Eyelash Extensions Pros and Cons
Read all about eyelash extensions pros and cons to help you decide if they’re a good choice for you!
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/curly and I hate glue-on strip lashes, 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.“
So, I tried them a few years ago and enjoyed them, but didn’t love them enough to keep up with the financial and time commitment. That being said, I always knew that I’d get them again for my wedding. This time, I went to Penny (she works out of Prery Collective) and I am completely in love. Even Adam, who wasn’t a huge fan the first time, LOVED the way Penny did them. And now I want them all the time! I’m still not sure it’s something I will keep up with all the time, but you betchya I will get them before our honeymoon to Italy, before giving birth, and any other big events/trips when I want to feel extra special with minimal effort.
Now before diving into my personal eyelash extensions pros and cons, let’s go through all of the questions you guys submitted!
Lash Extensions FAQ: Everything You Need To Know About False Eyelashes
What is the false eyelash 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 type situation 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 for about 2 hours and let her do her thing. That’s it!
How did your eyes react to fake eyelashes? Is it okay if you have sensitive eyes?
I didn’t have any allergic reactions or sensitivities to them at all, even with contacts in. That being said, it’s a good idea to try them out before any big event to make sure you don’t have any sensitivities or reactions. The last thing you want is puffiness or itchiness around your eyes on your wedding day!
Can you feel your lash extensions? Do they feel heavy?
They didn’t feel heavy to me at all! 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. This is the biggest reason why I wanted these for my wedding, because glue-on strip lashes always feel funny and irritate my eyes!
How often do you need to get your false eyelashes refilled?
I think this depends on who you go to and how well you can maintain them. That being said, I got mine done on July 26th followed by a fill on August 19th. They still looked really great before my fill, too – I was so impressed!
How long do fake lashes last if you don’t want to get them refilled?
When I first got them done a few years ago, I had them on for a full month without any fills. I made it work, but I’ll admit that they were on a little too long. 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.
That first time I tried them, 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 lash extensions 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. Moral of the story – pay attention to your lashes and try not to go more than 3-4 weeks in between fills at the longest and you shouldn’t have any issues.
How do you wash your face? Can you still get your eyes wet with fake eyelashes?
They say you should avoid products that contain oil near your lashes, including makeup, cleansers, moisturizers and makeup removers.
I have continued to use my Tula cleanser (use code LAKESHORELADY for 15% off!) even though it’s not oil free. I just avoid scrubbing around my eyes. If I wear eye makeup, I’ll use a wipe or pad to gently target that area. I also recommend brushing them after getting them wet to prevent them from sticking together.
Can you still wear eye makeup with eyelash extensions?
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 right at the lash line. I never felt the need to wear mascara on the top lashes though. They didn’t need it!!
Does working out/sweating a lot affect your lashes?
I was definitely worried about this because I work out multiple times a week. 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 eyelash extensions 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 with a spoolie brush made them look fine again. I also got a silk pillowcase to help avoid any pulling on the lashes in the middle of the night.
How did people react to your false lash extensions?
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 love mine the first time I got them – but he loves them now because these are just a little more natural looking. 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 real lashes affected by fake eyelashes?
So many people were worried about the damage to your natural lashes! To be honest, I was too – so much so that I asked my lash technician about it at my appointment. She explained that your natural eyelashes shed anyway as a part of their growth cycle, so freaking out about a lash falling out with an extension really isn’t the end of the world.
The longest I’ve ever had them on is a month and a half, 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, last time 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 Penny at Prery Collective, and she charged me $200 for the initial set and $100 for the fills. If she is ever out of town when I need lashes, I think I’ll probably try Legendary Lash and Nail since I had such a great experience with their nail services.
Prices really vary though, so I’d definitely shop around and read reviews. Envious Lashes, a major lash salon in NYC, costs between $175-245 for a set!
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 wedding and that’s it. All I needed to feel put together was a little concealer and blush!
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. Definitely getting them again for our honeymoon, too!
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. Originally I wanted to save up for big things like travel, getting a puppy, buying a condo, etc. And now that we’ve done that, we’re gearing up for a honeymoon, kitchen renovation, and eventually a baby. That being said, we spend so much less money out in “pandemic times” that I might be able to justify this cost once a month… we’ll see!
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.
I love them so much that I’m a little afraid of not liking the way I look without them! It’s obviously so fun (and worth it!) for special occasions or busy seasons, but I’m weary to get in the habit of getting them every 3-4 weeks for too long. I just want to make sure that I’m not too dependent on them in order to feel beautiful.
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 Bridesmaid Gift Ideas, Wedding Weekend/Mini-Moon Packing List, and Rehearsal Dinner Dresses.
February 21, 2019 @ 12:22 pm
I’ve done a lash lift/tint a few times and really liked it! Definitely more of a natural look than lash extensions, but it lasts 6-8 weeks and I didn’t feel as much of a need to wear eye makeup afterwards. I’ll definitely be investing in lash extensions for my wedding/honeymoon!
February 22, 2019 @ 8:53 am
Oh I didn’t realize a lift lasts that long! Maybe I’ll test that out next…
April 22, 2020 @ 1:19 am
Great post! Thanks for sharing that knowledge with us! I can’t use eyelash extension yet, so I take advantage of this time and improve my eyelashes. I loved Latisse, but it is very pricey. So I decided to purchase the generic version of Latisse which is the Careprost. So happy ❤️ I finally found ‘HOTLASH247’ in Google and got careprost (same as Latisse, but it’s a way cheaper, thanks girls ?). There is no difference to me. Latisse and Careprost are the same thing. I could never go back to my normal lashes now. I have had phenomenal results with it. It is well worth the money for me. After trying it, I will never be without it! My lashes are twice as long and thick and I am already being asked if they’re natural, to which I can happily respond ”Yes”!
February 21, 2019 @ 9:54 pm
This is prob a stupid question, but did you stop wearing mascara? (I’m assuming that’s the main perk, but I could be wrong!)
February 22, 2019 @ 8:53 am
Yup, I kind of touch on that in the “Can you still wear eye makeup?” section – I personally didn’t feel the need to ever wear mascara on my top lashes while I had them. I barely even felt the need to wear eyeliner! I’m sure you could if you wanted to, but I think that would make them wear faster since you would need to clean the mascara off of them, which requires more washing/scrubbing. Does that make sense?
February 24, 2019 @ 10:41 pm
After trying out extensions personally, I don’t think I would do it again, unless I had a really really special occasion (like getting married). I really liked how they looked, but the no touching your eye thing was hard, sleeping was hard, etc. I never removed them, I just let them fall off naturally and it did start to get weird when I felt like I needed to curl my real lashes but I couldn’t because of the fake lashes. I could not wait to wear mascara again!!! I am getting a lash lift and tint on Thursday (for my birthday and an upcoming wedding) and will report back. It seems more economical. Lauren, what did you think of the Thrive mascara?
February 25, 2019 @ 4:11 pm
Ahh will you let me know what you think of a lash lift! I’m so curious about that! Also, I like the Thrive mascara so far!
February 24, 2019 @ 11:24 pm
You look gorgeous! I’ve wanted to try these for a while, but I’ve always been scared of eye irritation! Maybe one day…
Thank your for sharing the Q&A, helps me learn more!
February 25, 2019 @ 4:09 pm
So glad it was helpful for you!
April 27, 2020 @ 11:06 pm
Great post! I thought it was awesome that you took so much time (and included pictures!) to walk us through your personal journey into the world of eyelash extensions. The pros and cons section was great and my favourite one was the acknowledgement of the financial commitment that lashes bring to the table. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the glamour they hold and forget that the continuous payments you make to keep them up can go towards saving for a large purchase – in your case a house : ) (which I’m also saving for so I totally get you!).