For the gals: eyelash extensions question

[matchandahalf]

Okay, so I'm thinking of getting eyelash extensions/false eyelashes for the trip so I can look fa-bu-lous all day in the pool without mascara. But my two prior experiences with faux eyelashes were both disastrous. Bought some at the drugstore, and could only get them glued on in the middle of my eyelids...either end was fluttering free and my eye makeup was all over my face. Then I went to a salon before our TTR Cabo trip last April to have "multiple singles" applied and the glue made my eyes burn and the lashes were the same length across the whole lid and jet black. I looked like Tammy Faye Baker so had them removed on the spot.

Anybody had a GOOD experience with single eyelashes, or eyelash extensions? What do you recommend? I want natural-looking lashes, except a longer and thicker, as if you have 2 coats of mascara on, not those silly butterfly-wing things (I'm trying to look glamourous, not foolish). And I don't want my eyelids to feel gooped-down with glue.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[funcouple0308]

Find a salon that does Xtreme Lashes (google it, the Xtreme Lash website has a list of trained techs by area). They are individual lashes glued to your own one-by-one. Be prepared for about an hour application, but mine last 3-4 weeks. When you go in, take a picture from a magazine of the style you want your lashes to be. I like mine shorter towards the center of my eye, flared out on the edges. The glue can burn for a little bit once you open your eyes, but tell the tech that it burns and ask them to use the fan on them a little bit longer. The dryer the glue, the less burning.

I love them for vacation. All day in the pool they're great. Get them just a couple of days before you leave, very few if any should fall out for 7-10 days if you're careful while toweling off.

[matchandahalf]

Originally Posted by funcouple0308

Find a salon that does Xtreme Lashes (google it, the Xtreme Lash website has a list of trained techs by area). They are individual lashes glued to your own one-by-one. Be prepared for about an hour application, but mine last 3-4 weeks. When you go in, take a picture from a magazine of the style you want your lashes to be. I like mine shorter towards the center of my eye, flared out on the edges. The glue can burn for a little bit once you open your eyes, but tell the tech that it burns and ask them to use the fan on them a little bit longer. The dryer the glue, the less burning.

I love them for vacation. All day in the pool they're great. Get them just a couple of days before you leave, very few if any should fall out for 7-10 days if you're careful while toweling off.

THANKS RHONDA! I will track them down.

Update: OMG, I found a technician 2 miles from me, but it's $250 for a full set and $150 for a half set! Holy smokes! Is that what you pay in your town, Rhonda? then I will have to pay to have them removed as well? Gulp....I'm not sure I'm worth it

[funcouple0308]

Originally Posted by matchandahalf

THANKS RHONDA! I will track them down.

Update: OMG, I found a technician 2 miles from me, but it's $250 for a full set and $150 for a half set! Holy smokes! Is that what you pay in your town, Rhonda? then I will have to pay to have them removed as well? Gulp....I'm not sure I'm worth it

I may have paid that on occassion. But you don't have to pay to have them removed, or at least I didn't.

I did find a girl locally at a very nice salon who didn't use Xtreme Lashes, but an off-brand and I got the same results. She was $60 for a full set, and they were just as good. But I got super lucky finding her.

Lemme do some searching and I'll PM you

[matchandahalf]

Originally Posted by funcouple0308

I may have paid that on occassion. But you don't have to pay to have them removed, or at least I didn't.

I did find a girl locally at a very nice salon who didn't use Xtreme Lashes, but an off-brand and I got the same results. She was $60 for a full set, and they were just as good. But I got super lucky finding her.

Lemme do some searching and I'll PM you

You're a doll, Rhonda.

I hope I didn't get you in trouble with the hubby, posting the price of the lashes here! LOL

[funcouple0308]

Originally Posted by matchandahalf

You're a doll, Rhonda.

I hope I didn't get you in trouble with the hubby, posting the price of the lashes here! LOL

LOL Nope, he already knows I'm high maintenance. In fact, he knows I paid even more than that for my first set years ago when they first came out. He just rolls his eyes at me.

So I found Noir Lash Lounge | Vancouver Eyelash Extension Experts this in Vancouver, their first set is only $75. They're not Xtreme Lashes, but their gallery looks pretty good, and they say they last up to 4 weeks for "lash virgins".

Also found Seamless Lash Extensions | Wink Beauty Lounge - Eyelash Extensions in Vancouver in Vancouver, a half set is $35, a full set is $55 and up, depending on how "glam" you want them. I also see they have more expensive sets, not sure what the difference is except maybe the tech experience? How sad that I got so excited seeing they will come to your house to do them, too.

It seems like both salons specialize in eyelash extensions somewhat, so that's positive. Just make sure when you go in you tell them that you'll be in the pool a ton and what look you're going for.

Good luck, take before & after pics if you do it!

[matchandahalf]

Originally Posted by funcouple0308

LOL Nope, he already knows I'm high maintenance. In fact, he knows I paid even more than that for my first set years ago when they first came out. He just rolls his eyes at me.

So I found Noir Lash Lounge | Vancouver Eyelash Extension Experts this in Vancouver, their first set is only $75. They're not Xtreme Lashes, but their gallery looks pretty good, and they say they last up to 4 weeks for "lash virgins".

Also found Seamless Lash Extensions | Wink Beauty Lounge - Eyelash Extensions in Vancouver in Vancouver, a half set is $35, a full set is $55 and up, depending on how "glam" you want them. I also see they have more expensive sets, not sure what the difference is except maybe the tech experience? How sad that I got so excited seeing they will come to your house to do them, too.

It seems like both salons specialize in eyelash extensions somewhat, so that's positive. Just make sure when you go in you tell them that you'll be in the pool a ton and what look you're going for.

Good luck, take before & after pics if you do it!

Wow, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts to help me be fa-bu-lous, Rhonda. I contacted the Xtreme eyelash technician who lives only 2 miles from me by email, and she is quoting me $100 per hour, but her website says $150 for a half-set, so I guess it's going to take 1.5 hours. I think I will stick my head in at the two salons you found and take a look at their lashes and photos in person. All I need is another crappy lash job that I end up having removed before leaving the salon. Better to pay twice as much and be happy. thanks again!

[glenn/monique]

Good luck,

[funcouple0308]

It's my pleasure to help you look even more gorgeous than you already are .

Let us know how it goes!

Originally Posted by matchandahalf

Wow, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts to help me be fa-bu-lous, Rhonda. I contacted the Xtreme eyelash technician who lives only 2 miles from me by email, and she is quoting me $100 per hour, but her website says $150 for a half-set, so I guess it's going to take 1.5 hours. I think I will stick my head in at the two salons you found and take a look at their lashes and photos in person. All I need is another crappy lash job that I end up having removed before leaving the salon. Better to pay twice as much and be happy. thanks again!

[summerbum]

Hey Karen, if you have decent natural lashes, there's a cheaper way to do this. Go buy two tubes of the 2-step mascaras (the ones that come with a white primer end and then a regular end--Loreal makes good ones.) Get one lengthening formula and one thickening.

Put on a coat of the lengthening primer, then a coat of the thickening primer, then take either of the mascaras and wiggle the wand from the base to the tips. Use the tip of the wand to paint an extra coat on the the outside lashes and bottom ones.

I do this for stage shows because it makes my real lashes longer than the fakes!

[matchandahalf]

Originally Posted by summerbum

Hey Karen, if you have decent natural lashes, there's a cheaper way to do this. Go buy two tubes of the 2-step mascaras (the ones that come with a white primer end and then a regular end--Loreal makes good ones.) Get one lengthening formula and one thickening.

Put on a coat of the lengthening primer, then a coat of the thickening primer, then take either of the mascaras and wiggle the wand from the base to the tips. Use the tip of the wand to paint an extra coat on the the outside lashes and bottom ones.

I do this for stage shows because it makes my real lashes longer than the fakes!

Oooo...good tip, thank you! That would be great at night, but not so good for in the pool, I suspect. I am trying to avoid mascara running down my face, and in general, get by with the bare minimum of makeup in the daytime, i.e., just some eyeliner. But if I decide not to go with the lash extensions, I will def try your method (or, file it away for future reference when I don't have extensions on). Thanks so much for your input...see you in 5 weeks!

[soop]

• Match ... did you get them done yet? The wife just booked an appt. for hers and she's curious as to what to expect .... will they hold up in the pool?

[matchandahalf]

Hey soop,

I am booked to get them done a few days before I leave on the 26th. I haven't tried again since my first disastrous experience.

I think that so long as you go to a place that charges about $100 for individual eyelash extensions, the quality will be okay. Just avoid the discount places. I am booked for a partial job this time (lashes added only to the outside third of the eye) because I am nervous after my last eyelash fiasco, and I don't want to look very obviously like I have fake lashes like the Housewives of New Jersey. But I may decide to go whole hog once I get to the salon...I tend to become more and more inclined to throw caution to the wind as my holiday approaches!

[soop]

Originally Posted by matchandahalf

Hey soop,

I am booked to get them done a few days before I leave on the 26th. I haven't tried again since my first disastrous experience.

I think that so long as you go to a place that charges about $100 for individual eyelash extensions, the quality will be okay. Just avoid the discount places. I am booked for a partial job this time (lashes added only to the outside third of the eye) because I am nervous after my last eyelash fiasco, and I don't want to look very obviously like I have fake lashes like the Housewives of New Jersey. But I may decide to go whole hog once I get to the salon...I tend to become more and more inclined to throw caution to the wind as my holiday approaches!

Hahaha perfect ... you and the wife will have to compare in 15 days! She seems to be going all out for this trip ... can't figure why *laffs*