With many of Hollywood’s most famous names wearing them, it seems that the trend of eyelash extensions is one that is here to stay. Although they have a growing fan base there have been a lot of bad publicity surrounding this latest beauty craze.
Eyelash extensions are individual fibres (not a strip of lashes) that are glued, one by one or in small groups, onto your natural eyelashes to enhance the appearance of long and full eyelashes. They can be made out of a variety of materials. Most are made of synthetic fibres, such as nylon, and are bonded using various types of professional glues. Silk is another material used for eyelash extensions. There are even mink eyelashes made of natural fur.
Anytime you go too close to the eyes there are risks. With eyelash extensions, problems don’t usually result from sharp tweezers use to place them precisely into place. Most problems that occur are caused by the glue that is used to bond the synthetic extensions in place, since these often contain chemicals that can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
Other side effects include reactions to solvents used to remove the extensions, and reactions to the tape that may be used to hold your eye lids closed during the procedure. More commonly from overuse your own eyelashes are lost in the process of trying to make them look more plentiful. Frequent use of eyelash extensions can damage the hair follicles responsible for eyelash growth and maintenance.
If you are going to have eyelash extensions it is critical that you have a patch test before the treatment to ensure you do not react to any of the products used. Correctly maintain the extensions with regularly maintenance appointments and get them removed professionally to ensure minimal damage to your own eyelashes.
