I love the look of long thick lashes as much as the next beauty obsessed girl. I love convenience as well…so when they put a lash studio in just a few minutes from my house, I was ALL IN.
After my first appointment, I was so excited and loved the way my lashes looked. It was instant glam. After just a few days of extra particular care of my new lashes (no water for the first 48 hours, no oil, brush through them in the mornings and night, no rubbing), they started falling out. Like a lot. Just on one eye. #awk
I continued going back for a few months and just decided it wasn’t worth it to me.
Time Commitment
Just like everything else, it takes time to glue lashes on. The first appointment for your full set takes close to two hours. Most lash extension places say that the lashes last up to 3 to 4 weeks with optimal care, but mine looked good for about two weeks before I was looking rough. Refill appointments could last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. I honestly started to feel guilty leaving every other Saturday morning to go get my lashes done while David kept the boys. While the break was nice, I would just rather utilize that time in another way…like going to the gym or shopping the aisles of Target.
It’s Expensive
A full set of lashes can range anywhere from $79 to $300 depending on location and skill level of your lash artist. Refills are an additional fee, ranging from $35 to $150. So basically, a month of lashes are over $100.
Lashes go everywhere
It is natural for the lash extensions to fall off, similar to your normal lash cycle. It is pretty darn alarming to wake up and see 5 or 6 lashes laying on your pillow in the morning. I am still finding synthetic lashes all over my bathroom and it has been a few months since I had them removed. Ok, it could be that I haven’t cleaned my bathroom in that long. #tmi? BRB, going to clean it…
Take Extra Care
You have to be SUUUUPER careful all the time with your lashes. No rubbing your eyes, avoiding the wind (yes, seriously, the lashes feel like they take flight), keeping your face out of running water. I even had trouble applying and blending out eye shadows because my lashes would get tangled with my brushes.
You can see how rough those lashes were looking after a week in Zambia… but look at these sweet faces! 🙂
So here’s the honest truth: I am not saying I will never get lash extensions again. Nor am I against anyone else getting them. They do have their benefits: no streaky mascara, you can look put together right when you wake up, convenience. Right now, in my day-to-day mama life, it’s just not the best use of my time and resources. I would totally recommend lash extensions if you are a bride – perfect for wedding day AND honeymoon – or if you are going on a fun vacation!
For all of those other occasions, I am perfectly content using fake lashes and lash glue! In my quest for the perfect lashes, I think I’ve found some great ones. For me, the ones that don’t seem to pop off in the corners and just give me H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks are the ones with the thicker lash band.
Completely agree with this!