EYELASH RETENTION PROBLEMS AFTER LOCKDOWN

So Scotland got back to lashing just three weeks ago and boy has it been a busy, fun, exciting and exhausting few weeks, we have been banging out the best sets of lashes if I say so myself and the look on our clients faces when you hand them that mirror has been totally worth the wait.

Its been going great and almost too smoothly and then…….dun dun duuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn! Retention problems and quite a few of them. Im not talking about a few lashes falling out, Im talking clients with three lashes left only after three days of having them applied. Not everyone, but enough to know that something wasn’t right, Of course we have got them back in to sort them but I have also been doing lots of research as to why this is happening. We haven’t changed our products so I knew something must be behind the problems and here’s what I found.

THE MASK, yes this is the most likely culprit. We are wearing masks and so is our clients. Normally when applying lash extensions the client does not have a mask on so their breath is distributed into the air nice and evenly, however, now they have a mask on, the breath is warm, the warm breath is escaping through the top of the mask, warm breath = humidity = moisture and all of this in our working area, a lash technicians worst nightmare.

So here’s what happens when your glue is subjected to high humidity and moisture, It does something known as shock curing. So you will apply your lashes in the normal way, they look perfect and they all take their pride of place on each lash, what you don’t see is the humidity has shock cured the glue and the drying time speeds up. (sometimes you may see frosting/blooming as a white mark on the lashes, this happens if the lashes are wet),  Then what happens over the next few days is the glue is brittle and the lash just pops off the natural lash as it hasn’t had the time it needed to bond properly it has been “shocked” and this is where the problem lies.

Its a pandemic, its a virus and their are guidelines, part of these guidelines in Scotland are that the clients needs to wear a mask so there is no getting around this.

I have put together  some tips however to help you going forward to prevent this from happening.

• TAPE THE MASK AT THE TOP ALONG THE NOSE AND UNDER THE EYES TO STOP THE BREATH ESCAPING UPWARDS.
• IF THE CLIENT IS WEARING A MASK THAT “PINCHES” AROUND THE NOSE ASK THEM TO DO THIS ALSO.
• IF THE CLIENT IS WEARING A COTTON MASK AND THE TAPE IS NOT STICKING YOU CAN USE A BIT OF COUCH ROLL/ TISSUE OVER THE TOP HALF OF THE MASK AND TAPE THIS INSTEAD (MASK WILL STILL BE WORN UNDERNEATH)
• CHANGE YOUR GLUE EVERY 20-30 MINUTES
• VENTILATE YOUR ROOM
• PLACE MOISTURE ABSORBERS AROUND YOUR WORKING AREA IF HUMIDITY STILL HIGH
• IF NEEDED USE A SLOWER DRYING GLUE
• EDUCATE YOUR CLIENT, IN THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD EDUCATE YOUR CLIENT ABOUT LASH SHEDDING SEASON EDUCATE THEM AROUND THE MASK WEARING PROBLEMS. THEY MAY NEED TOP UPS MORE REGULAR THAN NORMAL.
• LASTLY DON’T PANIC, ITS HAPPENING TO MOST OF US, YOUR NOT ALONE, JUST FOLLOW THE STEPS ABOVE TO HELP.

I hope for those back lashing this helps and I hope for those of you still waiting on the green light that this will help you guys going forward. To all my friends and colleagues Down South know that our thoughts are with you, we are desperate for you to return, we are a team, we know its safe if you stick to the guidelines and we know that this is a really hard time for you all, sending lots of love and positive thoughts your way and every petition that is realised my name is all over it.

Much love to everyone reading this, keep lashing and keep being brilliant!

Leanne xxxx