Tips on how to groom and treat/repair natural lashes post lash extensions.
Let’s talk….lash extension care!
Have you ever considered what you would do in the event that your favorite lash artist moved away? Or if you became part of that small percentage of clients that begin to experience irritation? Or the unthinkable….a pandemic put a halt to ALL your beauty services?!?
Well if you haven’t considered the alternatives to lash extensions , or you would like some tips on how to groom and treat/repair natural lashes post lash extensions, read on.
We need a break….
Lash adhesives and techniques have really come a long way since their early days. Reputable Lash Artists will use quality products and proper techniques to ensure your lashes are matched to the appropriate length/thickness to avoid damage while suiting your needs.
Although all precautions may be taken on both your artist and your behalf, extended wear and tear can alter the natural growth. A break from your lashes will help strengthen them up and restore before your next application.
Keep ‘em clean…
Keeping your lashes clean is important for proper lash extension care as it allows absorption of lash serums and natural moisture. Build-up on the lashes is also prime feeding ground for harmful bacteria that cause styes.
Use gentle eye makeup removers to break the bonds of your product and lift away build-up.
Follow up with a gentle foaming wash. A gentle facial cleanser or a lash foam and cleansing brush gets right down to the lash line. If you are choosing to use a brush, use soft pressure and small circular motions.
For lash extensions, use only if approved by your lash artist.
This process leaves your eyes feeling refreshed and makes for a squeaky-clean start to your makeup application.
**TIP** Stick to a gentle eye makeup remover if you have sensitive eyes.
Our picks for lash cleansing:
Glo Skin Beauty – Gentle Makeup Remover. This light formula removes even the most stubborn makeup and a little goes a very long way.
Glo Skin Beauty – Gentle Cream Cleanser Don’t be fooled by the name, this mild formula melts rights into your skin leaving a hydrated and clean surface.
Lily Anne – Eyelash Foam Bubble Wash ($29.90). This fine foam soaks right down to the base of your natural lashes and extensions leaving them clean and intact.
Lily Anne – Lash Cleaning Brush ($7.90) These soft bristled brushes are made specifically for the sensitive eye area and strip lash cleansing.
Treat and hydrate…
Keeping your lashes hydrated and enriched with nutrients will help prevent premature breakage and treat dry brittle lashes. Much like the hair on our head our lashes also benefit from added moisture.
Lash conditioners feed the hair strands with specialized nutrients that encourage new and longer hair growth. The lashes are able to rebuild and strengthen for better application in the future. Most conditioners are also compatible and recommended for use even with lash extensions.
Our top pick for lash conditioning:
EyEnvy – Lash & Brow Conditioner($69.95). Users report results in as little as 2 weeks with no side effects. The product is simple to use and can last months on end!
Keep in mind that if you have stray lash extensions hanging around, do not pull or cut them off. Contact your lash artist for recommendation for proper removal.
Hope this info helps ties you over until your next lash appointment!
*If you have other questions regarding lash care or other beauty matters, please submit your inquiries to bookings@dermica.ca. We may feature your questions in our next post!
Consider the following information when deciding to book dermaplaning vs waxing:
A FINE DIFFERENCE…
Waxing, unlike dermaplaning, is not able to pick up the very fine vellus hair.
Vellus hair is typically about 2 shades lighter than the natural hair colour or has no pigment at all. It’s really fine and has been eroding over the years through friction so its really hard for the wax (unless it is a specialty wax) to pick up these hairs.
MINOR TRAUMA
Also, waxing, although there are great formulas used in waxing services nowadays, there is still that minor trauma caused to the skin. That tug that happens isn’t always the greatest in really sensitive areas such as the eyes, the mouth, and the nose. While it does provide a bit of exfoliation, it does so in a really uncontrolled manner so there is a lot more chance of injuring the skin.
THE BRIGHT SIDE…
Dermaplaning delivers a very fine and detailed exfoliation surpassing the level of exfoliation delivered by waxing. For this reason, dermaplaning results is a brighter and even complexion.
We have listed a few bits of information to help explain what you may see for the first 15 days post-microblading.
1. Patchy coverage
This is normal to see in the first 7-10 days. The areas where you see dark patches are still in the process of moving the pigment up towards the surface and shedding the skin above. The lighter areas are those where the skin has already shed and has revealed fresh skin growth. They should even out by day 10.
2. Missing areas
These faint areas are covered with fresh skin cells. The new cells are full of “juice” and plumper than what we typically have at the surface of the skin.
Once the skin moves this layer of fresh cells (which contains the bulk of our micro-pigment) up to the surface they will dry and flatten. The strokes and pigment will then reappear and give us a proper measure of colour retention by approximately week 2.
3. Brows are lighter brown with pink undertone
While your skin is still in the recovery phase, it will have higher cellular activity at the site of repair thereby making the skin appear flushed. This undertone in the skin will temporarily alter the colour of the brows. The skin can take up 3 months to completely restructure, but you’re true colour typically shows before that around week 2.
Brow Lamination gives you that “fluffy” look for full, thicker brows. It is a simple procedure and is generally done in 1 hour.
Is brow lamination for me?
Well, that depends…What is your desired look?
Brow Lamination is suited for those looking to achieve the appearance of bold/ feathery brows. Think back to that luscious 80’s Brook Shields, Madonna, and Cindy Crawford brow.
We must also ask, do you have enough brow to achieve your desired look?
Unlike microblading, brow lamination works solely with your existing brow hair. In other words, the service will look more voluminous on full brows than on thinner, sparse brows.
While clients with plenty of hair on their brows make the ideal candidate to achieve the “look”, this spa service will increase the width of any brow resulting in thicker brows.
In addition, some hair textures respond better to the perm solution. For example, coarse and stubborn brows may not see maximum results until their second lamination process, spaced adequately apart.
For many people, this may be the solution they need.
How long does brow lamination last?
On average this service lasts 4-6 weeks. Observe the following tips to maximize the wear:
Do not wear brow makeup the day of your appointment.
Why are my underarms and bikini-line discoloured and rough?
The appearance of skin discolouration in the underarm and pubic regionsare a common concern noted with Hair Removal clients. These dark patches may be accompanied by other symptoms such as irritation, rough texture, odour, or small growths.
It is important to properly diagnose the causes of your condition in order to understand the triggers and prepare a treatment plan for silky, even-toned skin.
Possible causes of skin discolouration
1| Health Factors
Although this may not be the most common cause, underlying health conditions and medications account for a large majority of the possibilities.
Health conditions:
Acanthosis – a skin condition described as dark, velvety skin, in the groin, underarms, elbows, knees, neck, or groin area
Acromegaly – a condition that causes overproduction of human growth hormone
Cushing’s Syndrome – a condition caused by an excess production or exposure to cortisol
Skin infections
Hyperthyroidism
Excessive weight
Diabete
Medications:
Insulin
Corticosteroids
Human growth hormone
Birth control
Niacin
2| Genetic Influences
Hyperpigmentation or ‘dark patches’ are most prevalent in skin tones that naturally produce higher levels of melanin.
Melanin is the pigment produced by the skin cells that provides it with colour. The amount of melanin in the skin fluctuates with sun exposure and in cases of scarring. Because darker skin tones retain and produce more melanin, they are at higher risk of developing dark patches and scars.
3| Friction
The skin’s natural response to trauma is to repair itself in the affected area by producing fresh cells to replace the damaged cells.
Repeated friction over sensitive areas of the skin due to tight or abrasive fabricscan cause micro-trauma to the skin which in turn stimulates the repair process. The skin then forms an abundance of cells over the pressure sites giving way for the appearance of dark patches, or streaks in the skin.
4. | Shaving
Shaving the bikini line and underarms can be harsh on the sensitive skin covering these areas, especially considering these areas are often populated with fast growing hair that requires frequent shaves.
When the sharp blades of the razor glide along the skin, they make just enough contact with the skin to scrape away a thin sheet of dead skin. This can cause micro trauma to the skin, triggering the repair process which then draws pigment to the area.
5. |Chemicals
Skin interaction with ingredients found in deodorant can often lead to discolouration. Aluminum compounds in deodorants keep the underarms dry by blocking the pores from excreting sweat and helps prevent odour by inhibiting the bacterial growth.
Although there are
many different contributors to this skin condition, there are also various
remedies that may provide relief. Stay tuned for Pt.2
Shop professional skincare products recommended by Dérmica! Try our Home Care Selection Guide to choose the right products to target your skin type and concerns!
Your brows point down when you wish they pointed up or sideways? 😳
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, it may be time to try the newest brow service available! But first, let’s review- is Brow Lamination safe?
Brow lamination enhances your natural brows as it sets your brows in place causing them to look thicker and fuller. After laminating, we finish the look with our signature wax and tint service, the Dérmica sculpt.
The service takes about one hour and last 4-6 weeks.
Is Brow Lamination safe for my brows?
Perm solutions have greatly improved since grandma’s time. However, exposure to some perm solutions can cause reactions to sensitive skin such as itching, redness, etc.
Trust your brows to the experts at Dérmica. Please review the service criteria before booking online.
Service criteria:
👉Hair 2 weeks of growth.
Avoid trimming your brows.
👉Skin Suitable for all but hypersensitive skin types.
Gentle cleansing routine the morning of your booking.
👉Products Avoid exfoliants, retinol, AHA, and BHA on the brows.
