BellaSugar

What to Do and What Not to Do With Eyelash Extensions

Jaime Richards — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:35:37 PDT

The great thing about eyelash extensions is that when you wake up in the morning, you're basically good to go. In fact, many women who have them often find that thanks to the customized shape and darkened color of the lashes, they can skip their eyeliner and mascara altogether. While eyelash extensions should last for about four to six weeks, there are a few things you can do to keep them in tip-top shape along the way. Find out the major dos and don'ts of lash extension care when you read more.

7 Things You Didn't Know About Eyelash Extensions

Jaime Richards — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:30:59 PDT

Many people who get eyelash extensions find that, thanks to the volumizing, thickening benefits of the service, they can skip mascara and eyeliner altogether. Also, if you don't like waiting around for several weeks to see the results of a lash-growing solution to do its magic, lash extensions provide immediate gratification. And while pricey, living without smudged eye makeup for several weeks is a major bonus. Want to know more? Co-owners Matana LePlae and Liv Contreras of Lashfully, a San Francisco-based eyelash-extension lounge, have a few interesting facts to share about the eye- and beauty-enhancing service. Just keep reading.

How to Apply False Eyelashes For Halloween

BellaTV — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:00 PDT

If you're looking for a last minute Halloween costume, one quick way to spice up your look easily is to add fake eyelashes. We've picked a variety of drugstore options: NYX, Fright Night, Fantasy Makers, and Ardell Cleopatra lashes. Watch our video to find out how to put on fake eyelashes for Halloween or year-round!

How Much Would You Pay For Longer Lashes?

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:04 PST

The desire to draw attention to the eyelashes has been going strong since around 4000 BC, when ancient Egyptians used kohl to darken lashes and eye areas. Fast-forward thousands of years later, and the mascara industry brings in over an astonishing one billion dollars a year. That's not even including other eyelash-enhancing products such as extensions, false eyelashes, and now Latisse, an eyelash-growth drug approved by the FDA last December. Take a look at my chart below to compare products available on the market now. How much would you pay for long and full lashes?

PRODUCT	PROS	CONS
Mascara	Easy to find and come in a wide variety of styles from vibrating, scented, colored, thickening, and lengthening. Cheap - ranging in price from $5 to $10 at the drugstore. Assuming you keep your mascara around three months, it's mere pennies per use.	Can run and smudge, doesn't always look natural, and very temporary.
False Eyelashes	Very accessible, easy to apply (see my attempt here), and relatively cheap, ranging in price from inexpensive like E.L.F. False Eyelashes ($1 to $3) to moderate/slightly expensive such as Shu Uemura ($16 for accent lashes to $95 for fantasy lashes). Also, they're just plain fun - bedazzled lashes, anyone?	Can fall off easily, don't last very long, can't always be reused, and can look, well, fake!
Eyelash Extensions	Natural looking, long lasting (around two to three months), and doesn't take very long to apply by a spa professional (around 80 minutes or so). Check out my experience with eyelash extensions here.	Expensive, averaging around $200 to $600.
Latisse	Effective, easy to apply - similar to putting on eyeliner, treats hypotrichosis (sparse eyelashes), long-lasting (several weeks to months), and looks very natural because it's your own hair growing out.	Available by prescription only, expensive ($120 for 30-day supply), needs to be applied daily, and side effects can include skin darkening, irritation, dryness, and redness of the eyelids.

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Would You Get Eyelash Extensions?

BellaSugar — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:08:53 PDT

Last week I met a high-powered executive who told me that she can’t be bothered with creams, potions, and all the hype of makeup. She claims that her only indulgence is a weekly deep-conditioning treatment and that her total primping time is 15 minutes (shower included).

I almost believed her until she took off her sunnies and revealed a set of shiny, long lashes. I asked her if they were extensions, and she said, "Yes, $300 and two hours will get you this low-maintenance look." We both laughed, but clearly she was embarrassed.

I see nothing wrong with getting eyelash extensions - especially not after my experience with them. They last long, they look beautiful, and you never ever have to worry about applying or taking of your mascara. If you can afford it, I say why not? What's your take on eyelash extensions?

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Beauty Blooper: A Brash Lash Decision

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:48 PST

A reader shared this beauty blooper with me, and I just had to pass it along. So in case you're thinking of getting eyelash extensions, read this first!

My now-husband and I decided to elope. I still wanted to get all gussied up for the event, so I decided to treat myself to eyelash extensions. I was excited about them because I thought they would look really natural and fabulous in all of our wedding and honeymoon photographs. I took my time and did extensive research on spas and salons, and decided on a new salon in my area that offered the treatment.

What happened was a complete disaster! I ended up with lashes that were all the same length. I call them doll lashes since they happened to also be ridiculously long. In a feeble attempt to improve the look of my lashes, I cut them with manicure scissors. It helped a little bit (or so I thought), but when I took an objective look at them in the mirror the next day, I realized they were still too long, and now they were also uneven.

I did the unthinkable and began to pry them off with tweezers. When that didn't work, I tried using an oil to remove the glue, but the salon had used so much adhesive that I wound up pulling out many of my own lashes as well. The burning and the pain was intense but once I started I couldn't dare stop! For the next two months, I had to live with sparse eyelashes until they began to regrow. Why did I allow this to happen right before my wedding?

Lesson learned: Ask to see photos of a salon or spa's work before you have a semi-permanent treatment done. If it doesn't go well, have your eyelash extensions removed by a professional. Furthermore, if you are ever feeling pain from a beauty treatment, please seek out immediate care from a physician or an expert.

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Product Review: Xtreme Lashes Eyelash Extensions

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:59:48 PDT

If you think false eyelashes are glamorous, wait until you see eyelash extensions. Just as their name implies, they're a lot like hair extensions-but for the eyes, natch. At first, I thought the concept was a little goofy, and that mascara was doing a perfectly good job of making me look doe-eyed and lovely. But then I was offered the chance to try a set for free, and, well, now I feel naked without them. For a step-by-step account of the in-spa procedure,

I headed to The Lashe Spot in Chicago, where estheticians use semi-permanent Xtreme Lashes brand. While I reclined in a comfy spa chair, Ignacia, my esthetician, started by applying an anti-wrinkle pad to isolate my bottom eyelashes. From there, I had to keep my eyes closed, but Ignacia walked me through the process. She swabbed each eyelash with a bonding agent, then used tweezers to affix the extensions individually. As you can imagine, this process takes time. A lot of time. But about 90 minutes later, I could barely believe my eyes.

My lashes were full, thick, and long-and best of all, they looked completely natural, too. Over the next few weeks, strangers commented on what beautiful eyelashes I had (when does that happen?!) and I never got accustomed to waking up and looking bright-eyed. My lovely look lasted about two months (since the extensions are attached to single eyelashes, they fall out when the eyelashes do).

The only thing holding me back from getting extensions again (and again and again) is the price. The Lashe Spot charges $350 for first-time clients, then $100/hour for refills; prices vary from $200 to $600 in spas across the US. So while the end result is genuinely amazing, it's expensive. But for a big occasion such as a wedding, it's worth the splurge.

The 411 on Eyelash Extensions

FabSugar — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:08:43 PDT

Eyelash extensions are all the rage. Everyone in Hollywood is getting them, and NYC's most fabulous socialites swear by them. They take the fuss out of applying false eyelash with messy glue, and they save tons of time getting ready if you're a fabulous gal with a busy schedule. With so many brands advertised on the market now, here's some helpful information to read up on before you invest in a pair of your own.

Eyelash extensions are applied to your natural eyelashes with a bonding agent, such as an adhesive or permanent glue. Having a full set applied takes about two hours. They are safe to wear with contact lenses; you can sleep, swim, and spa in them; and they're not so long that you'll be batting into your sunglasses every time you blink. You don't have to wear mascara with them, and they last for about two months. Also, the glue doesn't touch your skin, so you won't have any weird remnants when you're finished. Eyelash extensions come in a myriad of colors and lengths. To learn about the different types of extensions,

Extensions can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 depending on whether they are made from synthetic or human hair. If you don't want to pay this kind of a price, you can always get semi-permanent lashes applied for about $50 and they last up to 10 days.

Synthetic Eyelashes lengthen and thicken your lashes using single strands of synthetic fibers that are shaped to look like real eyelashes. Synthetic lashes are good because they are less susceptible to oxidation and they won't take to dye if you are getting your hair or eyebrows colored. Xtreme Lashes come highly recommended.

Human Hair Eyelashes are a little bit more expensive, but lots of beauticians believe that there is nothing better than the real thing. They won't frizz, and they can sustain heat and wear and tear a little bit better. A great brand to try are Lavish Lashes, like those offered at La Petite Day Spa's in Los Angeles. Ultimately, you aren't going to be wearing these lashes forever, so the choice is yours.

Just How Bad Are Extensions For Your Hair?

Allure — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:37:00 PDT

We're excited to present this hair-raising story from Allure:

This week a hair loss expert at the London Centre of Trichology came out and said that in the last two years, he's seen a 15 percent increase in women seeking treatment after damaging their hair with glue extensions - which he now believes should be straight-up banned before they scalp more women. The trichologist told the BBC that the extension-related hair loss is traction alopecia, which is a condition caused when too much tension is regularly placed on the hair roots, pulling out the hairs, and damaging the follicles permanently. Yikes! We asked New York City dermatologist Francesca Fusco, who specializes in hair loss, if hair extensions are going to give us hair reductions in the long run. See her advice when you keep reading.

How to Speak Up During a Beauty Treatment

Allure — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:39:00 PDT

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Last week, I found myself in an uncomfortable situation while getting eyelash extensions. It wasn't the pads and glue stuck to my face, sealing my eyes shut; it was the complimentary leg rub that almost had me squirming off the table.

For someone with extremely ticklish knees, the rubdown was more grueling than soothing. Having endured a few unpleasant beauty treatments in my time at Allure, I always try to remember beauty news editor Heather Muir's advice: "If you're uncomfortable, speak up!" But sometimes on that massage table it's a little hard to express your discomfort without feeling rude or awkward. We asked experts from Bliss and Red Door Spa how to avoid suffering in silence. To see their advice, just keep reading.