When asked which beauty item they would never do without, most women would say mascara. Or at least, I would. Funny enough, until just a few months ago, I never appreciated the importance of mascara. I used to leave that step out because I could never get it right (so much clumping!) and found it too much of a hassle. The only thing I ever did to my lashes was to curl them with an eyelash curler.
Four months ago, someone finally taught me how to properly apply mascara by showing me how easy it was (yes, I only learnt how to use mascara when I was well into my twenties. I am that hopeless when it comes to make-up). Then a friend recommended the best mascara I’ve ever used (so far), and I haven’t looked back since.
Yes. I now understand the importance of mascara, and how it greatly enhances the eyes. If you’re like most women (or me), mascara would be a key item in your make-up pouch. Given the amount of time it may sometimes take to go through the gazillion steps of dolling up our faces, it’s no wonder that there are plenty of beauty services that now target the busy/lazy woman who just wants to wake up gorgeous.
What if you could have fuller, longer and bigger eyes without needing to go through the gazillion steps to put mascara properly?
What if you could make your eyes look beautiful the second you wake up?
What if you could now go to the beach or water theme parks and not worry about your smudging mascara?
Enter eyelash extensions, for the woman who wants to have long and full lashes without having to primp, curl, glue, lengthen and thicken every morning (or worry about which brand/formula of mascara to get for perfect lashes)! A beauty service available at select salons, eyelash extensions lengthen and thicken natural eyelashes to create a natural, luscious look. It’s touted as the fastest way to good-looking eyes without having to apply mascara on or curl your lashes everyday.
Agent G’s experience at Japanese eyelash extension salon, KJStudio got me curious about eyelashes and I decided to speak with Jeane from KJStudio (Keong Saik Rd) to find out more!
Jeane is the gorgeous co-founder of KJStudio who has extensive experience helping customers in Japan and Singapore apply eyelash extensions.
Hello Jeane, thank you for taking your time to answer my many queries on eyelash extensions! Before we begin, may I ask…
What made you want to go into this industry / do eyelash extensions in the first place?
I always regard my eyes as one of my most flattering assets. I love to put mascara and false eyelashes on it to pimp it up even while I was in my teens.
One day, a friend introduced me to eyelash extensions… and I never looked back since!
Without needing to remove false eyelashes at night due to the extensions, I look more consistent before and after makeup. The long eyelashes are already there the moment I awake and is definitely a factor that enhances my beauty for myself and my significant other.
Because I find the process so transformational, I want to help women in Singapore discover this almost-miraculous procedure to help them gain confidence about themselves! This is particularly convenient as well during the Chinese New Year season when visiting friends and families – you don’t have to worry about smudged mascara even when it gets hot and humid and even if you stay out late! Eyelash extensions are also particularly good for busy professionals and moms who want to look good but don’t have the time to do up your eyelashes!
What are the most common types of lash extensions and which curls suit me best?
There are various styles of extensions, with the most popular ones being C-curl, J-curl, B -curl or L-curl.
The type of curl to go for depends on how dramatic or natural a customer wants their lashes to look after the extension.
If you want your eyes to look bigger, we will focus on extending your centre eyelashes.
For sexier looking eyes, we would extend your corner eyelashes.
To achieve a cute look, we extend the middle lashes to make the eyes look bigger.
C Curl Cute (Jeane) 
CC Curl (Jeane)Even though there are many types of curls, you don’t have to worry about selecting the right type as this is really our job!
Just talk to us about the type of look you are trying to achieve and we’ll design the right lash and lash shape for you!
Wow the lash extensions look amazing! So, can ANYONE and EVERYONE get a lash extension?
ALMOST anyone can get an eyelash extension immediately… Except the following groups of people:
- People who have recently gone for a LASIK procedure
- People who just did an eyeliner or brow tattoo
- People who have gotten their eyelashes permed
For these 3 groups of people, you usually have to wait a month or so before you can go for an eyelash extension. The beautician will check before deciding if a lash extension is suitable for you!
So how do you actually apply the lash extension?
First, we tape down the lower eyelashes and remove dirt from the eyelashes.
Next, we attach the lash extensions one by one with glue, 1mm away from the skin.
After the lash extension are done, we will then dry them with a dryer.
The tapes on the lower eyelashes are then removed!
Overall, the application itself takes 1-1.5 hours, depending on which style the customer goes for.
Although the process looks rather simple, the technique of applying the eyelash extension is much tougher than it looks! We have to design the right shape and choose the right lashes to ensure that the eyelash extensions look natural at the end of the day. The lash extension should be applied onto the lash and not onto the skin to prevent irritation and damage to the skin!
Do I have to do anything before the lash extension to prepare for the procedure?
Try to remove your eye makeup (mascara, eye shadow) before the procedure as it might interfere with the application of eyelash extensions!
Other than that, just come and be prepared to take a nap of about 1 hour at KJStudio!
What about after? Is there anything I should / should not do?
Immediately after the procedure, do not touch or wet your eyelashes for 3 hours after the extension.
This means no swimming, no make-up removing and no rubbing of eyes 3 hours after the extension.
2 days after the eyelash extension, however, you are free to go for a swim!
However, you should still take care not to touch your eyelash after the procedure.
Every time you wash your face or remove your makeup, it is best to use cotton buds instead of cotton pads when removing eye make-up.
You don’t really have to use mascara now as the eyelash extension will make your eyelashes look thick and long. For those who still wish to use mascara, do use mascara meant for lash extensions instead of regular mascara!
An example of Extension-friendly mascara is the PAON Mascara. For those interested, we also carry this instore!
Finally, do also take note not to rub your eyes as your lash extension may fall off if you rub too hard!
Oh dear… what happens if I do accidentally rub my eyes?
The lash extensions don’t usually fall off until about three weeks later. However, if you apply too much force to your eye area, a few eyelashes might fall off!
Not rubbing your eyes is actually a pretty good habit to cultivate! Some customers report seeing their eyelash grow longer after applying eyelash extensions because it trains them not to touch their eyes unnecessarily. Not touching your lashes actually help to improve the condition of your existing lashes!
Is there any other things I should take note of?
Whether the lash extension turns out well depends a lot on the skill, experience and training of the lash specialist.
I have seen customers with extensions attached to the skin instead of the eyelash. That is a NO-NO as it irritates the skin. Removal of such lashes is also painful and may take 40 minutes just for removal!
I have also seen eyelashes that are glued together, causing an unsightly clump! I’ve also heard from a customer that when she went to another salon for lash extension removal, they removed the lashes using a tweezer. It was really painful!
Having heard all these horror stories from our customers, we would like to offer a few tips in choosing the right lash salon:
- As your eyelashes are really close to your eyes, it is really important to find a reliable, clean and hygienic salon to do your lash extensions. Take a good look a the place to ensure that it is kept clean and hygienic and that the therapists are very conscientious about hygiene!
- Lash specialists should also take the time to do a thorough consultation so that they can better propose a design to match the eye shape.
- Lash specialists should have good knowledge on hair/eyelash hair and must understand the material they use for lash extensions.
- You should not experience much irritation during and after the lash extension process
- Lash extension should be applied onto the eyelashes and not the skin, preferably 1 by 1 for a more natural look
Thanks very much, Jeane from KJStudio, for sharing with us so much about eyelash extensions!
So there you have it. Everything you need to know about eyelash extensions!
This might not be the right procedure for those of you who can’t stop yourself from rubbing your eyes but if you can overcome that urge, this sounds like a fuss-free procedure that should leave you with beautiful lashes for 1-2 months after!
Even though I’ve been blessed with my mom’s good genes and lashes long enough to keep me happy, this procedure definitely piques my curiosity;
Voluminous lashes that always curl up even without mascara… mmm, maybe one day?