The Fashionably Late Blonde: Eyelash Extensions

Showing posts with label Eyelash Extensions. Show all posts

Monday, March 25, 2019

Make-up Monday: How my Skincare Routine Changed with Lash Extensions

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was nice and relaxing with lots of time spent outside, since it was so beautiful!

Today I have a Makeup Monday post for y’all; and I’m sharing how my skincare has changed since getting lash extensions.

I’m sure you’re thinking, what does your skincare routine have to do with lash extensions? Well, don’t worry, that’s what I’m here to tell you.

The biggest thing with lash extensions is retention. You want to keep them as full as you can in between fills for a few reasons. 1. You obviously want them as full as possible because that’s when they look the best. 2. The more lashes you retain the less time your lash artist will have to spend during fills. 3. If you loose too many some places may charge you more.

Because you want to retain as many of your lashes as possible you might have to swap or be super careful with a few things in your skincare routine.

Let’s go through my new skincare routine and I’ll tell you items I no longer use and a little more about why.

A.M. Routine

My morning routine is pretty much the same. I wash my face, use my under eye cream and then face serum. The biggest change was how I wash my face. Because I shower in the morning that is where I usually wash my face. I used to just lather up and then put my face in the water to rinse off the soap. With lashes you want to avoid getting any cleanser on your lashes. I still use Tula, but instead of just putting my face under the stream of water I carefully rinse my cheeks, nose and forehead. I’m sure a little cleanser drips down, but I try to keep it as minimal as possible. I still use my eye cream and serum I shared in this post.

P.M. Routine

This is where things have changed the most. I still start with my cleansing balm, but since this turns to straight oil I am very careful to not go below my brow bone or above my cheekbone. Rayanna told me the skin around your eye is so thin product will quickly migrate all over the area. So be very careful what you put inside the oracle bone. Once I have removed all my makeup I very carefully rinse it off. Again, you don’t want this to drip down to your lashes. After that I use my Philosophy cleanser and again, very cautiously rinse. After that I have added a new step. Cleansing my lashes. It is SO SO SO important to cleanse your lashes once a day. This helps get all the dirt, grim and pollution off your lashes and your lash line. This helps with retention and keeps your eyes from getting irritated. Rayanna supplied me with lash cleanser on my first visit and I’m still using the same bottle. I use one pump and swirl it around with a brush then “paint” it on my lashes. I get my lash line really good and also use this to remove any eye makeup and under eye concealer. After I’ve done that I rinse thoroughly with cold water. It’s nice and refreshing and is good for your lashes. Extreme heat can also loosen adhesive and cause lash loss.

After that it’s time for all my creams and serums. I used to use this under eye cream from Kiehl’s however, it’s derived from avocado oil so I had to stop. (If you don't have lash extensions I would highly recommend it!) I have since started using this eye cream from Tula and use it mostly on my crow’s feet. (It's AMAZING!) After that I use my Kiehl’s Vitamin C serum, and this collagen serum. Then finally my TulaDay & Night Cream. I’m very careful to make sure I don’t use any of these below my brow bone or above my cheekbone. (You really don’t want or need to anyway.) After I finish my nighttime routine I brush out my lashes and I’m ready for bed.

I want to share a couple other things you can’t and can use with lash extensions. You basically can’t use ANY makeup removers. Even the oil free ones like Micelleular water. You can however use a makeup wipe on your lids and under eye if you are wearing heavy makeup. I usually try not to do this, but I’ve had my makeup done twice for events and had to use these to get all the eyeshadow and liner off. I avoid getting right on my lash line if possible.

So there you have it. I bet you didn’t even think about your skincare routine changing if you get lash extensions. I know I sure didn’t. Rayanna is an amazing lash artist and prepared me for all of this before I even got my lashes put on. Some of these things I was expecting from following her on instagram, but some were a total shock. If you don’t follow her on instagram you definitely should because she is a WEALTH of knowledge in this industry. I’ll leave her handle right here for y’all.

If you have any other questions about lash extensions or a certain product feel free to email me, DM me, or drop a comment below.

I hope y’all have a great week and check back tomorrow for a new outfit post. (Finally!)

Friday, February 15, 2019

Lash Q&A

I’ve had my eyelash extensions for almost a month now. I am absolutely obsessed! They have seriously made my life so much easier. It’s nice to always look like I’m wearing mascara and not actually take the time to put mascara on. All that being said, today I’m doing a huge Q&A all about lash extensions. If you’ve been debating getting lash extensions read on to have some of your questions answered. At the end if you have any additional questions that I didn’t answer, please feel free to email me or leave them in the comments below.

Let’s jump right in shall we?

Top-After | Bottom-Before

Top-Before | Bottom-After

Q1: Let’s start with the question I get asked the most….does it hurt?

A1: Absolutely not. Getting last extensions doesn’t hurt at all. Last time I completely fell asleep while I was getting them done. It’s pretty relaxing to say the least.

Q2: Will lash extensions ruin my real lashes?

A2: This was one of my biggest questions/concerns. Rayanna assured me that lash extensions wouldn’t damage my real lashes. As long as you have a good lash artist who uses quality products you should be fine.

Q3: Can I still wear mascara with my lash extensions?

A3: The whole point of lash extensions is so you don’t have to wear mascara. Your extensions should make your lashes longer, darker and fuller. If it’s doing all those things you shouldn’t really need mascara. If you still think you need it, unfortunately you can’t really use it. Mascara can cause the adhesive to break down and therefore your lashes to shed much quicker. (More on this topic to come in a couple weeks. Stay tuned.)

Q4: Can I get lash extensions while pregnant?

A4: Absolutely! Rayanna suggests checking with your doctor but there’s usually no reason you can’t have eyelash extensions while pregnant. Rayanna will also lash you while you lay on your side and accounts for extra bathroom breaks for expecting mamas.

Q5: I’ve heard of people having allergic reactions. What causes that and how will I know if I’m allergic?

A5: A small percentage of people are allergic to the adhesive. Fun fact: the adhesive used for eyelash extensions is the same thing they use for acrylic nails! WHATTTT?!? Crazy I know. Anyway a small percent of people can be allergic; however, there is no way to know until you get your lashes done. Rayanna checks on you throughout the lash process while you are there to make sure nothing feels off. She will also check on you for the next 72 hours via text, email, whatever to make sure you’re ok. If you do have a reaction, she will get you in immediately to have them removed. In the almost year she has been doing it she’s only had 1 reaction.

Q6: I have to use hypoallergenic makeup so does that mean I’m probably allergic to the adhesive.

A6: Not necessarily. It’s a good idea to mention this to your lash artist, but just because you’ve had reactions to makeup doesn’t mean you will have a reaction to lash extensions.

Q7: How often do I have to get them filled?

A7: Rayanna has 2 different fill options. You can get a fill every 2-3 weeks or every 4-5 weeks. This mostly depends on how quickly your lashes shed.

Q8: I have blonde lashes am I a good candidate?

A8: I too have blonde lashes. I feel like I was a great candidate! Rayanna lashes 100% of your lash so they look really natural. It’s also been life changing to look like I’m wearing mascara 24/7 without actually wearing mascara.

Q9: How long do appointments take and what do you do?

A9: Your appointment time varies. Your longest one will be your initial appointment. This can take anywhere from 2-4 hours. The length of your appointment depends on the type of set you get. The same goes with fills. These can last anywhere from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. This may sounds like a long time, but it’s a great time to nap, listen to a book on tape or podcast. I personally love taking what Rayanna calls a lash nap while getting mine done.

Q10: What are the different types of lash extensions you can get?

A10: Rayanna currently offers 3 different sets classic, signature & volume. Classic is very natural looking and gives you the look of light mascara. I haven’t personally had this set but I think it would look good on someone with darker natural lashes. The next set is signature. This is Rayanna’s most popular. It is a hybrid between classic and volume. It’s still natural looking with a little more. Finally we have the volume set. This is for someone who likes drama or normally wears a lot of mascara. This is also a great option if you have an event coming up. I did this last time I got a fill and LOVED it. I used to wear a lot of mascara so I think this is the set for me. Rayanna also makes all of her own fans and volume set lashes, which is amazing. She makes sure they work with your eye shape and enhance your natural beauty! (You can read more about the 3 different options here

Q11: How much do lash extensions cost?

A11: Everywhere is different. It also depends if you go with classic, signature, or volume lashes. You can go to Rayanna’s website here to check out her pricing. I will say this… It’s your eyes and you get what you pay for. Sometimes in beauty it pays to pay more. (Just my opinion.)

Q12: Do you have a discount code?

A12: I’m just kidding no one asked me this. I do however have a discount code. Rayanna has been gracious enough to offer all my followers/readers $10 off their service by using code “KATIE10”.

I hope this answered all your questions on lash extensions. As always if you think of a question I didn’t answer feel free to email me, leave it in the comments or DM me on Instagram and I would be more than happy to answer. And if you are looking for a new lash artist in Jax, you have to check out Rayanna. She is seriously the best!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Lash Extensions

Hi friends! Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going well so far. Today I am going to talk all about my eyelash extension experience. (Say that 5 times fast. Haha) Ekkk! I’m so excited to share this with y’all!

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw a couple weeks ago that I got eyelash extensions for the first time. Since they are the new trend, and everyone is getting them I thought I would share my experience. Let me start by saying it’s very important to find a reputable salon/lash artist to go to. We are talking about your eyes here people! I don’t know about you but, that is not something I would want to mess around with. Luckily my girl RayAnna at Beautifully Bare LLC (who I’ve gotten waxed by before) started doing lashes last year. She is extremely passionate about her work and it truly shows. If you don’t follow her on Instagram, you definitely should. Even if you don’t live in Jax she shares a wealth of knowledge about eyelash extensions on her feed and stories! We happened to meet-up before hand and she answered ALL my questions (I had about a million!), plus she told me things I never would have thought about. If you are in the Jacksonville area I cannot recommend her enough! She is really sweet & fun on top of being an amazing lash artist.

Now let’s talk process, shall we?

RayAnna started by giving me a new client sheet to fill out, so she could make sure I was a good candidate for lash extensions and wouldn’t have any issues. Then she answered a few more questions I had thought of since our last meeting. After that it was time for her to sanitize her hands and start cleaning my lashes. I wore some makeup that day so she removed all that and then cleansed my lashes with lash cleanser. The cleaner your lashes are the better. After that she put pads under my eyes and mapped out my lashes. Once the pads are on she doesn’t like to talk anymore for 2 reasons. 1. She says she lashes much slower when she talks. 2. When you talk the pads can move into your eye and cause bruising! Who knew your eyeballs could get bruised? When she told me that I was happy to stop talking as well. If you have a favorite podcast, are listening to a book on tape or have a favorite playlist I recommend you bring headphones with you so you can listen while they lash. RayAnna had music, so I just listened to that and snoozed here and there. She said most of her clients do nap while she lashes which is totally fine. I tried to stay awake as much as possible, so I could share the process. Once she started lashing it honestly felt like a very light massage for my lashes. I know that sounds totally weird but it’s the only way I can describe it! The question I got the most after was “Did it hurt?” My answer…not at all. When she moves to the inner corner it feels a little weird because she tapes your eyelids. It still doesn’t hurt just feels a little odd. The initial set usually takes about 2.5 hours. Fills after that are usually about an hour. After she is finished lashing she makes sure your eyes feel ok. (She also checks throughout the process. There is a small chance you can be allergic to the adhesive so it’s important to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.) Once your eyes are opened and feel ok you finally get to see the finished product. When I finally saw mine, I couldn’t believe how good they looked! I was seriously blown away!! I have very blonde lashes, so mascara is always a must for me. It was great to know that would no longer be necessary. They also look extremely natural which is awesome! (On me they look as natural as a blonde with black eyelashes can look. Haha) RayAnna did a signature set on me which is a cross between classic and volume. The best part is no matter what set you choose she completely customizes them to everyone. (I go back to she is incredibly talented and passionate about her work!) After about 5 minutes she cleanses your lashes one more time. If you have lash extensions, you are probably freaking out right now that I just said that. RayAnna told me most people say no getting your lashes wet for at least 24 hours. However, because its glue holding them to your natural lash the fumes and chemicals can make you think you are having a reaction if left on. Thus, why she cleanses your lashes before you leave. That way you will know you are really having a reaction and that the chemicals aren’t just sitting on your lid causing irritation.

The real magic for me came the next day. I woke up and had lashes right out of bed. Haha. All I had to do was put on face makeup and do my brows! Then later that day I did Orange Theory and after I would normally have mascara melting down my face. But with my lash extensions I still looked halfway put together! It has cut down on my morning routine so much. For instance, I really haven’t been wearing eyeliner which if you know me you know is absolutely crazy. I just don’t feel the need. I’m also more comfortable with ZERO makeup because the dark lash extensions create depth on my face!

Overall, I cannot recommend them enough. I also cannot recommend RayAnna at Beautifully Bare LLC enough. If you are in the Jacksonville area you should definitely go see her! Also feel free to leave any questions in the comments below or shoot me an email @ fashionablylateblonde@mail.com because I will be doing a HUGE Q&A post in the next couple weeks. Seriously, ask me anything about lash extension!!