10 WAYS TO IMPROVE RETENTION

Tip #1 - Always cleanse your clients lashes with a formulated eyelash extension cleanser (we suggest https://lashiivo.com/collections/adhesive/products/single-lash-foam-cleanser) before lashing your client. This goes for both full set and fill applications. If you try to place an eyelash extension onto a natural lash that has lots of natural oils and dirt on it, the eyelash extension will bond to the oil / dirt rather than the eyelash extension and will ultimately lead to poor retention. 

Tip #2 - Control your temperature and humidity. All adhesives have specific temperatures that they perform best in - most usually need to be in at least 30% humidity and less than 80% however that range is subjective depending on the adhesive. If you are working in an environment that is not ideal for the adhesive, the adhesive will not cure or set properly and will lead to poor retention. 

Tip #3 - Replace your adhesive drop every 10 - 15 minutes. When you are lashing you want to make sure that the adhesive you are using is ultra fresh. If the adhesive drop you are using has been left too long, it will have already started curing and therefore won't bond properly with the natural lash leaving your client with poor retention. 

Tip #4 - Do not swipe the adhesive off before placing onto the natural lash. We see this far too often - a lash artist will dip the lash extension into the adhesive and the swipe the adhesive onto the tape or eye pad before placing the extension onto the natural lash. By swiping off the adhesive you hinder the ability for the eyelash extension to bond properly with the natural lash. 

Tip #5 - Do not use sealant. Super bonders are ok to use on the lash extensions post application, however, sealants are not recommend. Sealants coat the eyelash extensions before they are fully cured making the lashes rough and sticky feeling and often cause the lashes to fall off fast. 

Tip #6 - Apply the eyelash extension flush with the natural lash. If the eyelash extension is placed at a weird angle, where it is not flush and seamlessly with the natural lash it will likely pop right off when the client goes to brush their natural lashes. 

Tip #7 - Achieve 100% coverage across the lash line. Many lash artists will leave out 10-40% of the natural lashes unlashed in order to save time, however, this will lead to bad retention for obvious reasons. At the end of the set or fill, you should always do a final check through to ensure that every single natural lash is lashed and that their aren't any lashes stuck together. 

Tip #8 - Check for stickies! Stickies = eyelash extensions stuck together. No matter how good of a lash artist you are, there's always the chance of getting two lashes that are side by side stuck together. Not only do the "stickies" cause damage to the natural lash but they also result in poor retention because when the one lash is ready to shed, it will pull on the other lash stuck to it resulting in both lash extensions falling out instead of just the singular one. 

Tip #9 - Medications. Some medications will can cause poor retention. Usually those medications are: thyroid medications (they alter the eyelash environment causing the lashes to become oiler or drier and more brittle), vitamins, chemotherapy drugs and more. It is also important to note that pregnancy, stress and drugs / alcohol may also have effects on the lash growth cycle. 

Tip #10 - Nanomisters. Nanomisters are great for when the humidity is low, however, if your humidity is on the higher side (above 40% RH) then nanomisting could cause the lashes to polymerize too quick and leave your client with poor retention.