Holy eyelashes, Batman! My peepers have been looking ah-maaaazzz-ing thanks to Glow Studios St. Louis. Trang Le, the esthetician, owner, and eyelash magician behind Glow Studios St. Louis, asked me to try out eyelash extensions. After about two months of wear and an amazing experience, I’m ready to tell you all about the mad rad service that is eyelash extensions and answer a few of the questions I had before trying them out.
What are eyelash extensions, and how do they work?
Let’s get information straight from the expert. “Eyelash extensions are synthetic fibers that mimic natural eyelashes,” says Trang. “The synthetic lashes should be measured against the client’s natural eyelashes for appropriate weight and length. Each synthetic lash extension is dipped into the adhesive and has a window of a few seconds to be put on the natural lash before the adhesive dries. Although the adhesive dries, you must keep your eyes dry after the appointment while it is curing. The adhesive cures by pulling moisture from the air. The adhesive is very sensitive and that is why I as a lash stylist have to monitor temperature and humidity in my room to ensure my adhesive works properly.”
That brings up a good thing to note: You can’t get eyelash extensions wet for 24 hours after you apply them. You also have to be careful about what touches them while you wear them. Some mascara or cleansers can break apart the adhesive. I didn’t have any issues with this.
How long does it take to apply eyelash extensions?
Getting eyelash extensions does take a long time. My first appointment took about three hours, and my refill appointment took about 90 minutes. I fell asleep both times. Thinking about getting some? Avoid caffeine beforehand, both so your eyes don’t twitch and so you can catch a few zzzs. Both of Trang’s studios were so tranquil and comfortable, I probably could have zonked out even after some espresso. (But I didn’t because of the aforementioned eye twitching.) The experience is so spa-like and relaxing.
Do eyelash extensions hurt?
Eyelash extensions should not hurt, and in my experience they have not. They are less noticeable feeling than mediocre mascara and false eyelashes, but twice as impactful visually. The only thing that does hurt is if one gets into your eye. Much like a regular eyelash can fall into your eye, an eyelash extension can fall into your eye. In the eight weeks I had eyelash extensions, I had perhaps three fall into my eye. The only reason I remember this is extensions are a little bit bigger than normal lashes and a little bit smoother, which makes them just a tad harder to get out of your eye. However, this was not a large enough issue to keep me from getting them again.
Are eyelash extensions safe?
Yes! When done correctly eyelash extensions are safe. And while I feel my lashes look puny post-extensions, it isn’t because anything bad happened to my lashes while I had them on – I just grew used to how they look long and full. Ha!
Curious about the health and safety? Trang recommends you find out more here.
How much do eyelash extensions cost?
Eyelash extensions typically start at a few hundred dollars for a complete set plus a refill. See Trang’s complete price sheet here.
How long do eyelash extensions last?
Eyelash extensions last until the eyelash it is attached to falls out. This could be tomorrow or six weeks from now. Two or so weeks after your extensions are applied, it is recommended you head back to the esthetician for a refill; this is to cover lashes that may have fallen out, and to perfect the product choices. Much like it takes a while to find your perfect hair dye, everyone reacts a little differently and may want to try a new length or other option.
I had my eyelash extensions applied on September 23 and refilled on October 21. As of today, I have maybe four left and have started wearing mascara again. This is because the ingredients in mascara break down the adhesive and since they’re a little lopsided right now I’d like the remaining few to come out. (However while wearing mascara my eyes don’t look bizarre, as it fills in the gaps between my leftover extensions and natural eyelashes.)
Are eyelash extensions that much better than mascara or false lashes?
Yes, entirely. I typically dislike the feeling of both mascara and false lashes, but I didn’t feel my eyelash extensions. While the cost is significantly higher, the look is so much better – I wore them to everything from classy weddings to a (hot) Disney vacation, and they looked great every step of the way.
Please ignore my bed head… Did you read that I slept through my appointment? Ha!
I visited both of Trang’s studios – one in the Central West End, and her new location in Thirteenth & Washington Salon downtown – and tried out both length-focused and volume-focused extensions. Thumbs up for all of the above. If you’re in the St. Louis area and interested in trying eyelash extensions, be sure to stop by Glow Studios St. Louis. I can’t recommend Trang’s services enough!
P.S. These services were offered to me for free to review, but I wasn’t paid for this post. I just really, really liked my experience.
Very interesting and informative article! The lashes look luscious on you.
Why 3 pictures? Shouldn’t it be 2? Before and after? I use Latsse and my lashes are far more longer and Thicker. Cheaper too!
Thank you for these very informative article. It helps lot of ladies out there who want to try eyelash extension.