They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so allow me to show you my lash extensions before-and-after pic. When
people ask me if this trending beauty treatment is worth the full and twice-a-month visit to the salon, this snapshot is my answer.
Of course, after the initial shock of the
transformation wears off, I add in a little commentary on the treatment
itself and what you should expect. And for the purposes of this article,
I'm going to do just that.
If you want your eyelashes to look thicker, fuller,
and more vivid than you could have ever imagined without applying one
swipe of mascara, nothing compares to extensions, IMO. The extensions
are added onto your natural lashes using a glue. As your lashes grow and
fall out (a normal process), so does the extension. So if they're
applied correctly by a trained and experienced specialist, they
shouldn't harm your natural eyelashes.
They eliminate the task of applying mascara every
single day, so when you wake up in the morning, half of your makeup is
pretty much already done. In this circumstance, "I woke up like this"
becomes pretty damn literal, and my confidence soared at 7 a.m., despite
having puffy, tired eyes.
Clearly, the benefits are there, but with any beauty
treatment, there are downsides. For starters, if you're going to a
reputable salon for your extensions — which, BTW, you definitely should
because messing around with your eyes is scary — extensions are going to
cost you. At the Envious Lashes salon
I visited in New York City, lash extensions can range anywhere from
$150 to $500, depending on the overall look you want and the material of
the lashes.
Then, there's the upkeep. Your lashes will need to be
touched-up every 2-3 weeks. Some lashes will have shed by then, and
your lashes will start to look uneven and quite frankly, a little odd.
That touch-up also comes along with a cost — at my salon, that's a
little more than.
Finally, extensions affect the beauty products you
use on a daily basis. You can't use any oil-based makeup removers or
cleansers, and waterproof makeup is also a big no-no. These products
could cause the extensions to fall out faster. And in order to keep your
natural lashes healthy, your specialist will likely recommend a lash
conditioner, which you'll apply once or twice daily depending on the
directions.
So while they'll trim time off your morning routine,
it's a misconception to say that they're low-maintenance. Lash
extensions require time, money, and discipline.
I was seriously lacking on the latter. It was hard to
fit in regular appointments into my schedule. I was that person who
had to deal with wonky-looking eyelashes on several embarrassing
occasions. Because I couldn't get the commitment down, I decided the
treatment only worked for me before special occasions.
If you have the time, money, and patience, lash
extensions are a no brainer. But if you're like me and love your oil
cleanser like a child, maybe stick to that tube of mascara.
See more at: InStyle
