My First Lash Experience

It's no secret that I've been lash (extension) obsessed for about a decade now. It started shortly after I met my husband, who was still my boyfriend at the time. Now I don't know about you but like most people in a new relationship, I wanted to do everything I could to enhance my look - I wanted to make sure I looked hot. I'd never let him see me without makeup. I always had my hair straightened or curled. Always dressed up. What else could I do to add to it? Very few people that I knew at the time, were getting their lashes done so I thought I'd give it a try, you know, just to be able to say I was one of the few who had it.

There was only one studio that I knew of that was offering lash extension services. I looked at every set type on their service menu over and over. Most nowadays have a standard set list - classic, hybrid, volume, mega volume. Theirs had very different, unique names. After a few weeks of basically studying the menu and researching what little info was out there on lash extensions, I went ahead and booked the cheapest set which would now typically be known as a classic set. Two reasons: 1) Most of the info available at the time suggested that volume lashes were too heavy and would damage your lashes. 2) I was 21 years old and a hundred something (with no aftercare kit, I might add) for some hairs that they glue on your eye seemed a bit steep for my young, inexperienced ass. I didn't know if what I was choosing was appropriate for me because this salon counted their lashes. 60 lashes per eye, it said. Like what is that even supposed to look like? Do they literally count each lash as they apply them? I had so much anxiety leading up to the appointment. What were they going to do? Would it hurt? Extra for mink lashes? Were they literally from a mink?

I arrived at the studio and was greeted by Aubrey, a pretty blonde lady. She'd be doing my lashes that day. I was brought to a row of 3 recliners, 2 of which were already occupied. Queue anxiety. I was so close to the other ladies, we could have probably held hands the entire time. She got me to pull the lever on the recliner. Having the gel pads applied was the weirdest, most difficult thing. How could I NOT blink while she was trying to get close to my eyeballs? Why is it tickling? My eyelashes are moving. What is she doing up there? Why is it so bright? Was my forehead oily? Does she think it's oily? What did I eat today? I'm tired. I wonder if I should've booked the set with more lashes.

Don't fall asleep! What are we doing later? Must. Stay. Awake. And then.....I was out. Honestly even almost a decade later, I'm still usually out. I've accepted the fact that I just always feel very relaxed when I get my lashes done. I snapped back into reality when I felt her squeezing a blow fan at me. Thank god for electric portable fans now because I felt for her at the time. I could only imagine how sore her hand must've been after attempting to dry my lashes. I opened my eyes and could immediately see the lash extensions almost acting like an umbrella over my eyeballs. I didn't know how to feel. I looked different and it took a few days for me to get used to how I looked. Needless to say, having my new lash extensions was also an adjustment to things I normally did. I couldn't rub my eyes. I felt myself constantly grazing over them with my fingers. I had to make adjustments to how I would normally wash my face.

So many things have changed from then to now - both in everything lash extensions and in my own life, I might add but one thing is for sure, lash extensions are here to stay. They're just as normal and common as someone getting their haircut or having a facial and I'm so happy to be able to help introduce this service to those who might feel the first time jitters just like I did.