What Should I Look For In An Eyelash Extension Artist?
With so many spas, salons, and lash bars, it can be hard to know how to choose the BEST place to go to get your eyelash extensions applied.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
The eyelash extension industry is governed differently and inconsistently between countries, even varying vastly from state to state. The first thing you will want to do is to ascertain what the licensing requirements are in your location.
Click HERE for a list of regulatory information by location.
1. Current license in esthetics or cosmetology (if required by state or province).
2. Current business license.
3. Training certification – this isn’t always a good indication of the workmanship of the Technician, since training programs vary and really, it isn’t difficult to get a certificate of attendance to one of these one or two-day courses.
4. Current NEESA LXP Credential – we at NEESA do extensive testing to ensure all our LXP Certified Technicians are up to par in sanitation and application practices.
5. Reputable referral – always ask to see the Technician’s actual portfolio.
6. Up-to-date knowledge – your Technician should be able to answer all your questions and be current with new techniques and products.
7. Cleanliness checklist:
a. Is the working area clean?
b. Are disposable items used only for one client?
c. How are reusable tools disinfected or sterilized?
d. Are linens laundered between each and every client?
e. Are there any head/neck pillow coverings?
f. Is the Technician presentable? Hands washed, wearing mask?
When choosing your lash artist, you should ask a lot of questions, and if at any point you are not satisfied or feel uncomfortable with their answer, move on.
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK?
Not all Technicians are created equal, and while styling and design are very subjective, some questions make it easy to quickly figure out if you will be getting a beautiful set, or a hot mess. Even licensed, trained individuals can produce sub-par work for a number of reasons, so let’s dig deeper before you make an appointment and make sure you are getting a skilled Eyelash Extension Professional. After all, you only have one set of eyes.
1. Are you a licensed Cosmetologist or Esthetician? (if required in your area)
2. How long have you been doing lashes?
Time does not always indicate skill level, but it is a good ice breaker.
3. Have you received advanced training in the application of eyelash extensions?
This is to determine what they have studied about eyelash extensions outside of beauty school, where they may have only briefly skimmed the chapter before moving on to the next topic.
4. What diameters and lengths of extensions do you typically work with?
The best answer is “It would depend on what your natural lash can handle but generally, no more than a .15 diameter and 2mm longer than the natural lash for the average client.” There are exceptions to this when a client has very long and/or thick natural lashes. As your eyelash professional, your technician is responsible for maintaining the health of your natural eyelashes. He/she should practice responsible application techniques, which include choosing the right diameter and length for you, even if it might not be as long or thick as you want them. A responsible Technician would rather decline serving you as a client than to cause harm to your natural eyelashes. There are no hard rules about diameters and lengths, since everyone is different, but these are good general guidelines to follow.
5. I/my friend has had extensions before where they were touching the skin or stuck together. Is this normal?
If they say “yes, this is normal”, then find another Technician. Eyelash extensions should never be adhered to the skin, nor should any two natural lashes be stuck together. If you hear the word “clusters” or “flares” being used as they type of lashes they use, move on along. Clusters, when used with eyelash extension adhesive, will be much too heavy on the natural lash, but worse yet, is that typically they are not isolated to only one natural eyelash. If you have natural eyelashes stuck together, it will harm your lash line. Eyelash extensions, when done right, will always be properly isolated and separated so that each natural lash is free to grow and shed at its own rate without interference with other natural lashes stuck to it.
6. Do you keep a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) on hand for the adhesive you use?
Your lash artist should have this on hand as it lists all the ingredients in the adhesive. If you had a reaction or emergency, this sheet would tell doctors what ingredients your eyes were in contact with.
7. What do you use to disinfect your tweezers with? Disinfection standards also differ from state to state, but an example of a good protocol would be:
1. Wash with soap and water (not hot)
2. Dry thoroughly
3. Soak in a hospital-grade disinfection solution
4. Rinse, dry and store in a clean, closed container
Some Technicians will go above and beyond what is required and sterilize with an autoclave or chemical sterilizer. These are great options. Depending on your state laws, some of the following methods are not sufficient forms of primary disinfection: UV wand, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, only soap and water, sand paper.
8. How much do you charge and how long is the appointment?
Price and length of appointment is not always indicative of a good or bad job, but when comparing one lash technician to another, you want to compare apples to apples. If you are looking at one place that charges $200 for a full set that takes two hours and applies 100LPE (lashes per eye), and a second place that charges $40 for a full set that takes 30 minutes and is also 100LPE, you will know right away that the more expensive place that is taking two hours will be taking their time to properly isolate and separate each lash, making sure no two natural eyelashes are stuck together. You need to discover WHY one place charges differently than another. Not everyone’s “full set” will be the same. You just want to ask the questions that will allow you to know what you are actually getting so you can make the best decision.
9. Can I see recent pictures of your work and/or read some reviews?
With pictures, you want to see a nice, clean, straight and separated lash for lash application. You should not see any clumps or lumps. You should not see any “spidery” or “twisty” or “mangled” lashes. With reviews, you want to read that the experience was comfortable. Eyes should not burn or water. There should not be “pinching”. The client should have felt listened to and cared for.
10. How do you keep up on the latest trends, products and techniques in the industry?
Here, you are finding out if they have participated in continuing education courses on eyelash extensions. As the industry grows, there are more and more opportunities for lash artists to master their skill through continuing education. If they are taking courses or staying connected via online forums and facebook groups, this is a positive sign that the lash artist is passionate about what they do and care about being at the TOP of their game for YOU!
Armed with these answers, you should have a fairly good idea of who you are going to. Once you find someone you love and trust with your eyes, hold on to them and never let them go!
