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LET’S TALK LASH RETENTION!

Ever wondered why you are having trouble with your retention? Well, there are many reasons retention can be affected, so I will break it down. This is a long and wild ride so make a cup of tea and get ready!

 

The smart stuff

It all starts with the state of the natural eyelashes. The lash adhesive works best when the natural lashes are at a PH level of 7, which is neutral. If the natural lashes are too far on either side of the scale it can cause shorter polymerized chains making the bond weaker. This is why it is super important to come to your appointment with lashes that are as clean as possible, even after a thorough clean from your lash artist, the residue of makeup, skincare, or lash glue can remain.

 

Cyanoacrylate is the main ingredient in all eyelash adhesives, this starts as a liquid and hardens when exposed to moisture in the air. This is why it is important not to use sunbeds or saunas for 48 hours after your lash appointment, the excess heat from sunbeds and saunas damages the bonds.

 

Medication and Medical Conditions

You may be wondering why medication can cause issues, well, medications can cause an oilier surface of the natural lashes, and some can also cause them to thin, weaken, and even fall out. You should always be honest about medical history, as a lash artist there will never be any judgment from me, and knowing can help point out the cause of retention issues.

 

A few to look out for are uncontrolled diabetes, Crohns, Colitis, Celiac disease, and Arthritis which can cause the lashes to weaken. Even courses of antibiotics can cause inconsistencies in retention, they can remain in your system for up to 30 days.

 

Hormones (ugh!) and Lifestyle

Moving on to hormones, they can play a massive part in inconsistent or poor retention. This is why pregnant women can experience issues, even after pregnancy or breastfeeding, hormones can still be all over the place. The contraceptive pill and the menstrual cycle can also cause issues, due to the raised levels of Estrogen.

Usually, conditions such as underactive thyroids or hormone imbalances and medications such as HRT can affect retention the most.

 

Diet, exercise, and supplements can cause issues, for example, the keto diet being high in fats can cause excess levels of sebum, as can vitamins A and C.

 

Stress (no thanks!), Sleep (yes please) and Cleanliness (duhh)

Stress can also play a huge factor in retention so if you have had a rise in stress levels, this can be a reason for change in retention.

 

Sleep, yes, you heard that right, even your sleep can cause retention issues. This is because if you are sleeping on your eyelash extensions, they can rub on the pillow, causing friction, resulting in the extension, and natural lash being forced out.

This is one of the most common reasons for retention issues, even if you think you fall asleep on your back and don’t move, the chances are, in your sleep you do! The best advice for this is to either sleep on your back, or if you're anything like me and move all over the place, purchase a lash extensions sleep mas. They are 3D so they don’t touch or rub your extensions.

 

Now it would be remiss of me as a lash artist if didn’t mention keeping your lashes clean! The main function of natural lashes is to protect the eyes, they are the first line of defense against debris and irritants. When you put eyelash extensions on top of natural lashes, it acts as an umbrella.

They can catch dust and debris and also trap oils and makeup in-between; these can cause retention issues of their own. Cleansing your lashes daily with a for-purpose lash cleanser will ensure your lashes stay clean and healthy which will improve retention by miles!

 

The final say

As you can gather, there are many players in the retention game, this is why sometimes as lash artists we want to pull out our hair and get a new job!

If you are experiencing retention issues the first step is to reach out to your lash artist and have an honest and open conversation about your health, lifestyle, and aftercare. This can help us to narrow it down to where the issues lie. Sometimes this can be a process, and I’m sure after reading this you will remember to be kind to your lash artist and work together to get to the bottom of any issues.