A subtle boost from the everyday look: Lash Girl London (eyelash extensions)
For those of you that know me, you’ll know that I’m not the kind of girl that likes wearing makeup… like ever! I don’t say this to sound like I’m better than anyone else, I just can’t be bothered. The truth is, I didn’t even own a foundation until a couple of years ago and my stock is still very basic to this day. I guess being blessed with good genetics certainly play a role, and if I’m keeping it 100% real with you, I can’t do make-up to save my life (I’ve tried!). Another key factor is that I’m genuinely too lazy to wake up earlier just to do my face. Sorry! Regardless, I’ve always been an active girl so wearing makeup only to sweat it off just doesn’t make enough sense to me. If I really want to put in the effort though, I might put on a bright lipstick (usually red) and slap on some mascara and eye-shadow… but that’s really as far as I’ll go. I’m quite comfortable rolling out of bed and getting on with my day with minimal effort and that’s just the way it’s always been. Take me as I am, (the good days and the bad) because it’s the only face I’ve got!
I won’t lie, I do like the odd makeup day (as long as it’s someone else doing it for me and it looks natural) but I’m simply not “delicate” enough for it to last. I’m definitely THAT GIRL who somehow ends up wiping off an eyebrow or accidentally washes their face… it’s really more effort for me to think about what NOT to do once it’s on than wearing it in the first place! I’ll forget I’m wearing makeup, throw on clothes how I please whilst simultaneously wiping off the last hour’s efforts in 1.3 seconds (great!). Kudos to the females that manage to slay effortlessly on a daily basis but personally, I think I’ll let the professionals do it for me (for everyone’s sake!). Besides, for some reason (strangely) I feel more self-conscious when I’m wearing makeup and my skin doesn’t like to tolerate it for too long - that could also be because I’m simply not used to it though… I’m trying to be better.
Although makeup isn’t something I’m particularly interested in, I’ve been considering eyelash extensions for a while now. Recently, I’ve been debating if it was worth all the hassle since my natural lashes are actually quite long and thick. I also thought that eyelash extensions = super dramatic and the only way you’ll be able to style it out was to wear makeup (and we all know that’s not me). After toying with the idea for a while - and some convincing from friends - I decided to try something different… so at the end of February, I lost my eyelash virginity (that must be a thing, right?) at Lash Girl London.
Located in NW London, Lash Girl London offer Classic, Hybrid and Russian volume lash extensions. It is owned by beauty technician Samira who was very patient with me and professional throughout the whole process. The booking process was quick and easy; Samira gave me her availability and explained the types of lashes she offered (she even showed me examples that might suit me) and reassured me that I won’t need to start wearing make-up after they were done! Once I was satisfied and went ahead with the booking, a confirmation e-mail was sent within the hour with the full address, contact details, balance to pay and pre-preparation introductions clearly stated. There was also information about the cancellation and re-booking process for clarification, should you need it. As someone who has never had extensions before, I found these instructions very useful!
When I arrived, Samira was really patient and tolerated my useless replies. Ask me what look I want (cat eye, doll eye, dramatic etc) and I’ll look at you like you’re from Mars! I can’t lie, it all went over my head but this didn’t bother Samira as she proceeded to inspect my eye shape and face before suggesting a cat eye (and explained what that meant). The room was very pleasant and the atmosphere was nice and calm! I really felt like I was going in for a relaxing massage. The beauty bed was laid out impeccably (with a large mirror placed opposite for those of us who are vain) and calming music played in the background. I was instructed to close my eyes and relax… and that’s exactly what I did for the next two hours whilst she got to work so daintily that I had to ask if she had started already (honestly, I couldn’t feel a thing!).
The process
Where the magic happens!
Samira started by giving me a lash bath using a specially formulated foam eyelash cleanser (this is available as an add-on or complimentary with a returning in-fill or removal). She then cleaned my lashes again with protein removing pads (to remove any excess oils or dirt), a cleanser to make sure any traces of makeup or natural oil were gone (in case I didn’t follow her e-mail instructions) and added a primer to moisturise and re-hydrate the lashes after the thorough cleansing! After the pre-treatment (the rest is included), Samira dried my lashes with a mini lash fan and prepped the area by placing satin under-eye patches on my bottom lashes. These are gentle on the skin and is used to cover the bottom lashes and prevent them from being stuck to the top lashes! She then proceeded to complete the tedious task of attaching each lash to mine (I have a lot! - she told me that she had only seen one person with more than mine but the competitive spirit in me secretly wishes I was the top… it’s a minor!).
In all honesty, I really couldn’t tell you what she was doing. All I can say is that I couldn’t feel a thing for the majority of the time. She could have been doing sign language above my head for all I knew. I must note, however, that about ten minutes in my eye started to feel a little itchy. It’s the only way I can explain it… nothing crazy but I did want to rub my eyes (of course I didn’t dare!). I did mention this to Samira in a please-don’t-kill-me-but-what-is-happening kinda way and she was really nice about it all. She mentioned that it isn’t a common complaint and had only heard of something similar from another girl who had never had lashes before and suggested that maybe I was being sensitive to the eye-patches. Funnily enough, the itch went away as soon as I stopped thinking about it so I think it’s like when you get your eyebrows done for the first time - you’re conscious of the pain and then after a while, you just don’t really feel it as much.
Lash Girl London Beauty Salon
The rest of the procedure would be totally simple for most people - just relax, listen to the music or sleep… but don’t open your eyes! Someone like me? It was a little difficult! I didn’t open my eyes don’t worry (not even a little bit), but for someone who doesn’t know how to rest and who’s sleep is near-enough non-existent, this was the hardest part for me. I’m also someone who likes to engage with people but I decided to keep my mouth shut for the majority of the time because I wanted Samira to focus on my lashes and not be a distraction. I did ask a few questions, however, and learnt that on average people tend to have between 150-200 individual lashes per eye (no longer it takes so long!) and that the lashes shed with your natural lashes - apparently you shed up to 7 a day! I never knew… or noticed! I had natural lashes put in with a few Russian volume added in for some extra effect (but not as many as you would get in a hybrid set). The great thing about Lash Girl London is that they customise the lashes to the individual and add in different lengths to get a more natural effect - no two lashes are the same! After what felt like a very long time, Samira brushed out my newly acquired long and luscious lashes with an eyelash brush and let me inspect with a small mirror, and then the big mirror. I was genuinely impressed with the outcome and they weren’t as fake looking as I thought! In fact, they were (and still are) VERY natural but just with a little extra OOMPH! My sister was very jealous, and that’s all the verification I needed.
The Aftercare
Samira was very helpful with her after-care instructions. They were as follows:
Lash Girl London use top quality and vegan-friendly products to make your lashes the best they can be!
DO NOT get them wet (that means no crying, no water or steam etc) for the first 24/48 hours. She could not stress this enough, but forgetful Liz forgot she had them (just like with make-up) and only clocked mid-way through wetting her face in the shower * tut tut * - It’s OK though, I grabbed a towel super quick and patted them dry, and I might have done it a few more times since… Shhh, no-one will know!
After the 24/48 hrs, you can use an oil-free cleanser around the eye area (Micellar water is ideal) or you can use diluted baby shampoo and use a fluffy concealer brush to wash the extensions! (I’m not the greatest at this but I do try!).
Sleep on your back for the first 24 hrs so that you don’t damage your lashes and help retention.
Brush daily! Samira provided me with a little eyelash wand (please don’t attack me if that’s not what it’s called, I’m new to all of this!) and told me to brush downwards and then up to keep them fluffy. I also gently run them across my eyelashes when they aren’t separated (particularly after waking up!).
Avoid using liquid eyeliner or water/oil based mascaras on your bottom lashes (you really won’t need to do anything to them because they look fabulous on their own).
Don’t rub or pull at the lashes (thankfully I’ve managed to stick to this one) and don’t use makeup wipes around the eye area - no oil-based creams either!
I know it seems like a lot to follow, but if you actually think about it, you’re only really making sure you’re not getting them wet and brushing them out when they get squashed together. Personally, I haven’t really kept to the instructions too strictly and my eyelashes are still holding quite well! If you’re like me and like your steam room, you can do this with lashes but just make sure it’s not too excessive! Other than that, I’ve barely remembered I’ve got lashes on (there may be the odd day where I feel them on my eyelids or something but never for long). I’ve also received a lot of compliments and people have asked where I’ve got them done - I kid you not, at LEAST once every other day someone has complimented them (I even got one during last night’s gym session!) and I’m seriously considering getting them again (and that’s coming from me!). If I get them again, I might go more towards the Russian volume or just get more Hybrid because lashes really do make me feel cute and girly! Samira is very good with her after-care follow-up and has checked to see that I am managing them well or have any questions which I think is great!
For those of you that are a little more technical (or are genuinely more interested), Lash Girl London only use silk lashes ranging from 8-15 mm, but if you contact Samira beforehand she may be able to accommodate for the longer lengths (17-18mm+) if they’re in stock. Lash Girl London also offers an array of lengths, curls and thickness to suit your needs! All products used throughout the treatment (including lashes) are VEGAN-friendly, paraben free and cruelty free!
Check Out Lash Girl London for more information on lashes, prices and how to book. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Check out my lashes on their page here! For a picture of my “before” lashes, there is a lovely close-up on my home page! See below for the lashes on day vs the lashes on day 12! If you want a place to get luscious lashes and fantastic service, look no further than Lash Girl London!
