Days as a lash artist can sometimes be demanding- demanding skills, knowledge and a little bit more attention. As you know, eyelash extension applications can take hours so providing comfort and safety to your lash client is equally important as accomplishing that fantastic volume.
For a lash technician that has been lashing for a while, you’ve already experienced applying lash extension to a client with watery eyes- and that probably was a nightmare. The fact that tears are water and for it contain oil and salt makes it even more damaging to the overall quality of your eyelash curls.
CAUSES…
Was the client so happy to finally have her eyelash transformation that it made her cry the whole session? Perhaps. But the most obvious cause of having watery eyes during eyelash extension is because your client is experiencing irritation to some degree.
We won’t be able to find good prevention and cure if we don’t determine what’s causing it first.
So why would putting synthetic lashes onto your natural lashes cause irritation?
There are a few common reasons:
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Allergic reaction to eyelash extension adhesives
The most prevalent irritant during lash applications is eye irritation from the adhesive's fumes and the chemical ingredients of a lash adhesive is the main culprit. Individuals may experience varying degrees of having watery eyes, itching, redness, swelling, and even a burning feeling as a result of an allergic reaction.
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Lashes could be getting applied incorrectly
Having eyelash extension may be a dream glam make- over for many ladies but it is not without risk. This is the very reason why you, as a lash artist, should equip yourself with the proper training on how to do the process correctly.
Lashes should never touch the eyelid and should always be applied approximately a millimeter away from it. This distance is so small it can be easily overlooked. Even if your lash client doesn't have particularly sensitive eyes, the sharp point of an eyelash might irritate the skin of the eyelid.
HACKS TO PREVENT WATERY EYES…
Some clients have tendencies to react on eyelash extension products- sometimes it’s the eyepatch, the lash extensions but, most of the time, it’s the lash glue. That’s why a short trial or best known as a Patch test, is a necessity to do before the official eyelash extension full set application.
Patch test is done at least a day before the official lash application to see if your client has any allergic reaction to the glue or other lash products you’ll be using. The appointment itself can last at just around 15 to 20 minutes.
Ensuring that your lash client will not have an allergic reaction is getting ahead of bad possible situations and worst, a medical emergency.
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Keep her eyes shut
Make it extremely clear to your clients that they need to keep their eyes completely shut throughout the entire application process. A moment or two, they would be doing unnecessary little activities because they’re bored at waiting for their lashes to be done so some may be talking endlessly and some can’t resist checking up on their phones, opening their eyes and making the glue fumes creep in.
At this point, a lash nap is the very thing to advise- to avoid irritating their eyes and of course, to avoid you being irritated because you can’t focus on lashing while also giving love advice. Kidding aside!
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Use quality lash extension glue and lash products
Needless to say, even with your skills and expertise, using cheap quality products is as harmful to your client’s safety as to the kind of lash work you produce. Being a professional here, you should know exactly what you’re putting into your client’s eyes. Do the necessary research on what ingredients or chemicals harm the skin, especially sensitive eyes.
If you did your assignment, you would know that there are literally good lash extension glues in the market that are specially formulated for clients having more sensitive eyes. Although these types of glues don’t dry as fast, there have emerged other lash products that are best partnered to these types of lash glues such as lash glue accelerators and bonders. This duo is just the answer to your problems in eliminating irritation without compromising your lashing speed.
The health and medical safety of your lash clients should be held above everything every time.
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Invest in a lash studio with good ventilation
Wherever possible, provide ventilation to lessen the strength of the fumes. Start a fan to circulate the air, and if any windows can be opened, do so; the better your air circulation is, the faster the odors will dissipate. Given how long you and your clients are exposed to the chemicals you used during the application, a congested and closed room is the last place you want to be in.
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Use a nano mister
A nano mister aids in drying the glue faster, especially that you’re using glues formulated for sensitive eyes and usually take longer drying time. The likelihood of any eye strain for your consumers will decrease the faster the glue cures and the faster the fumes dissipate.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Clients having watery eyes during lash extension application is just another day-to-day challenge a lash artist must be able to overcome safely and gracefully. As the lash professional, it is your prime responsibility to prioritize your client’s safety over anything even if it means denying them the service.
At the forefront of lash enhancement may be just beautifully looking volumes and spikes of lash curls but behind that stunning gaze is a field of skills, experience and commitment to deliver a safe beauty treatment.