How to tackle retention issues with eyelash extensions

Retention is one of the most important and frustrating issues you will come across especially as a beginner lash technician. There are many causes of poor lash retention, whether this is caused by your technique, the products your working with, your environment or client aftercare, there are many questions that you need to ask yourself to help determine the issue.

Are you using an adhesive with a drying time suited to your speed of work? If you are using one that is drying too quickly, there won’t be enough time for a strong adhesive bond to be created between the eyelash extension and the natural eyelash so will therefore fall out more easily. It would be a good idea to switch to an adhesive with a slower drying time and see if that suits you better.

Are you storing your adhesive correctly? It’s so important to store your product as per the manufacturer’s guidance to make sure it is working to the best of its ability. Two purchases I recommend are; a vacuum sealed container (https://lashbase.co.uk/products/vacuum-sealed-container-1) to prolong the life of the adhesive, and a glue shaker (https://lashbase.co.uk/products/the-lashbase-handheld-shaker) to shake the lash adhesive in seconds ensuring all adhesive ingredients are properly mixed before you start your lash extension treatment.

How old is your adhesive? All adhesives have a shelf life and this will vary between brands. For example an unopened bottle could have a shelf life of 9 months and once you’ve opened the lash adhesive bottle the shelf life will change to 6 weeks. It’s a great idea to label your bottle with the date you opened it so you’re aware of when you will need to throw it away.

What is your room temperature and humidity like? All lash adhesives have an optimal range of environmental conditions in which they work perfectly. You can keep track of your room conditions by purchasing a hygrometer.

Are your client’s lashes clean before you start the treatments? Preparation is key when it comes to lash extensions as they cannot bond correctly on top of unclean, natural eyelashes. It is very important to communicate good aftercare advice to clients; alongside using a primer before you apply the extensions to help strip oils from natural lashes which can affect the bond.

Once you can determine the root cause of retention issues and make some simple changes, you will see massive improvements!