So You Want Lash Extensions?
'Tis the season for glam! Nails done, hair done... everything done! Am I right? As I promised on snapchat I'm finally sitting down to write about my experience with eyelash extensions. I've been getting lash extensions for almost two years and at this point I cannot imagine life without them. That being said, I don't think it makes sense for everyone especially if you already have decently long lashes. Let's chat about the pros and the cons:
{monrow tunic sweatshirt // crap eyewear sunnies}
pros
the "I woke up like this" moments: with lash extensions I literally wake up looking alert and totally put together
less glam time: say goodbye to mascara or spending time dealing with eyelash strips and single falsies; I've pretty much stopped doing my eye makeup all together except for special events and photoshoots
cons
damage to real lashes: I don't care what anyone says / claims lash services make, lash extensions definitely damage real lashes unless you take month long breaks in between. To combat this, I use nueLash a few times a week to keep my base lashes strong.
changes in your daily routine: gone are the days of jumping in the pool, ocean, or just regularly letting the shower water run over your head. Don't even get me started on sleeping on your tummy or rubbing your eyes. All of these are no nos.
upkeep: add up all the daily glam minutes you're getting back from not having to do your eye makeup and that's your monthly or twice-monthly eyelash appointment. Many gals do fills every other week - AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT - so I just have a standing monthly appointment where I get a whole new set. To me the monthly sets make way more sense because you have a totally fresh pair. If you do the weekly fills you always have old lashes on and they tend not to look as good. My monthly appointments typically take 60-90 minutes depending on how "glam" we're going!
eye sensitivity and stinging: I've definitely noticed my eyes have become much more sensitive to light over the past 2 years. I can't 100% say it's because of the extensions. It could be a "this is 30 " moment or the fact that I spend ungodly amounts of time in front of my phone and computer. You guys, THE STINGING. When you get water on your lashes and it just happens to go in your eyes... oh boy... it's the worst. I've gotten used to it but there are still times when it is paralyzing!
let's get real
I naturally have very short, stubby lashes that are also very fine. Before trying eyelash extensions I used a combo of nueLash and Rimmel lash accelerator mascara which honestly worked miracles. They basically made my lashes like a normal person's length and thickness which was a huge step from where I started. That being said, I wanted a little more drama that no amount of nueLash was going to get me which is why I decided to start lash extensions. Where am I going with this?
If you have decent lashes to start with I would 150% suggest trying nueLash or revitalash before jumping in to extensions.
Why? With extensions, once you start you can't stop; they're addicting. And not only is it a lot of upkeep but they're going to run you $100+ every session. This sounds silly but I also feel like it inhibits awesome spontaneous summer activities, so maybe the best time to test them is now during holiday when there is no summer ocean fomo?
All in all I'm happy with mine from a vanity perspective but there are definitely days when I wish I didn't have to deal with all the cons that come with having lash extensions. Like I said in the beginning, I've had them for so long now I can't really imagine not having them. To get a closer look at mine you can view them here and here. The BEST view is on my snapchat and IG stories (@everydaypursuits), so make sure to follow along. If you have any Qs doesn't hesitate to ask. I'm always here to help!