There are three beauty products that I use on a regular basis - mascara, BB cream and tinted lip products. Easy enough for everyday, like dropping the kids off to school in the morning or heading out for appointments, those are the same three types of products I start with when it comes to date night.
After last week, the list of products got smaller, because I’ve tossed my beloved tube of ‘Smashbox Full Exposure‘ in the trash, and my usual ‘Lashstash‘ didn’t make it on to my Christmas list this year.
Eyelash Extensions -
I’ve discovered the wonderful world of lash extensions. It’s like wearing a shirt that says “I woke up like this” and looking in the mirror, like wow, I could leave the house like this. First noticing them at the last games night, on a friend, and then another friend having them done, I finally, finally, was healthy enough to leave the house after getting over the cold-flu-ear infection that plagued me for the better part of a month, to go!
Going into the appointment to have the eyelash extensions applied, I wasn’t sure what to expect, except for the sweet, sweet, fact that I was going to sit in the relaxing atmosphere of the spa, laying with a cozy blanket, for over an hour.
There are various types of lashes, synthetic, mink etc., and lengths vary between six and seventeen mm, is what I learned during the consultation that determined the type of lash extensions I wanted. A fan of go-big-or-go-home, I wanted dramatic lashes the first time around, and the lovely extensionist suggested a length of 13. Ready to get started, she applied an eye mask to the bottom of my lashes, the only semi-uncomfortable part as it was so close to the bottom of my eye. Throughout the application, it was actually quite soothing to the skin under my eyes.
The next hour I dozed in and out of sleep, embarrassingly waking myself up with the occasional snore, keeping my eyes closed. It took over an hour, I learned, because each extension is attached to the individual eyelash. After the application was finished, I sat up and was immediately impressed with the fact that from across the room in the mirror I could notice the difference.
Leaving with some after-care instructions and a brush, for brushing the lashes, I couldn’t stop looking in the mirror. Care seemed pretty simple, don’t get them wet for 48 hours, and don’t rub or pull on them, use the brush in the morning and at night to brush the lashes and come back in two weeks to have them filled.
How much do lash extensions cost? The price varies across the different salons across the city. For the initial application, the bill was $105.00 (I also got a brow wax, before tip), right in the middle of the prices I found locally. For the fills, it’s $50, and it was recommended that fills be done every two to three weeks. So, you’re looking at about $100/month for upkeep of the lashes.
Compared to the $28 tube of mascara that lasts just over a month, the eyelash extensions are a little more expensive; well, a lot more expensive - but no more will I have mascara that gets smudged when I forget to take it off at the end of the day, and I’ve gotten nowhere near the length and volume of the eyelash extensions, justified the cost for me. You know, hashtag #selfcare.
I can’t believe that I’ve waited this long to try the eyelash extensions, but you can bet that I’m not going to go back to mascara now. Do they feel different? A little, but I’ve grown used to them fast. I’m so, so, so happy with the results and I can’t wait to go even longer at my next appointment!
What’s your take on lash extensions, have you tried them?
