Eyelash extensions - guilt, worth it? Help me justify/decide

[Anonymous]

I had extensions done nearly every month for about five years. I got the minimal, "natural" extensions and always loved them. Like you, OP, mascara and eye makeup in general always smudges and irritates my eyes, probably due to their shape. Anyway, recently I got tired of going every 4-5 weeks and decided to go back to natural. I had almost very few natural lashes left and had to get Latisse (ugh...) to help grow them back (I'm in my late 40s, fluffy eyelashes are a thing of the past).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had extensions done nearly every month for about five years. I got the minimal, "natural" extensions and always loved them. Like you, OP, mascara and eye makeup in general always smudges and irritates my eyes, probably due to their shape. Anyway, recently I got tired of going every 4-5 weeks and decided to go back to natural. I had almost very few natural lashes left and had to get Latisse (ugh...) to help grow them back (I'm in my late 40s, fluffy eyelashes are a thing of the past).

OP here. Thank you for sharing your honest experience. I am now turned off of getting extensions again, LOL! I REALLY don't want to mess up my natural lashes - which I have no complaints for!

I am going to try the tubing mascara, which is a cheap experiment under $5, to see if I like that for more regular wear.

[Anonymous]

NP. I vote YES for extensions! I've been getting mine done every 3 weeks for 4 years, with a 6-month break during covid. That break enabled me to see the "damage"...and to realize that they'd very easily grow back! It was a huge relief to me. They were very short, because they were new growth. And they grew back in over those 6 months. So I'm no longer scared off by the tales of damage.

I've also done a tint and lift. The tint only lasts about a week, so I still had to apply mascara most of the time, and the lift is an improvement over natural but is nowhere near the impact you get from lush, longer extensions. (And I only get classics, not volume or hybrids, so no spiders here.) And it cost about the same as extensions ($110 every month for lift vs $75 every 3 weeks for extensions).

I've also tried tube mascaras -- they're great, but I want to look good waking up. During covid, I also bought multiple types of magnetic lashes, the kind that click together, the kind with magnetic eyeliner, etc. They were all a hassle and looked unnatural.

It makes such a huge difference in my appearance, it's worth it to me. And I like my technician, so I look forward to our chats.

[Anonymous]

I use Revitalash and my lashes are super long and thick now. Like you, mine were always pretty good, but the Revitalash gives them an extra boost they can almost look a bit "much" with anything other than a thin mascara to coat the (blonde) tips (the rest of my lashes are black but the tips are blonde). I'd definitely try that, can't hurt! I have super sensitive light eyes that tear up with water, but this stuff doesn't bother them.

[Anonymous]

I had extensions for three years before covid, starting when my middle child was just a few months old. IMO it’s the best beauty thing for a busy mom. Refills only take an hour once every three weeks, and once I was more comfortable with my technician, I’d typically show up and fall asleep within 5 minutes! It was the best nap ever. And I loved that the lashes made me look just a bit done up without doing ANYTHING on a daily basis. I basically only wore tinted lip balm and my lash extensions, and my face looked put together. Huge time saver in the morning.

I had them removed at the start of covid, and yeah, my lashes looked short and stubby for about two months. But that’s normal, and they grow back.

For the last year I’ve been getting lash lifts every 8 weeks - far less maintenance and I like that they don’t look bad if you miss an appointment (lash extensions do require upkeep). But lash lifts don’t look quite as good as extensions and I think are far more damaging to lashes (since it uses a perm solution). Eyelash extensions, when done right, are not really damaging at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am quite a minimalist. Just shy of 33, with 3 kids under 5, I WFH, due to Covid & kids I don't do much socializing/events.
The one thing I've splurged on once a year since the pandemic is a professional family photo shoot, and since I have sensitive eyes I decided to get eyelash extensions - they were great!
I have gotten them about 3 or 4 times, all strategically timed before an event/photo shoot. The photo shoots were a great way not only to celebrate/record our growing family, but for me to put some effort into looking good! (Like in a maternity shoot and postpartum for a newborn shoot.)
Anyway. I just put on some under eye concealer and clear mascara as I prepare for a video meeting, and once again my eyes are feeling irritated/red/tearing... This happens any time I put on any eye makeup, even just a little mascara (I've tried every kind and settled on clear because at least I don't get raccoon eyes right away!) or even a little under eye concealer.
But when I've had eyelash extensions, they don't irritate my eyes at all, and I FEEL so much more gorgeous, no need for concealer or anything else except maybe some bronzer/highlighter on my cheek bones.

So... Should I just bite the bullet and start getting regular eyelash extensions with a fill every 3 weeks? I don't get the huge volume ones - hybrid instead - and it seems only women notice, my DH does not unless I hint

Cons: cost ($60-120 per set/fill), time (1.5-3 hours away each time), and being seen as over the top. I honestly feel self conscious about that because I've read here about how ridiculous it is that regular moms in DMV get these!

My concealer/mascaras need to be replaced, they're getting old, sp trying to decide if I should buy regular makeup again which annoys me, or just go with extensions...
Thanks for any thoughts!!

F*** those people. Do what you like.

[Anonymous]

How do you wash your face with these? Do they fall out when you go over your eyes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you wash your face with these? Do they fall out when you go over your eyes?

You keep them dry for 48 hours and then just wash as usual, though oil free products are recommended

[Anonymous]

How permanent do these lash losses tend to be? They look great on me. The main reason I am not doing is because of long-term effects. Same with Latisse- it works (well, I use Reviltash) but I am afraid.

OP, it sounds like you want to do it. F* what other people think!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thought I'd update. I tried the $5 tube mascara. NOPE! I have just come to terms with the fact that mascara is just not for me.
Also, I've decided to not get eyelash extensions again. It's really not worth it or necessary. It was a great pick-me-up at 3 months postpartum at our family photoshoot though!

Here's what I'm doing instead: I'm kind of embracing my inner crunchy mama.
I started using castor oil at night on my brows & eyelashes, in the hopes that that just nourishes my natural hairs and I won't feel the desire so much for mascara or eyelash extensions.

I also got my eyebrows and hair dyed with henna (all natural, I had to wash it out at home and I LOVE it! The extra shine and color in my hair and brows give me that little extra oomph since I don't wear other makeup.

Oh, and I got a pretty cherry red lip tint by Burt's Bees that seems to flatter my whole look.

Thanks for all your feedback!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a lash lift instead!

Whats nice about them is they last 2-3 months. And with a tint, you dont need mascara. Only 120$ each visit which is about an hour. The only downside is if you need on your stomach, they may curl weird.

Yep, love my lash lifts and can’t believe what a noticeable difference it makes.

[Anonymous]

Can someone post a pic of “natural” looking ones? They always look so fake and bad in person but maybe I just can’t tell the more subdued ones…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post a pic of “natural” looking ones? They always look so fake and bad in person but maybe I just can’t tell the more subdued ones…

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu12nZzgiX9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a lash lift instead!

Whats nice about them is they last 2-3 months. And with a tint, you dont need mascara. Only 120$ each visit which is about an hour. The only downside is if you need on your stomach, they may curl weird.

Where do you go for lash lift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a lash lift instead!

Whats nice about them is they last 2-3 months. And with a tint, you dont need mascara. Only 120$ each visit which is about an hour. The only downside is if you need on your stomach, they may curl weird.

Yep, love my lash lifts and can’t believe what a noticeable difference it makes.

Where do you go?