Amazing Lash Retention: How To Achieve It

How do you get amazing lash retention? Why am I having lash retention issues? How can I fix my lash retention? Why are my clients lashes not lasting? 

A lash artist’s absolute worst nightmare is when their client’s lashes do not last, this can be a very time consuming and stressful mistake to correct.

No lash artist wants their clients to lose faith in them, and no longer trust them with their lashes.

 

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In this blog, you will get a lot of useful information on how to detect true lash retention problems and prevent them from ever happening again, best lash extension glue for retention and how to get good retention with lash extensions.

We wanted to give our client’s the satisfaction that they deserve. OK, so you created a beautiful classic/volume set?! Your client is thrilled, now the last thing any lash artist wants is for the client to come back a couple of days later, saying their lashes are falling out.

Tips for your client’s lashes to last as long as possible

Here are a couple of tips I have noticed that decrease this issue for me.

1. HUMIDITY

In a humidity range of 40% to 60%, the lash glue works great. Get a hydrometer to keep the humidity in your lash room/studio under control. This is a must-have tool that is also reasonably priced.

 

2. DEHUMIDIFIER

If your workplace is excessively humid, you'll need to utilize a dehumidifier to keep the humidity under control.

3. TEMPERATURE

You want to be between 72 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit! To keep your glue consistent, make sure your temperature is in the right range.

Straight Isolation Tweezer, Precision Volume 90º Tweezer, Hydro-gel Under Eye Patches, Ultra Crystal Bond, Lashes, Lash Tile and Coloured Agate Stone used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

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4. LASH GLUE

Make sure you give your glue a good shake before using it. The ingredients in your glue can separate if you leave it out for too long. To properly mixing everything, shake for around 30 to 60 seconds.

Depending on the temperature and the clients, I use different glues (some clients are sensitive to adhesive).

The adhesives I've been using throughout my lash journey are listed here.

Lash Glues For Professional Eyelash Extension used here. To shop, please click here

5. CLEAN EYELASHES

The natural lashes should be clean. For effective adhesion, natural oils and dirt must be removed. This is when a primer comes in handy.

I always make sure that my clients understand how necessary an after-care routine is and how filthy lashes will affect retention. Only use lash foam or shampoo formulated exclusively for lashes.

 

Lash Foam used in this set. To shop, please click here.

6. LASH ADHESIVE USE

Use only a small amount of adhesive. This may harm the natural lashes, but using too little adhesive will cause the lash extensions to fall out. It is, without a doubt, a delicate balance that must be achieved.

 

Hydro-gel Under Eye Patches, Ultra Crystal Bond, Lashes, Lash Wisps and Coloured Agate Stone used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

For more tips like this one be sure to subscribe to our email list, we send very informative and helpful emails every week, please click here.

 

WHAT IS LASH RETENTION AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

The longevity of eyelash extensions on the natural lash before they fall out is referred to as lash retention. Unfortunately, there is no specific length of time that a set of eyelash extensions should stay because we all have various lash growth cycles that alter with the seasons and hormones, among other things.

Ultra Crystal Bond, Lashes and Lash Wisps used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

The most important thing is that as Lash Stylists we do everything we can to help ensure that the eyelash extensions we apply last the full length of each client’s natural lash cycle.

Your entire business relies heavily on the lashes you apply lasting a long time so it’s wise to ensure you understand what things will affect your clients’ lash retention.

Now think about how many clients do you see in 2 weeks? Even at just 5 per day over 10 workdays, that’s 50 clients. If a few of them don’t return, you will lose money. New clients won’t necessarily tell you what the issue was, they will probably just never return and get lashes from someone else.

And if your client’s lashes aren’t lasting as long as they should it’s very likely that you will lose a lot of your clients.

How many of you get clients calling you, saying my lashes have all fallen off. In reality, it’s often 1-3 lashes with the natural lash attached to the lash fan. So is this a problem with retention? NO!  this is just the natural process of lash shedding. It’s important to educate clients that when they see the natural lash attached to the lash extension, it just means that their lashes are going through the natural cycle of shedding. This will prevent a lot of panicked phone calls and text messages from your clients worried that they are losing their lashes.

 

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What does Super Bonder do for lash extensions?

Are you tired of falling eyelash extensions? There's nothing more frustrating than extensions slipping and falling off. Super Bonder is a must-have for every lash artist!

Ultra Crystal Bond, Super Bonder and Coloured Agate Stone used here. To shop, please click here.

 

Lashes, Elite High Humidity Adhesive and Super Bonder used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

Volume Lashes mix curls D, CC, and C, Velour Lash Adhesive, Super Bonder used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

Lashes, Straight Isolation Tweezer, Optite Low Humidity Adhesive and Super Bonder used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

 

Lashes, Velour Adhesive, Straight Isolation Tweezer, Large Tip Boot Lash Tweezer, Incredible Retention Primer and Super Bonder used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

Our lashes go through a natural growth cycle, there are 4 phases in the growth cycle

 

1. Anagen phase (the growth phase): This is the phase where your lashes are growing. They will normally only grow to a certain length, and the process lasts between 30 and 45 days. This is the phase where can make your lashes reach their full potential.

2. Catagen phase (the transition phase): This is the shortest phase-only lasting 2-3 weeks. When one of the lashes has reached their needed lengths, they will eventually stop growing and at this point, the hair follicle begins to shrink. If an eyelash falls out during this phase, due to cluster lashes, for example, it won’t start growing back until the phase has run its course. Normally within 2-3 weeks.

3. Telogen phase (the resting phase): This is the longest phase of the life cycle, and it can last 100 days. The eyelash will eventually fall out during the telogen phase, and it normally takes 4-8 weeks before a new one starts growing. This means that there will be an empty follicle for about 4-8 weeks. However, this is no reason to panic, since lashes will eventually grow back in those areas.

 

Lashes, Colored Lashes, Hydro-gel Under Eye Patches, Breathable Tape and Lash Extension Medical Tape used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

Clients should be extensively instructed on lash aftercare. This is a really good time to develop a trusting bond with your clients since clients will feel like the lash artist is concerned with their actual well being, and is dedicating time to teaching the client for their own well being.

Or issues with lash placement: when using the lash extensions application method the lash artist is not using enough adhesive to secure the bond strong enough for the client to not experience.

I won’t explain here about retention and why it will be different for each person. Why is some people’s retention better than others?  Well, retention is controlled by the artist and the client. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

 

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Here are some questions for lash artists to ask their clients that are experiencing retention issues to identify some potential issues

1. Are you naturally oily? lids, hair, skin? ⁣⁣⁣⁣

2. How often do you wash your lashes? Everyday? Once a week? ⁣⁣⁣⁣

3. Do you sweat often? ⁣⁣⁣⁣

4. Do you wear eye makeup?⁣⁣⁣⁣

5. Does your face products have a lot of oil in them? ⁣⁣⁣⁣

6. Do you touch your lashes often?⁣⁣⁣⁣

7. Do you keep up with your fills? ⁣

8. How are you sleeping, on your side? your face? ⁣

9. ⁣Is your lash cleaner oil-free and made for lashes extensions? ⁣

There are so many more variables that can play out. ⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Your artist could use the BEST products, yes it is our job to have a controlled environment for our glue and make sure the application is on point, but retention is a two-way street.

 

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As you can see all these curls will have a different retention because the surface area the extension will adhere to the natural lash will vary

It’s important to master working with one curl and ensure that your retention is excellent before moving on to another curl. It’s ideal to make sure that you are not having clients with certain curls coming back with poor lash retention. If bad retention occurs with a certain curl, it’s important to evaluate the surface area and practice with that specific curl, until the contact between the surface area is optimal.

The curls that have the easiest and best retention tend to be the C curl , B curl and L + L and M curls . Since these curls have a larger surface area of contact between the natural lash and the lash retention, the clients tend to experience superior retention.

The curls with the least favorable lash retention tend to be the curls that are the most rounded ( curly ) the D curl DD and the C + are the curls with the least favorable retention

 

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CHECK THIS OUT

FOR CLIENTS

If you know your lashes aren’t lasting, don’t wait until your next appointment to speak up. Your lash artist is always a text away, she will more than likely be able to suggest a possible solution to solve your problem. The most important thing you can do to keep your lashes lasting as long as possible is to take great care of them.

Don’t forget about your makeup products! When I say research every single product, I mean it. Always remember your after-care routine as per advised by your lash artists.

Ultra Crystal Bond, Lashes and Lash Wisps used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

For more tips like this one be sure to subscribe to our email list, we send very informative and helpful emails every week, please click here.

 

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID

ANY FORM OF OIL

Oil is known for breaking down the chemical structure in any glue or adhesive. It will travel to your lash line and break down the adhesive holding your extensions onto your natural lashes.

Ultimately resulting in your extensions popping off sooner than you’d like.

It's important to remember that just because your product says "oil-free" on the front doesn't imply it's oil-free. A product must be free of certain oils to be able to stamp oil-free on the front of the package. As a result, it's always a good idea to double-check the ingredients.

 

GLYCERIN

Glycerin is a vegetable fat that acts the same way as any oil.

 

DIMETHICONE

Dimethicone is silicon-based, similar to vaseline, this ingredient is very slippery.

 

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LASH ARTIST MISTAKES

STORAGE

We advise storing opened bottles of the lash adhesive vault on tight in a small airtight container with an oxygen absorber to prevent moisture build-up. Make sure to put the date on it, since the adhesive is generally only good for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, or if it starts getting goopy toss it out.

Lash Adhesive Vault used here. To shop, please click here

 

There’s actually a mistake that a lot of lash artists can make, which is to store their adhesive in the fridge. The issue with this is that condensation builds up on the inside of the bottle from the sudden temperature fluctuations which actually ends up breaking down the adhesive much faster.

It is actually acceptable to store UNOPENED bottles of adhesive in the fridge as it will stay there at a consistent temperature. We advise storing the lash adhesive in the fridge for no longer than 3 months, in order to ensure optimum freshness of the adhesive.

If you are ordering an adhesive in the summer or live in a very hot climate, make sure that when you order the adhesive it doesn’t sit in the heat for a long time. USPS can be notoriously unreliable, therefore please make sure to upgrade to priority or FEDEX shipping.

Extreme heat can greatly affect the efficiency of the adhesive. A pro tip is to actually stock up on adhesives in the springtime. This way you don’t have to worry about the adhesive sitting in the heat in the mailbox for hours.

 

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TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

Your room temperature and humidity need to become your friend. I know lash artists, that leave the window open in hot climates, and wonder why their adhesives are not cooperating. Since the adhesive cures with moisture, the humidity in the air plays a big part in how well the adhesive will adhere to the lashes.

I would strongly recommend buying a hygrometer which reads the humidity in the room. If the humidity is too high in the lash room, the adhesive will be cured too quickly, and the lash extensive will not have time to bond to the natural lash.

It is strongly recommended to store a couple of different adhesives on hand with various curing times and humidities, in case you get stuck on the day, and need another adhesive.

If you have excessive humidity, the cyanoacrylate in your adhesive will be working overtime, what this ultimately meant that your lash adhesive will cure and dry much faster than usual. 

Straight Isolation Tweezer, Precision Volume 90 Degree Tweezer, Hydro-gel Under Eye Patches, Ultra Crystal Bond, Promade Fans used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

KEEP IN MIND:

• Dispensed glue will dry too fast: Normally, a drop of dispensed glue can stay fresh for about 20 to 30 minutes. However, if your humidity is above 60 %, your adhesive drop will start curing much faster and the glue drop will need to be changed every 10-15 minutes.
• High humidity can cause several issues like shock polymerization, poor attachment due to adhesive that is already partially cured.

 

HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

Use a dehumidifier, fan, or air conditioner: 

In order to achieve ideal humidity, we recommend having an AC or a fan. If this is not sufficient, then it would be wise to invest in a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier can remove excess moisture from the air.

 

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LASH ARTIST SPEED

Your adhesive begins curing the moment you pull the extension out of the glue drop.  If you’re working with an adhesive that dries too fast, the lashes may still get placed on the client’s natural lashes,  but they will quickly start falling off as you brush them.

You may even start losing clients, and not understand why they are not coming back. The common reason is that they tried getting lash extensions, and lost them all within the same week.

Straight Isolation Tweezer, Precision Volume 90 Degree Tweezer, Hydro-gel Under Eye Patches, Ultra Crystal Bond and 6D Pre-made Volume Fans 0.07 used in this set. To shop, please click here.

 

HOW TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE?

Ensure that you pick an adhesive that matches your actual speed (rather than your desired one). If you’re a new lash artist, it’s safer to stick to an adhesive that is  3-4 seconds. This DOES NOT make you a failure.

It is important to start slow as you perfect your technique. Otherwise, you will be working backward, having to redo sets over and over again, or lose clients in the process, since their lashes are popping off.

The rule of thumb, it's time to switch adhesives, once you find yourself holding the lash extension to the natural lash for a couple of seconds. This generally means that your speed has improved and you can start using adhesives that are 0.5 -1 second, or 1-2 seconds.

 

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These tips are just a glimpse of so many things that you need to learn on how to improve your client's retention. 

I have compiled all the helpful tips will our newest FREE Lash Retention Checklist it’s available for sale to have as a download for a quick reference.

To learn more about the Lash Retention Checklist, please click here.

 

100% GUARANTEE YOU'LL LOVE THIS CHECKLIST!

 

Do you find this blog post helpful? Have you learned something? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Don’t forget to share this blog with your lash friend.

 

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Anyone needing lash support or lash tips and tricks? Thousandlashes Lash Artist Facebook Support Group will always be open for the kind of support that you will be needing on this lash journey. 

 

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We used these techniques to create a beautiful set of wispy lashes. To get your FREE Training Ebook, please click here.

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RELATED POSTS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND HELPFUL TO UPSCALE YOUR LASH BUSINESS:

Eyelash Extension Inventory Check List:  Detailed video on how to keep track on your lash inventory and what eyelash extension supplies you need to stock up!

A Quick Guide To Lash Mapping: In this blog, you will learn why lash mapping is important and how to choose a correct lash style for your client.

Eyelash Extension Techniques For Lash Artist: Learn what are the common problems that can affect your lash retention and techniques that will help you fix them.