Does Eyelash Extension Sealer Work?
Does Eyelash Extension Sealer Work?
The biggest controversy as a Lash Artist is if Eyelash Extension Sealer is worth using on your clients.
Lash sealer? Do? Don’t? Does it actually do anything?!
Let’s have a chat about it!
Lash sealers all around claim that they do amazing things such as expand the retention of the lash extensions, help with the major lash sheds, and protect against outside forces from affecting the lashes such as oils, water, and tears. As lash artists, we avoid premature lash shedding as much as possible. They allow the eyelash extension to last the whole lifespan of a natural lash growth cycle which is about 6-8 weeks.
In the 12 years of lashing, I have tried COUNTLESS lash extension sealers. Some make the lashes stiff like hair spray, others are merely similar ingredients to lash primer. I have interviewed NUMEROUS lash artists, and the results are 50/50 on whether they feel like an Eyelash Extension Lash Sealer is worth using.
Personally, I have only seen minor differences with using sealer. There is either no difference at all or clients have a few days more retention than normal, like a 5% difference. I have not seen the drastic claims of weeks or 30% more retention added to my clients that the sealers offer. The major positive thing here is that using a sealer will never WORSEN the retention of your client’s eyelash extensions. I use it on every one of my clients because it never hurts to have that extra insurance of lash longevity.
What is sealer and how does it work?
What is sealer and how does it work?
As the artist, you apply sealer at the end of the service to “seal” the set. Sealing a Lash Set is similar to the UV lamp when getting your nails done. It cures the chemical makeup. Cyanoacrylate is the #1 ingredient in ALL lash adhesives and needs humidity to cure completely. “But unfortunately, the toxic fumes are irritating and harmful for both lash artists and their clients, and prolonged exposure to cyanoacrylate and carbon eventually causes many individuals to develop an allergy.” The more humidity you have in your workspace, the faster your adhesive will cure. Much like a Nanomister or Nebulizer works, it cures the adhesive instantly. Although “with traditional water curing methods, curing starts from the outer layer, which means that humidity is still trapped within the adhesive. Many lash artists don't realize this leaves the adhesive surface porous, so a small amount of fumes are emitted long after curing has been completed.” Sealers are “formulated to work the opposite way: it immediately mix with the cyanoacrylate and begin curing from the inside out,” resulting in speed curing and no burning or irritation from the eyelash extension adhesive application.
Eyelash extension bonders and sealers claim more flexibility of the Eyelash Adhesive for more natural movement and 30% greater retention in between your client’s lash fills. These claims sound amazing! Although, using Eyelash Sealer or Bonder on my own clients for the last 12 years, I have only seen minimal results if any at all. Think of the Eyelash Extension Sealer as a product that is your Eyelash Extension Retention Insurance. It will either work amazingly, or a little, or not at all, but it will NEVER make your retention worse. You can use a sealer with a Nanomister or Nebulizer, although it is not needed to do both as they do similar work. I use both a Sealer and Nebulizer on all of my clients for not only extra insurance but it feels good on the skin and reduces irritation even more. It is your choice to use one or the other or both. Using either of them on your clients not only allows them to get their lashes wet immediately after the service but also gets rid of all post-service irritations that may occur.
Retailing sealer to your clients is not recommended. If you have clients that have excessive oil secretion on their skin or lash line, retail them or suggest rinsing their lashes with a saline solution daily after each time they wash their lashes. This will dehydrate the lash enough to keep a solid bond for the lash extension to stay longer.
In the Eyelash Extension world, there are products that are necessary and others that are extra. Lash sealer is an extra product that is not directly mandatory for achieving amazing client lash retention. Using the optimal amount of adhesive, keeping up to date with fresh adhesive, ensuring proper lash placement, working with an adhesive that fits your work environment’s humidity, and using the correct weight of extension for the natural lash are all you need for best retention.
If you have a client that has any irritations to the lashes, skip this step and follow the protocol for minor lash allergies, which is; Using clear adhesive, not using any extra products, only using yellow foam tape on the skin, and washing the lashes and surrounding skin 5 minutes after the service. Sealers may have ingredients that can be irritating to some clients. Be sure to have great communication throughout the service and after the service to be sure everything is feeling comfortable for your client with no negative side effects.
What is your verdict? Does lash sealer work for you? What sealers have you tested out? If you have not tested it yourself, Give it a try and make your own opinion.
Happy lashing babes!
<3 Asia Kay your Soulful Beauty Pro Coach and Lash Trainer
