Here’s What to Know Before Getting Eyelash Extensions + The Pros & Cons

Everything you need to know before getting eyelash extensions, the pros & cons, maintenance, how to make them last, & more!

Alright guys, well I did something I’d never thought I’d do..I got eyelash extensions! Okay, super dramatic (LOL) but I’ve had mixed feelings about lash extensions since I first saw them pop up on the Instagram scene. Honestly, I never saw myself splurging & committing to the maintenance aspect of them. Why? Well because, honestly, they’re expensive! But I got married almost two weeks ago (don’t worry, more to come on that soon!) & I thought, what a better time to go splurge on some lashes! Truthfully, I couldn’t be happier with them so I wanted to share a little review & a few tips & tricks I learned from my very talented esthetician!

Originally, I just wanted to get my lash extensions for my wedding day, because I knew it’d be a lot easier than trying to fumble around with strip lashes, & constantly wiping away my mascara from under my eyes. I can honestly say it was the best money I’ve ever spent & that’s no exaggeration. I LOVE my lashes. My original lash appointment was 9 days before my wedding & very few lashes fell out prior to the wedding, so they still looked pretty much perfect!

BEST. DECISION. EVER.

It’s now been 3 weeks since I got them & yes, they’re a little patchy especially on the side I sleep (my right side), but overall, I think they still look great. I’ll go over it more below, but eyelash extensions should last anywhere between 2-3 weeks, sometimes 4 if you take care of them well! I originally thought I wouldn’t want to go back in for a fill, but I decided I definitely want to, so I scheduled my first fill next week, which will be 4 weeks since my first appointment!

I feel like I 100% got my money’s worth out of these eyelash extensions. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be tough going back to my natural lashes after I’m all done with these haha! I never had an issue with my natural lashes – I love them actually, but wow, once you have extensions put on, it’s hard to beat!

After finally deciding to go for it, get lash extensions, wear them for my wedding, & ultimately really, really enjoy them, I wanted to put together this post basically sharing everything you need to know before getting eyelash extensions, as well as, the pros & cons! This was not something that I just woke up one day & decided to have done. I put a lot of thought, asked a ton of questions, asked friends for referrals, read reviews, etc. You name it, I did it! I just wanted to be prepared & I knew if I was going to spend the money, I wanted them to be done tastefully & last as long as possible!

So here are my thoughts…

THE PROS OF LASH EXTENSIONS

• They’re absolutely gorgeous & can look VERY natural
• No need to wear mascara or curl your lashes
• Makes waking up & getting ready SO much easier
• They seriously make you look more put together (I swear!)
• You can’t feel them (if applied correctly)

THE CONS OF LASH EXTENSIONS

• They require maintenance
• They are costly to get/keep up with
• You have to be mindful of rubbing your eyes & sleeping on your sides
• You should limit or skip oils or oil based products (especially in the beginning)
• When the extensions fall out, they might take your real lash out with it

Q: What are eyelash extensions?

Eyelash extensions are individual synthetic lashes applied to the base of each of your lashes with an adhesive. The individual lashes are thicker at the base, thinner towards the top/end of the lash, which mimics the shade of your natural lash for a lengthened & or volumized appearance!

Q: What type of lashes did you get?

I got a classic set of lashes from The Beauty Room – I share more about the Beauty Room towards the end of this post! My esthetician, Sarah, used a C curl & .15 diameter on my lashes! She followed the natural shape of my actual lashes, which I love. I think it makes the extensions look that much more real!

Q: How to prepare for your lash appointment?

My lash appointment was later in the afternoon at 5 p.m., so leading up to it, I made sure to skip the eye cream, I went pretty minimal with my skincare, didn’t use any oil-based products day-of, & didn’t wear any makeup. I also made sure my eyelashes were really clean, as well as, the skin around my eyes!

Here’s a few more tips on how to prepare for lash extensions!

• make sure you remove all makeup
• make sure your lashes & lash line are cleaned well
• for-go oil-based products day of appointment
• if you wear contacts, bring your glasses to the appointment just in case
• come prepared to lay on a table for 1 hour +, so dress comfy!

Q: Is there anyone who shouldn’t get lash extensions?

I really do think mostly everyone is a good candidate for lash extensions, obviously, I’m not an esthetician but just from my experience, I have pretty water-y, sensitive eyes, & so far so good! But I do think if you currently experience severe allergies, rub your eyes vigorously & frequently, if you have a known allergy or sensitivity, or if you do not have any lashes, you might not be a great candidate for eyelash extensions. Especially if you don’t have natural lashes, there will be nothing the extension can hold onto because they are not attached to your skin, but rather your actual lash! Any of the others, I would just advise calling your salon or esthetician to clarify whether or not you’d be a good candidate!

Q: Can you wear makeup when getting lash extensions put on?

Eye makeup, mascara, eye liner, etc. is a huge NO when heading to a lash appointment. I’m sure some people might still wear concealer, foundation, or fill in their brows, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I came to my appointment with a completely bare face..just minimal skincare that I applied in the early A.M. (my apt. was at 5 P.M.) but I did NOT use eye cream. For your appointment, you want your eyes, lashes, & skin surrounding the eyes, to be as clean as possible so that the extensions are able to adhere to your natural lashes.

Q: What should you expect during the appointment?

During the appointment, expect to lay down & keep your eyes closed for the duration of the appointment. If you wear contacts & have an issue keeping your eyes closed for long periods while wearing them, I definitely recommend taking them out/bringing your glasses. I wear contacts but didn’t have an issue keeping my eyes closed for over an hour. My esthetician gently taped down my lower lash line, just so they didn’t get any adhesive stuck to them, & then once she did that, I closed my eyes. My appointment took about an hour & a half for a full set of lashes to be applied.

Q: How to take care of your lashes after your appointment?

Eyelash extensions definitely require a little TLC, especially if you’re trying to maintain them well. My esthetician sent me home with a handful of clean mascara-like spoolie brushes which I have been using to brush my lashes morning & night. You also want to make sure to avoid the use of any heavy oil-based products because those help loosen the adhesive that holds the lashes in place. Skip the mascara & overall, just try to keep your lash line as clean as possible. My esthetician recommended to use a gentle cleanser on a clean, fluffy eyeshadow brush to go in & clean the lash line/lashes. I really liked this suggestion in comparison to just “washing” your lash line with your hands, fingers, wash cloth, or cotton pad, which can all be a bit rougher on the lashes.

Q: How long will the extensions last?

This will definitely depend on how well you take care of them! I’m coming up on four weeks next week & I still think mine look pretty good! Definitely not perfect but still good! I originally said I was going to be thrilled if they lasted three weeks, which is pretty standard for lash extensions! If you’re looking to keep your lashes maintained after your initial appointment, expect to go back in for a fill anywhere between 2-3 weeks. I’m going in for my first fill 4 weeks after my first appointment but I think that might be a stretch.

Q: What do the extensions feel like?

When they first were applied, I could definitely feel that there was something on my lashes. Kinda felt like wearing false eyelashes, but lighter for sure! Now three weeks in, I really can’t tell that they’re on! And I have not experienced any pain or eye sensitivity what so ever with them either, which makes me SO happy because my eyes are really really sensitive! This is why doing my research about the salon I went to was so important to me, because you shouldn’t feel any pain if your lashes are applied correctly!

Q: Can they be removed/how do you get them off?

So as your eyelashes grow out, your eyelash extensions will grow out/fall out. And it’s also normal for them to drop off just as your normal eyelash would as well. You can go back to the salon to have them professionally removed, I’m sure most salons have an option for removal – mine does for a small fee. But if you don’t have them professionally removed, you just have to wait for them all to either grow out or fall out.

Q: Where did you go to get yours done?

I was recommended by a friend to go to The Beauty Room in Bedford, New Hampshire…about 10 minutes away from where I live! If you’re in the Manchester/Bedford area, I’d highly recommend the Beauty Room based off my recent experience. Their little office was so adorable & Sarah, who did my lashes, was such a gem & seriously gave me exactly what I was looking for. She was super gentle & had such a light touch – I honestly could barely feel her working at times! Overall, I’m just so happy with my lashes & already proved myself wrong by already scheduling my first fill!

Q: How much did they cost?

My full set of lashes cost $150 – excluding tip. Expensive for sure, but I do believe, based on my research, this price is pretty standard. I saw one salon charge $263 (yikes)…I do understand the price though & was very happy with what I paid. It’s a lot of tedious work on the estheticians part & you want them to look good, stay on for as long as possible, & not irritate your eyes. You get what you pay for! I’d never go to someone who was only charging $50 for a full set – ya know?

Overall, were eyelash extensions worth it? 100% YES – couldn’t have been happier with my makeup on my wedding day & I attribute that almost 95% to the way my eyelashes looked! Even better, I didn’t have to worry about wiping off any mascara from under my eyes…SO NICE! After finally getting eyelash extensions, I totally understand the hype behind them. To put it frankly, they are amazing & I highly recommend giving them a try. I loved mine so much, I’m going back for a fill, which I didn’t think I’d do! I just can’t get enough haha!

Have you ever had eyelash extensions done? Let me know in the comments below!