9 Ways to Improve Lash Retention for Your Clients in 2022
As a lash technician, you definitely want the best possible retention for all of your clients. This article is going to tell you exactly that; tips and tricks for the longest eyelash extensions retention, as well as things to avoid. Here at BATHE LASH, we want your clients to come back to you time and time again for a perfect fill.
1. Humidity and moisture
Are one of the most important factors while applying lash extensions onto a client. If you’re a more experienced technician, you know that humidity matters. When you have higher humidity in your salon, your extension glue cures much faster than it’s supposed to and may leave your client with lumpy and uneven extensions. However, when humidity is too low, the glue cures extremely slowly or may not even dry at all. For peak application, make sure the humidity level in the room is between 45 and 60%. If you live in a drier climate, opt for a humidifier in your salon. If you live in a more humid environment, try a dehumidifier. Remember, moisture is key while applying lashes.
2. Temperature
This goes back to the climate of your workspace, but the temperature of your space is just as important as humidity. When lashing in hotter environments, the glue is cured too fast as it has a higher viscosity, while lashing in cooler areas cures the glue too slowly or might not cure the glue at all as it has a lower viscosity. The temperature for optimum lash application is about 68-71 degrees Fahrenheit or about 20-22 degrees Celsius. If your room is too hot, invest in an air conditioner, ceiling fan, or another cooling method. If your area is too cold, crank on the heating, get a space heater, or even try heat-emitting light bulbs.
3. Lash Adhesives Types
The type of adhesive you use has a dramatic effect on your client’s retention. There are three types of glue: Ethyl-Cyanoacrylate, Alkoxy-Cyanoacrylate, and Butyl-Cyanoacrylate.
Ethyl-Cyanoacrylate is the most common type of glue. It has moderate fumes and a pretty strong hold. This is for non-sensitive clients as the glue is not hypoallergenic.
Alkoxy-Cyanoacrylate is a much more expensive type of glue, 8 times more than the Ethyl type, to be exact. This glue is not that strong but is ideal for clients who are extremely sensitive as it is very hypoallergenic and virtually fumeless.
Last but not least, the Butyl-Cyanoacrylate. This is the least common of the glues as it has a much slower curing time than the traditional Ethyl glue. It’s less expensive than the Alkoxy glue but has more fumes; it’s about as strong as the Alkoxy and is also hypoallergenic.
4. Climate
Additionally, there are different climate-based glues. These glues do better based on specific environments; some are designed for humid and hot climates, others humid and cold, some are for dry and hot, etc. Buy the type of glue that is created to work in your climate.
If you have/work in a salon that offers more than just lash extensions, it’s probable that you have an airborne chemical environment. This includes hair dyes and treatments, nail polish fumes, spray tan, etc. If this is the case, make sure that you take your clients to a separate room that is more ventilated and free of chemicals as the glue or even the lashes could have a chemical reaction and cause serious harm to the client, including blindness and other irritation
5. Sleeping Habits
The position in which your clients sleep could also be affecting their lash retention. While sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, the lashes are much more likely to be caught and pulled out during the regular sleeping process. Encourage your clients to use a silk pillowcase, which not only protects the skin and hair but also the lash extensions by allowing them to glide along the pillow. If your clients sleep on their stomachs or sides, their lashes could be rubbing against the sheets, bed, or pillow. Strongly encourage them to sleep on their backs.
6. Lifestyle
Smoking is another cause of lower lash retention. Smoke, moisture, and sebum can build up on lashes and lash glue within a matter of days if the client regularly smokes cigarettes or marijuana. Formaldehyde is commonly found in cigarettes and could cause less lash retention and even damage to the natural lashes.
7. Make-up
Eye makeup should be avoided completely for 1-2 days after getting a fill. After that, eyeliner and eyeshadow are completely fine as long as they are removed daily and are oil-free as oil-based products can decompose the lash glue. Mascara should never be worn on lash extensions! Make sure to do a very good job of expressing that to your clients; they got extensions so they wouldn’t have to wear mascara.
8. Covid-19
With the current COVID-19 situation, face masks are becoming more common. Moisture and air are shot out of the top of the mask while breathing and could cause the extension glue to dry too quickly or even produce bubbles in the glue due to direct air. If you and your client are comfortable, encourage them to take off the face mask (unless they are sick) or tape the top of the mask down.
9. After Care
Lash aftercare is a big deal. Keeping the lashes clean between fills is one of the most important methods of improving lash retention, which is where the BATHE LASH CLEANSER CONCENTRATE comes in. This lash shampoo concentrate which you can purchase from us and make your own lash bath bottles at home is not only essential to retention but also helps in other issues, including inflammation, which is treated with the honey in the bath, eye puffiness and lines, which is treated with aloe, also in the bath, and under-eye bags and dark circles, which are treated with oats, which, surprise surprise, is also in this wonderful lash bath. On top of all that, the bath is cruelty-free, has safe ingredients, and is free of formaldehyde, sulfates, parabens, fragrances, oils, silicone, and a whole lot of other gross stuff.
Today, you learned all about improving lash retention for your clients. We covered humidity and moisture, temperature, types of glue, airborne chemicals, sleeping position, smoking, eye makeup, face masks, and lash aftercare with the fantastic bathe lash cleanser concentrate. All in all, you learned some pretty great stuff.