What are you wearing for New Years?

Here are some last minute tips as you get dressed for your New Year's party!

Nude Lips & Colored Strips

Every woman should have a nude or bare lip color or lipgloss handy. If not, you better get you one. Then take control of your fun side with a pair of colored strip lashes!

Eyeshadow Tips 101

Eyeshadows are fun & a great way to showcase your eyes.

Individual Flare Eyelashes vs. Semi Permanent Lashes

The big debate in the "eyelash community" is one we obsessed beauty queens can't ignore. What's the difference between flares and semi perms and which one is more damaging to your natural eyelashes? 

Well let's start by taking a look at the semi perm lashes. Semi perms, also known as "grafted" lashes, are a new beauty add-on that originated in Korea, and are rapidly being identified all across the globe. They are synthetic single hairs carefully placed 1mm from the root of your natural eyelashes and stroked on using lash adhesive. During this 1-2 hour procedure, your eyes are closed and bottom/lower lashes are then taped down using soft eye pads to keep glue from entering your eyes and sticking to your lower lashes. 

In some cases, lash tint or surgical tape is used, but these are very uncomfortable for the client. A lot of clients fall asleep during this non-invasive procedure and awake totally transformed. All lash bars and lash studios use different types of lashes. Example; mink, silk or synthetic single lashes can be used. Sizes are different ranging from 5mm-.25mm C,D & Y lashes. Cost vary depending on the type of eyelashes the client chooses to use. At LML we offer one synthetic type for a low cost of $150. Most lash bars and studios charge any where from $200-$400 for a Semi Perm application.

Semi Permanent lashes typically last 2-4 weeks depending on how you care for them. Remember this is a SEMI-PERMANENT PROCEDURE. Any time you are "adding on" to anything natural the life of it is never forever. Don't be duped by those lash boutiques promising permanent lashes that 2-4 months. The life cycle for semi perm lashes are 25-28 days. As yours grow and fall out, so does the semi perm lashes. Your lifestyle and work you do also depends on the life of your new lash set. A lady that works around a lot of heat and sweats, eyelashes may not last as long as a lady who works at a desk job. They do not last for months. This is false advertising.

As far as damage goes, semi perms are less likely to damage your natural lashes. They can, but in most cases they fall off when your natural lashes grow and fall off causing no damage at all. The downside to semi permanent lashes is the look for each client is different. For a client who has little to no lashes, the false lashes can only be applied to those few lashes. In some cases, leaving your lashes looking spaced out and thin. Even if you choose a more dense and darker lash, you will not achieve that full look due to having less natural eyelashes. On the other hand, a client who has a lot of natural lashes, the false eyelashes will instantly give a fuller, darker and more desirable look. Also, when the glue gets old it will make a white residue, giving the appearance of "white" or "grey" colored lashes at the point of contact made between the natural lash and the false lash.

Example Image of Semi Permanent Lashes

Now, for the individual flare lashes, also known as "clusters". This form of false eyelashes are very popular and inexpensive. Flares are applied at your lash line underneath your eyelid. This method gives a more natural and professional look. Some (inexperienced/non professionals) will apply them on top of your lash line. This is a huge NO, NO at LML. This method makes your eyes look clumpy and super fake. We even apply our strip lashes underrneath so you can't see the line from the strip. When you apply flares or strips a top your lid, you leave no thoughts to the imagination. YOU CAN SEE THE BASE OF THE FALSIES and that looks very unattractive! 

No need to use mascara with either Semi Perms or Individual flares. I do however suggest (If you wear eyeshadow) to get a shadow pencil, gel or colored liner. Powder drops a top your lashes and the build looks nasty. Using water on either Semi Perm application or Flare application can and will loosen the lash adhesive/glue and cause them to fall/lift earlier than expected. Wash your face and use make up removal carefully as to not over saturate and ruin your lash set.

You can have a flare application professionally applied at LML for the cost of $20/$25 depending on density. Some other places over charge for this quick beauty fix, robbing you of $35-$45 bucks. Flares are not as  extensive as semi perms. You don't need eye pads or tape, although this can be used to help keep top lid of eye open. It generally takes 20 minutes to complete a flare application and a completed set dries in under 30 minutes. (Using a fan or even a hair dryer on the cool setting, set will dry faster.)

Individual flares life cycle is anywhere between 8-14 days. Some clients at LML even reported their eyelashes lasting a month! Although it's pleasing to know our work lasts quite a bit, we recommend removing the flares after 2 weeks. Any time longer can cause an eye infection like conjunctivitis (pink eye), irritation, redness and soreness. Individual flares can be removed at LML using a eyelash adhesive remover or you can purchase your own at any Walmart or Walgreens store.

Two types of glue can be used for flare lashes; actual lash adhesive (we prefer Ardell here at LML) or hair glue! Yes, hair glue can be used to attach falsies to your natural lashes. I actually recommend hair glue over lash adhesive, especially for my newbies who walk into LML with no clue as to what eyelashes consist of. Lash adhesive is very strong and the fumes can cause your eyes to water. (Even if you are a watery eye client already, the fumes from the lash adhesive can make you cry rivers.) Your eyes are open for this procedure so make sure your lash technician knows exactly what he/she is doing. It takes skill and a steady hand to drop not one false eyelash into an eye. If you do accidentally drop an eyelash into an eye, get it out immediately, rinse with water and wait a while before continuing the application. This can cause the eye to be irritated and water non-stop. You may even have to reschedule, allowing the eye to rest and re-prepare itself for a new set of eyelashes.

Using hair glue has it's pros and cons. The pros are it stays soft and flexible. Unlike lash adhesive which dries hard and can be uncomfortable to some eyelash clients. Hair glue keeps the falsies in uniform with each other no matter how long you've had them on. As opposed to lash adhesive which cracks and leaves your falsies looking spacey and uneven after about the 4th or 5th day of wear. Hair glue also causes LESS to NO DAMAGE to your natural eyelashes. Unlike lash adhesive, which pulls your eyelashes out causing them to look rigid, scattered out and bald. And lastly, hair glued lashes will fall off like your natural lashes; or even pull off like a strip. Lash adhesive you have to pull and tug while using lash adhesive removal. And this of course, will in turn pull your natural lashes off. 

Which ever lash application you decide to go with, consider the pros and cons with both. All things that are really expensive isn't necessarily better. And those things that are looked at as cheap aren't always "cheap".... One lash set isn't better than the other. It's the individual who gives their own opinion as to what application is great to go with. At LML we have one type of client, HAPPY!

Example Image of Indivdual Flares "Clusters"

*When choosing a lash tech professional you want to match yourself with someone who's knowledgeable, affordable (according to your budget) and keeps a clean & relaxing environment. Don't low ball yourself by getting what I call a "kitchen tech". You know the ones who buy a pack of lashes and applies them right in her kitchen after she watched a DIY lash vid on Youtube. Shop around, I mean these are your only set of eyes. Make sure you pick someone you can trust with your eyes and who take you being beautiful serious.*

Please email me or reply to this post with comments, questions or concerns. Your opinion or expertise can help someone! XOXO LML!