Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Long, strong, and voluptuous. So goes the ideal for eyelash beauty. But, unfortunately attaining this ideal doesn’t always come naturally.
And the routine of primping one’s eyelashes may sound more like this: mascara gunk in the corner of the eyes, wasted money on products that don’t extend or add volume, hands full of eyelash glue, and itchy irritated eyes. As with many things—like hair extensions and artificial nails—if it didn’t arrive when you were born or bred, you can have the next best thing—a fake (made to look very real) version.
In her article for the Arkansas Democrat—Gazette, Helanie R. Williams explores the phenomenon of eyelash extensions—whose popularity was rekindled just a few years ago, after Asian communities began using them in the mid 20th century.
Lash extensions enhance your look, because they open up the face and give you a more youthful appearance, says Phyllis Baker, founder of NaturaLash. She also emphasizes that having lash extensions put on isn’t a surgical procedure, a question she’s often asked.
In fact, Williams writes the procedure is painless. Most even fall asleep. And you can toss your curler and mascara far away, since these extensions won’t need them. Larger cities even have exclusive eye lash salons. The two local technicians interviewed for the article charge $200 for the extensions (one also includes a free touch–up with that charge), with one technician charging $40 for touch–ups and the other $75. By the way, touch–ups are recommended every few weeks, because as your natural lashes are shed, the extensions go with them.
There is also a medley of choices with lash extensions—which range in length from 6 to 17 millimeters. Xtreme Lashes, founded by Jo Mousselli, offers 160 different colors and three thicknesses. If you’d like, they’ll even put Swarovski crystals on your extensions for a little Holiday sparkle, Mousselli adds.
She also emphasizes, “The…trend I hope to see is that the public—both the professional in the beauty industry and the consumer—realizes the importance of going somewhere where the [technician] has been properly trained.”
On a similar note, the FDA doesn’t regulate lash extensions, because they’re placed on the natural lash and not the skin. Nowadays technicians must be certified to apply the lashes.