True Life: I Got Eyelash Extensions

And I love them. I started wearing make-up in high school, and I remember for any special event, I would look forward to wearing fake eyelashes. They were the final touch to my overall look, and they always made me feel really pretty and feminine. I never seriously considered getting eyelash extensions until The Amazing Lash Studio reached out to me about trying them out. I booked my appointment during my trip home for the holidays, and I have been eagerly waiting to share today’s post with you! I’m going to walk you through my appointment process, how I feel at 3.5 weeks post extensions, pros and cons, plus some FAQ about eyelash extensions in case you’re wondering what they’re like and if they’re worth the investment.

To be completely honest, I was fairly nervous before my appointment. I have a few close girlfriends who love their extensions, but I was still wary for the unknown. A few days before my appointment, I watched several Youtube videos about pros/cons, upkeep and hygiene for extensions, and I read several blog posts about them until I felt prepared. I wanted to get extensions because I’m fairly low-key with my day-to-day make-up routine and I was excited about the though of not having to worry about eye makeup, and wake up and feel pretty and look awake. Who doesn’t want to wake up #Flawless. Right?

My appointment was with Manassah at the Chandler, AZ location, and she instantly made me feel comfortable and ready for the process. An initial extension appointment can last anywhere between one to two hours. My appointment was about an hour – Manassah was an absolute pro; she worked quickly and we chatted the entire time about the process and different types of lashes you can get. Did you know they now offer colored lashes? How fun is that! There are four main types of lashes you can get: Cute, Natural, Sexy and Gorgeous. We did ‘Gorgeous’ on me, which I’m really happy with because they open up my eyes, give me a full lash line and I don’t feel the need to wear eyeshadow or eyeliner. Although I have the longest and thickest lash type, the lashes themselves are attached individually to my real lashes, and they look extremely natural and cohesive.

I was worried that they would feel heavy like fake lash stripes, or  I would see them when I blink, but I hardly notice them! The initial pictures in the post are taken 24 hours after the extension appointment. At the bottom of the post, I have included helpful FAQ’s directly from The Amazing Lash Studio site – everything from what eyelash extension are, to upkeep and rules. Keep reading for pros, cons and my final thoughts on extensions.

BEFORE:

Here are my natural lashes right before my appointment. I have decently long and healthy lashes – I wear mascara and eyeliner everyday, but I also wash my face each night and avoid eyelash curlers.

AFTER:

Ahhhhh aren’t they pretty?! I’m not wearing any eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara in this picture. Now, that right there, is 10 extra minutes I save in the morning!

AFTER 3 WEEKS:

Here is the current status of my lashes. Some are starting to twist (they do this when your natural lash grows out and that’s why you see clumps or gaps) but, for having these in for almost 3.5 weeks, I would say that they are in really good shape and my lash line is still 85% full! I brush them out twice a day, I avoid rubbing my eyes or sleeping with my face smushed directly into the pillow too to make them last longer.

I have recently started experimenting with eyeliner (as shown in the pictures), and I make sure to clean it off with a q-tip and water at night. Every other day I gently splash cool water on them in the shower and fluff/dry them with my fingers and towel. I try to be extra gentle with them to maintain longevity.

Pros/Cons

Pros: I think the first pro is obvious – they are so pretty! I have honestly felt more confident in my appearance on a day-to-day basis since the extensions and I have saved time in the morning getting ready. I think if you’re a busy person like I am, and your day is filled with work, meetings, events, gym, social life, etc. It’s nice to know that you’ll always have some part of your beauty routine done and wont’ have to worry about touching up your eye make-up or checking for smudged eyeliner. I have also received so many compliments about how pretty and natural they look.

Cons: The biggest con for me is not being able to throughly clean my face. I religiously clean my face every night in the shower and it was an adjustment at first to not rub and clean my eyes. I felt like I wasn’t 110% clean because you’re not supposed to touch your eyes or put certain types of products near them. Following that, sometimes my extensions or lash line would itch – probably because I wasn’t properly washing my eye area every day (I know that sounds gross haha) or some other irritation, and I felt like of helpless. Although this took some time getting used to, it was not a deal breaker for keeping/getting rid of the extensions. I also heard this same concern or ‘con’ with most bloggers/vloggers.

Another con would be the general cost of upkeep. Although The Amazing Lash Studio has great prices – their introductory price for your first set of lashes is only $79.99 – most places charge between $150 to $250, and refills range upwards of $50 to $100. Every place is different, but overall, extensions are a price commitment every month. If you’re the type of person so routinely upkeeps your hair or nail appointments, lash refills won’t seem that bad – it’s just a personal financial opinion and choice.

 

Final Thoughts

Since I have been back in NYC, I have contacted numerous salons and studios about refills, but I still have not found a good match. Either I didn’t like the lash types they offered, I didn’t like their process, or the price was extremely high for routine upkeep. Due to this, I have decided to forego my eyelash extensions at the moment (SO SAD!)

In an ideal world, I would keep my eyelash extensions because I really do like them, and I had an amazing experience with The Amazing Lash Studio – but since they’re not located in Manhattan, and your girl still has not found her NYC dream lash girl, I will look fondly on the pictures of my beautiful eyelash extensions and tell you all to get them instead! They are located in over 15 states, and you can find one near you here!

I really hope you enjoy today’s post and please let me know if you have any questions about extensions, if you have them yourself, and what your thoughts are! xo

 

More on Amazing Lash Studio and Eyelash Extensions:

What Are Eyelash Extensions?

Lash Extensions are synthetic strands that are made to replicate a natural eyelash. When applied, eyelash extensions lengthen and thicken your own natural eyelashes. Single strands are applied to each individual eyelash, one by one. With proper application, lash extensions look and feel completely natural.

How long will a set of Eyelash Extensions last?

When applied by a professional, eyelash extensions will last the length of the natural growth cycle of your eyelashes. Depending on your activity and day-to-day routine, refills should only be required every 2 to 4 weeks.

Can you wear mascara with extensions?

Mascara is not really required since the extensions actually give the illusion of wearing mascara. In fact, one of the many benefits of eyelash extensions is that you do not need to use mascara. If you must apply mascara, however, only use water-based mascara. DO NOT USE OIL-BASED OR WATER-PROOF MASCARA as they can dissolve the bonding agent used and they can shorten the life of your eyelash extensions. Use care when washing off the water-based mascara and only use a water based eye makeup remover.

How do I take care of my new eyelash extensions?

• Do not get lashes wet for the first 24-48 hours
• Avoid hot steam or sauna
• For longer lasting lashes, limit the use of running water directly on your lashes
• Avoid rubbing your eyes excessively
• Use water based eye makeup remover
• Do not perm your lashes
• Do not use a mechanical eyelash curler
• Do not pull on your lashes
• *You can swim, shower and exercise in the lashes – the bonding agent is waterproof

Information from Amazing Lash Studio FAQ page

 

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