REVIEW: Eyelash extensions

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't shy away from "fake" additions to beauty. I'm not saying I'm a proponent for the big hair, big makeup, big false lashes, fake tan, sky high heels etc. ALL the time, or all at the same time for that matter, but I think an addition or accessory here and there is fine so long as it's situationally appropriate. I wouldn't wear a set of heavy fake lashes to sunday brunch for example; I think it's a matter of balance, moderation and generally just the mood I'm in.

That being said, I've been excited to try eyelash extensions for a while, so when a deal came up on Groupon I thought, WHY NOT?

When I first had them done back in Canada I decided to go all out; Big, thick and dramatic. I went to a place called Ooh La Lash in Toronto and, while they LOOKED good, and the girl did a phenomenal job, they were obviously fake and people constantly asked if I was wearing falsies. I also found it difficult to not rub my eyes too vigorously if they itched (it can rub the extensions out basically) and make up removal was a HASSLE. My aesthetician recommended I use soap and water to get any make-up off, and waterproof mascara was out of the question, so anytime I put on eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara, I ended up having to delicately rub around my eyelashes to get any residual makeup and mascara off. Time consuming, and never all that effective, so I swore they weren't for me.

Well, I lied. Bored with my everyday long, but not very thick lashes, I decided to give extensions another go at Caprice Salon in North London, near Belsize park (again, through the aid of a good deal on Groupon). The salon was small, clean and basic; the only downside was there was only one girl working that morning, so while she was doing my lashes she was also answering the phone and dealing with walk ins. I opted for a more natural look this time, not only was it an extra cost to get more dramatic ones, but I felt like I'd be setting myself up for disappointment if I did the same thing the second time around.

Application takes about an hour, hour and twenty minutes, but it can be longer the thicker/longer you want you false lashes to be. However, it's a pretty relaxing hour and a bit; you basically just sit in chair with your eyes closed the entire time - sleeping is almost inevitable. The lashes themselves can last up to one month, depending on how rough you are with them and most salons offer 'fill-in' rates where you touch up your existing extensions, as opposed to adding a whole new set. The girl used two lengths on my eyes, shorter towards the inside and then lengthening out at the edges, and I'm really happy with the end result. No-one has explicitly called me out on having fake lashes, but I think they're nice and make me look better even without makeup. I don't find them as heavy/noticable as I did when I got thicker more dramatic ones applied, and it's much easier for me to work around the lashes themselves when taking make-up off, meaning less extensions fall out daily from general wear and tear. I've also refrained from using mascara, so that might be helping. As an added bonus, they haven't irritated my eyes as much as the more dramatic application did previously. I feel them less, and if they DO itch, it's just a matter of some gentle rubbing.

Here's a before and after (apologies for my lack of make up in BOTH sets of photos and my atrocious eyebrows):

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Dare I say, if I got them again I might like them a touch thicker as opposed to longer, but I may just be pushing my luck!

More beauty reviews to come!