be one of many factors to consider. It’s often not always worth going for the cheapest, or most expensive option as there are so many factors to consider. Ensure you conduct proper research before you make your final decision.

This is a controversial subject and each lash technician will give you their own answer.

Going to a different technician for an infill rather than the technician that originally completed your previous infill or full-set is called a foreign infill. Each lash technician has their own style, and the products and application techniques can vary between them. Mixing between technicians and therefore multiple techniques and products is not always a good idea.

Firstly, mixing between lash technicians can result in a different overall appearance to what you were expecting. Lash technicians don’t all use the same lash fibres, and colours, curls and fan styles can all vary, so it’s not a given than lash extensions from one technician will be the same look as lash extensions from another.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it’s not advisable to mix different adhesives together, even if one has dried by the time the other is applied. Not only can mixing the glues cause the glues to not last as long as they should, it can also contribute towards the possibility of reactions, especially in those who are more sensitive.

Never book an infill with a different lash technician and assume they will complete a foreign infill. It’s up to the lash technician to decide whether they will, and their decision must be respected.

Not being able to go to a different technician for an infill does not mean you are tied to the same lash technician for life. If you wish to change lash technician, you should first reach out to your new technician and explain that you wish to move. It will be helpful to your new technician if you explain why you wish to move. The new lash technician may then recommend a full removal, followed by a new full set. This will avoid any issues between mixing products, and is much more likely to ensure you are fully satisfied with the overall result.

Whilst you are engaging a professional service which the lash technician is being paid, helping out your lash technician can make the appointment much smoother and easier for everyone. He’s some top tips of things you can do to help your lash technician.

Lash technicians often have multiple appointments during a day, so being on time to your appointment is important in allowing them to stay on schedule. If you do end up being late for your appointment, your lash tech may not be able to spend as long on your set as originally planned, especially if they have another appointment straight after.

We’d recommend planning to arrive at least 10 minutes early to your appointment, as this will help account for any unforeseen delays such as traffic. If you do arrive early, it’s polite to contact your lash tech to let them know, as they may still be finishing off their previous client, so they can let you know when to come in.

Cancellations are one of the biggest frustrations for lash technicians. We understand that on rare occasions you may not be able to make a scheduled appointment, but you should let your lash technician know as soon as you can. If you cancel a short time before your appointment (usually within 24-48 hours of your appointment), expect to still be charged for your appointment in full, as it’s unfair for your lash tech to not be paid when the appointment cancellation was outside of their control.

In the event of multiple late-notice cancellation, your lash technician may ask you to pay in full before your appointments, or decline to offer you any further lash appointments. This should not be taken personally, but may be necessary in order to enable them to run their business efficiently.

If you like a particular style or have certain preferences, try to give your ash technician as much detail as possible. Don’t be afraid to include photos and diagrams of how you’d like your lashes, as your lash tech can only do as good of a job as you allow them to by explaining exactly what you want.

It goes without saying that being polite should come naturally, and you should treat your lash tech with the same level of respect and politeness as you expect from them.

Sometimes it may take time and several appointments before you achieve the exact look you wish, but this is completely normal and to be expected, so work with your lash technician over time to make the adjustments you need as per your preferences. If you lash technician does not get your desired look on the first appointment, it does not give you the right to be rude.

Lashing is an exceptionally delicate process and requires intense levels of concentration. Lash fibres can be fractions of a millimetre in diameter, and the process of attaching the fibres to the natural lash requires placing various sets of extremely sharp tweezers very close to your eyes, so it’s essential to lay as still as you can to make it as easy and as safe as possible for you both. If you need to adjust or move yourself, this is absolutely fine, but it’s best to make your lash tech aware before doing so to ensure they are expecting it.

Flickering eyes is a common trait, and often completely involuntary, however it can cause issues for your lash tech. Not only will it make your lashes move, but it can lead to your eyes watering which both make the process of attaching eyelash extensions much harder for your lash technician. If you think your eyes flicker, discuss it with your lash technician as they may be able to adjust their setup to reduce or even prevent the flickering altogether.

The last thing any lash tech needs when trying to delicately place a lash fan onto a lash is a ringtone making them jump. Distractions like this can be frustrating, and even dangerous for both you and your lash technician, so it’s a good idea to limit any distractions by muting your phone, and any other devices that may make a sudden and/or loud noise.

Eyelash extension appointments can take a long time, so sitting in silence is generally no fun for either party. It’s often better for everyone if you engage with your lash technician throughout the appointment, and may make the appointment feel like it’s gone quicker for you both.

It’s important to discuss with your lash tech the prices, and methods of payment they accept prior to your lash appointment beginning. This way you can ensure you’re completely prepared for when you need to settle up. Often lash technicians will complete the appointment prior to taking payment in good faith that payment will be made swiftly and in full once the appointment has finished. If this is something you are not able to do, it’s essential to make your lash technician aware before the appointment has begun.

Whilst it may be tempting to stay for a natter once your lash appointment has concluded, it’s necessary to be aware of timings to ensure you have not overstayed the allocated time for your appointment. Many lash technicians have several appointments per day, and may need to stick to a strict schedule to avoid falling behind, so if you need to discuss anything with your lash technician afterwards, or even stay for a chat, make sure you check that you are not overstaying your allocated time slot first.

Sometimes things don’t always go plain sailing, but dealing with any disputes in the right way is essential to ensure the fair treatment of everyone involved. If you have an issue with something, whether during an appointment, or afterwards, you should contact your lash technician in private to make them aware of your concerns. This will provide your lash technician a fair opportunity to put things right.

You should never take to social media, or leave poor feedback without first raising the issue privately and directly, and providing the opportunity to put things right.

Tipping your lash technician is entirely optional. The culture around tipping in the eyelash industry is much less prominent than in the restaurant industry in the UK for example, so tipping your lash technician is not required, however if you think they deserve it, it’s a great way of showing appreciation for what they do.

If you decide to tip your lash technician, an amount around 10-20% of the appointment cost would generally be considered a good value to tip.

If you choose to tip, you don’t need to feel obligated to tip on every occasion. Choosing to tip on one appointment and not another is absolutely fine. Some clients may choose to tip around certain holidays, such as Christmas, or if their lash technician goes above and beyond on a particular occasion, which is absolutely fine.

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare… you’ve just had a new full set of lash extensions, only to wake up the following day with puffy, swollen and sore eyes! 😭

Symptoms, onset times and severity can all differ from one client to another, however the following symptoms typically indicate a form of allergic reaction:

• Redness in the eyes or around the eyelids
• Itchiness in the eyes or around the eyelids
• Tearing
• Swelling
• Irritation in the eyes or around the eyelids
• Watery eyes
• Headaches
• Stinging eyes

In the event of a severe reaction, you should seek medical help immediately.

In the event of a mild reaction, you may be able to treat your symptoms at home. Medical News Today advises trying the following home-treatments:

• Cold compresses
• Eye drops
• Antihistamines
• Hydrocortisone cream or ointment

It is essential to resist the temptation to rub the eyes if they are itchy. This can cause the symptoms to worsen.

Following treatment of symptoms, you should schedule to have your eyelash extensions removed, professionally, as soon as possible. You should make your lash technician aware of your reaction and that you wish to have them removed so they can fit you in as soon as possible.

You should never try to remove your eyelash extensions yourself. Doing so can result in further damage to your natural eyelashes, eyelids and eyes. Always consult a professional lash technician for removals.

In most cases, the allergic reaction is to ingredients in the glue and/or tape used during the treatment, rather than the lashes themselves. For example, cyanoacrylate is a polymer commonly used in lash glue for to its long-lasting adhesive properties, however this ingredient can cause allergic reactions in some, ranging from mild to severe.

Methods of preventing allergic reactions to eyelash extensions depend on what exactly caused your reaction in the first-place. If, for example, the reaction was caused by the cyanoacrylate in the glue, opting for a cyanoacrylate-free glue, such as our Cloud 9 eyelash adhesive could prevent any further reactions.

Determining the exact cause of the issue can however be extremely difficult, and there may be several components causing the allergic reaction. It is best to consult a doctor, or allergist to help you find out what causes the reaction, and determine a suitable and safe plan for trying again.

Whilst it can be frustrating paying for a set of lashes only to find out your body rejects them; we don’t think it’s fair to ask your lash technician for your money back. It’s unlikely to be your lash technicians’ fault if your body reacts to your lashes.

Having a patch test at least 24 hours prior to your main appointment is essential, however, even if you don’t show signs of a reaction to the patch test it doesn’t 100% guarantee that you won’t react to a full set of lashes.

During a patch test only a very small amount of glue is applied, which may not be enough to cause you a reaction, or the reaction may be so minor you don’t notice it. When it comes to a full set of lashes much more adhesive will be required, which can be where problems start.

Allergies can also develop over time, so it may be the case that you don’t react for several appointments, but then unpredictably react seemingly at random.

If you have suffered a reaction to eyelash extensions, we would advise taking extreme caution with any further cosmetic treatments, especially facial treatments. Your skin, particularly on your face, is sensitive and your priority should be protecting it at all costs.

If you are absolutely determined to continue with cosmetic treatments after a reaction, you should seek advice from a medical professional or allergist before commencing.

In any case if you have suffered any form of reaction to cosmetics in the past it is imperative to notify your lash technician prior to scheduling any appointments, especially if you are a new client to them. Your lash technician’s insurance may not be valid for the appointment if you have reacted in the past.