Two years ago I went to the celeb eyelash extension guru (no names will be mentioned to protect the guilty) after doing much research on the matter. I am not one to jump into things when it comes to my face (because I am really vain) and I thought about it for almost a year before taking the plunge. After much investigation, I chose the "expert" in the field that I felt most comfortable with (I interviewed her in person and over the phone multiple times). She assured me that my lashes will not sustain any permanent damage nor will I have any kind of reaction other than thick lush lashes (I chose real human hair over synthetic for it's lightness). Needless to say, I was beyond excited! The entire process took 2 and half hours, she was very thorough and bonded individual lashes to my own lashes carefully. When I looked in the mirror at the result, I almost fainted with delight. My lashes were long and full and looked totally natural! I was given instructions to care for them and went happily on my way. (No contact with water for the first 3 days and no eye make up during that time)
The first week was bliss, I woke up each morning batting my lashes at anyone and everyone who looked my way (usually my baby and my cat and I swear they noticed). I sent photos to my best friends and everyone was envious and couldn't wait to try it themselves. My husband just thought I never took my make off, the poor guy had been subjected to my crazy beauty experiments for years and I thought it would be too much information to tell him I had real human hair (not mine) bonded to my lashes with industrial strength glue. Anyway, everything was fine the first couple of months, I had two re-fills that took only 30 minutes and kept me looking fabulous. By the third month, however, things kind of took a weird turn. I woke up one morning and a few of the extensions had fallen out, which is normal according to the lash guru, what was not normal however, was that it had taken a wad of my lashes with it and left a bald spot. I panicked and called her and she assured me it would grow back. In the meanwhile, why don't I come in for a complimentary re-fill. I was addicted so I went back in to fill in the spots. All was well for another few weeks until I caught my husband looking at me strangely one morning at breakfast. I immediately ran for the bathroom and sure enough, most of the lashes had fallen out. A third of the extensions were still there but it looked really crazy because my own lashes were noticeably shorter. It looked like I took scissors to my lashes and chopped away or something. I became very concerned and decided not to continue with the lash extensions. After 4 months of gorgeous big lashes, I went cold turkey and quit. Within weeks all of the lash extensions fell out. My own lashes looked sparse with bald patches where lashes used to be, they were also very weak and broke off easily.
I was scared they'd never grow back and invested in the Jan Marini lash serum hoping for a miracle. The supposed lash guru claimed this has never happened before but I didn't believe her. You know how actresses who use hair extensions often become bald? Well, the same thing can happen to your lashes! After using Jan Marini, my lashes are perceptibly longer but I still don't have the same thickness I did before the lash extension fiasco (I'd say I lost 30% of my lashes just from the 5 months of using the extensions).
The moral to this very long story? If you are not gifted with mile long lashes, invest in a good mascara and lash conditioner and for special evenings out, throw on a pair of Shu Uemera lashes!
Do you give recommendations for cosmetic dermatologists, ie botox, restalyne, etc? Obviously, the goal is to look better, but not freak-like.
Wow, thanks for the warning. I've thought about having this done many times before but I haven't really seen anyone in person who's had it done.
I love the model in that picture. OTT lashes are so divine!!!
I had eyelash extensions once. Thanks for the warning, I don't think I will do it again. It was nice while it lasted.
WHOA!!! Thanks for sharing that information...that is CRAZY! I will stick to my dior show mascara thanks..
Wow! I have thought about lash extensions quite a bit, and actually have it as a "reward" on my list for my weight loss. Now... I think I might switch it to something else!! *sigh* I was hoping for a lash miracle!!
You were probably pulling on them. I've had mine on for over a year and nothing like that has happend. I love them and will keep mine on forever!!