I tried Eyelash Extensions and here’s what I thought…

It’s finally here! Let’s talk lash extensions!

I usually don’t feel the need to try a lot of beauty trends, but this one is different for me. Because my lashes aren’t naturally long and curly, I’ve always been curious about trying out eyelash extensions. And my curiosity only grew every time one of you would ask me if I’ve tried them! I remember thinking “maybe I should just do it so I can talk about it with them from experience.“

Funny enough, once I thought that, Emma from The Beauty Lounge reached out to my asking if I’d like to try out her services. Thanks for setting that up for me, Universe! Emma recently moved to Chicago, deciding to leave her full clientele list to be with her boyfriend here. Ahhh love 😉 She has been an Aesthetician since 2014, specializing in eyelash extensions since 2015, and now she has a small space to do her thang right in Lakeview.

Before diving into my personal eyelash extensions pros and cons, let’s go through all of the questions you guys submitted!

Lash Extensions FAQ

What is the application process like?

Obviously, my eyes were closed the whole time, so I can’t speak to how they are technically applied. But my experience was very simple. I laid down on a massage table and she started by taping down my bottom lashes so they wouldn’t get tangled with my upper lashes at all. Then I closed my eyes and laid there for around 2 hours while she put them on. That’s it!

How did your eyes react to it? Is it okay if you have sensitive eyes?

I didn’t have any reactions or sensitivities to them at all. Because I wore my contacts to the appointment, my eyes felt a little dry/strange if I’d blink them open during the process, but nothing more than that.

If you do have any sensitivities or reactions (puffiness, itchiness, etc.), she said that should subside within 48 hours.

What kind did you get?

I got a Hybrid Full Set, which is a mix of her classic and volume lashes, and the lashes she uses are a mix of faux mink and silk.

Can you feel them? Do they feel heavy?

They didn’t feel heavy to me! A lot of you were also very curious about how they would feel with contacts and glasses. I wear contacts or glasses every single day (I have very bad vision!), and they never bothered me with either.

How often do you need to get them refilled?

She recommends that you get them refilled every two weeks or so. I decided to go a full month to see how they would wear (so I can answer questions like this one!). I think you can stretch the refills to once very three weeks, but you probably don’t want to go any longer than that. Mine were definitely a little wonky at the end of the month 😂

How long do they last if you don’t want to get them refilled?

As I mentioned, I had mine on for a full month. I will admit that I went a little too long, but I made it work. If you know you only want them for one or two sessions, you can either schedule a time to get them taken off, or take them off yourself.

Yes, I decided to take my lash extensions off myself – in the name of research! To be fair, most of them had fallen out by the end of the month, but all I did was use a warm washcloth and then rub a little bit of coconut oil on my eyelashes until they released. I lost a few on my natural lashes in the process, but it wasn’t anything catastrophic.

WARNING: Do this at your own risk! Please do not take them off at home and then get mad at me because something went wrong. If you are worried about it at all, go get them taken off by a professional!

Did they wear off around the same time or did you have an awkward phase when the lashes were different?

They pretty much wore off around the same time, except for that last week. My left eye barely had any left, while my right eye was still rocking them. Moral of the story – just don’t go as long as I did and you shouldn’t have any issues!

How do you wash your face? Can you still get your eyes wet?

They say you should avoid products that contain oil near your lashes, including makeup, cleansers, moisturizers and makeup removers.

I continued to use my usual Bioclarity cleanser, avoiding any scrubbing around my eyes. If I had makeup on my eyes that day, I used Beautycounter wipes or Simple wipes to target that area.

I also gently dabbed my eyes dry with a towel after getting them wet, instead of haphazardly wiping them like I normally would. I’d also brush them after getting them wet, which helped keep them from sticking together or spreading out unevenly.

Can you still wear eye makeup?

Honestly, one of the major perks of getting lash extensions is the fact that I didn’t feel the need to put eye makeup on! Most of the days I had them, I’d put a little concealer under my eyes, swipe some blush on, and that’s it. It was SO NICE.

When I was dressing up a little bit more, and then also when they started to fall out, I would put a little bit of eyeshadow and eyeliner on. I never wore mascara on the top lashes though. They didn’t need it!!

As I mentioned, if it was a day I had eye makeup on, I’d use Beautycounter wipes or Simple wipes to target that area, being careful not to rub too aggressively.

Does working out/sweating a lot affect them?

I was definitely worried about this, because I work out multiple times a week, sometimes in a heated room. Luckily, I didn’t have any issues! I was just more careful wiping sweat off of my face than I normally would be, but that doesn’t take that much effort.

Do they get matted or do they stay curly after you sleep?

A few of you asked about the sleep situation! As long as you avoid burying your face in your pillow, you should be fine. There were a few mornings when they looked a little wonky, but a quick brush made them look fine again. I’ve also heard that sleeping on a silk pillowcase helps avoid any pulling on the lashes in the middle of the night.

How did people react to them?

Someone asked this because they were worried about people judging them at their conservative office. In that case, I would just be really clear with your technician that you don’t want them TOO over the top.

Although this isn’t the same at all, Adam didn’t like mine when he first saw them 😂 They grew on him as he got used to seeing me with them on, but it took a minute because it didn’t look like everyday me. I think if you are worried about the reactions, start with a more subtle volume/length, and work your way up from there.

How were your lashes affected?

So many people were worried about the damage to your natural lashes! To be honest, I was too – so much so that I asked her about it at my appointment. She explained that your lashes naturally shed anyway, so freaking out about a lash falling out with an extension really isn’t the end of the world.

I only did this for one month, so I obviously can’t speak to the long term affects on your lashes. That being said, I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with getting lash extensions for special occasions or a super busy time in your life. I mean, I took what was left of my extensions off myself with coconut oil and my natural lashes are perfectly fine. They’re still there!

Where did you go and how much did it cost?

I went to Emma at The Beauty Lounge. She is currently offering 40% off full sets right now so a Classic set is $90, a Hybrid set is $120 (that’s what I got!), and a Volume set is $150. If you decide to get refills, those will cost between $60-80, depending on which set you got initially. She also has a loyalty program now! After you get a full set and 2 fills, your next fill is 25% off!

Eyelash Extensions Pros and Cons

Now that I’ve covered your questions, and I’ve experienced the whole process from start to finish, here are my personal eyelash extensions pros and cons!

PROS

• It was nice to feel a little glamorous all the time.

  First thing in the morning? Glamour! After a long day of travel? Still lookin’ good! After a long workout? Crushing it. Haha it sounds so silly, but it was really fun!

• Minimal makeup = quicker morning routine!

  On that same note, I loved not feeling the need to put makeup on every day. I usually feel a little naked without eyeliner on, since my natural lashes aren’t very prominent – but with these, I pretty much only put eyeliner on for my cousin’s wedding and Snowball. All I needed to feel put together was a little concealer under my eyes and a few swipes of blush. That’s it!

• They are comfortable.
  

  I usually hate fake eyelashes. I can feel the lashes, I can feel the glue, they bother my contacts, and I cannot WAIT to take them off. But these were so comfortable, I’d forget I even had them on!

• They are perfect for brides!

  Because I couldn’t feel them, these are ideal for brides. I completely get the hype now. Who wants to be worried about their fake eyelashes on their wedding day? NOT ME!

• I love that they last a few weeks.

  Again, this is great for brides! Get used to the way they look on you before the wedding, get them refilled, and then have them on from your wedding day all the way through your honeymoon! So nice!

CONS

• It is a time commitment.

  Getting your full set on takes a while, and then you still have to go back every 2-3 weeks to get them refilled. This might not be an issue for some people – an appointment when you lay down with your eyes closed might be BLISS for you! (I’m looking at you, Moms! You DESERVE that!) I just know that I can get antsy about my calendar when I’m not being productive, working out, or spending quality time with people I love. Feeling the need to schedule in other things can easily stress me out – it’s why I do my own nails most of the time instead of getting manicures 🙈

• It is a financial commitment.

  Along with being a weirdo about my schedule/productivity, I also take my budget very seriously. This started in New York, when paying rent alone was tough! Obviously I’m in a much different financial situation now, but at this stage in my life, saving is more important than ever. I want to be careful of what I spend my money on so we can do big things like travel, get a puppy, buy a house, etc. I can let go of this to help save for those things. Except for when my wedding rolls around 😉  These are definitely making a comeback for my wedding day and honeymoon! That will be 100% worth it for me.

• You have to be aware of them.

  Even though I didn’t have any issues, you do have to be aware of them on your face. You’ll realize how often you rub your eyes, or how aggressively you wipe your face with your towel after a shower or workout – little things like that!

• I don’t want to get so used to my face with them that I don’t like what I look like without them.
  

  It was really fun to feel pretty with these extensions in, but as you guys know, I’m all about that self love. I realized how easy it would be to get so used to them that I’d feel like I need lash extensions in order to feel beautiful. Instead, moderation is key for me (as always). It’s fun for special occasions or busy seasons, but it’s not something that I need to get every 3 weeks for the rest of my life. Also, it was a shock when I got them on and a bit of a shock when I took them off – and I only had them on for one month! I can only imagine how short and thin my lashes would seem after years of getting extensions in, even if there wasn’t any damage!

Any other questions?!

If you’ve tried them, I’d love to hear your experiences! Also, have any of you tried a lash lift? A few of you asked about how those differ, but I’ve never done it. I just recently learned about magnet lashes too, which is pretty intriguing… no glue required! Has anyone tried those?! Let me know in the comments!

PS. You might also like Learning To Love My Makeup-Free Skin and The Beautycounter Makeup & Skincare Products I’ve Tried + Your Favorites!