Due to the nature of my work, applying makeup becomes a daily routine.
Eye makeup is particularly important in my routine because after all, eyes are the windows to the soul.
I LOVE my eyes.
Really.
It’s just that there are always imperfections here and there…
For example, I don’t have very pretty double eyelids, so I use double eyelid sticker to create a higher and more distinctive crease.
Similarly, my eyelashes are actually pretty long and even has a natural curl.
However the lashes are a little sparse so I have to draw a thick and extended eyeliner and use mascara to highlight and make the eyes look bigger
Take a closer look!
Eyeliner and mascara are therefore essential steps in my eye makeup routine.
Even though they really make my eyes look a lot prettier, both procedures take up quite a lot of time in the morning for application and in the evening for removal.
Removal especially can be very mafan… and I’m always worried that the cleaning process is not thorough enough.
I have also lost count of the number of my natural lashes that have fallen off because of lousy eye-makeup remover
Therefore, I dream of a time I can just wake up and look pretty immediately!
Why I was skeptical about Eyelash Extension
When Agent G from Beauty Undercover invited me down to KJStudio for a eyelash extension session, I was initially very skeptical.
I have never had my lashes extended and heard about many negative reviews and experiences from friends!
1. Take a walk down Orchard Road and it wouldn’t be too difficult to spot someone with artificially thick and unnatural lashes that look so much like fans
2. When their eyelash extensions fall out, they fall out in CLUSTERS. Leaving you looking really weird with partial lashes on one end, and nothing on the other end
3. When their extensions fall out, it pulled out your original eye lashes with it! GONE! ALL YOUR NATURAL EYELASHES GONE
4. Some even had eye irritations/sore eyes after the session because the glue went into their eyes! The beautician wasn’t skillful enough!
Above are just some of my personal observations. Of course, there are good ones around.
About KJStudio
After learning about the many bad reviews done, I went to google about KJStudio and read reviews on them.
I am pretty good at assuming Sherlock Holmes/detective’s role, but I found NOTHING but positive reviews about KJStudio.
KJStudio or Kazumi Japanese Studio is a lash extension place fully staffed by Japanese lash extension specialists!
They don’t do anything else except lash extensions and it seems like they are really good at it!
I started following them on Instagram and Facebook. I saw so many pictures of girls having pretty eyelashes, I started to feel super GIAN!
Therefore, I took a leap of faith and agreed to go for my very first session
It’s D-Day!
Before heading down, I was told to remove/not wear any eye makeup.
Here are some of the photos showing my naked clean eyes. (I was wearing Freshkon Winsome Brown contact lens).
As you can see, my eyes look pretty OK but the lash looks really empty / sparse without makeup on.
Through my ‘investigation”, I learnt that Kazumi-san (her English name is Jeane) is the Shop Manager and also the founder of KJStudio.
SO MANY girls have raved online about her skills and services!
When I was told that Jeane would be doing my lashes, I was so relieved!
Like what I would expect from a first-rate lash salon, they had proper procedures in place.
Before she began, I was asked to fill up my particulars and read through the T&C.
Jeane then patiently explained to me about the different type of curls and styles available and had an in-depth consultation with me to see what I would like.
Although Jeane is a Japanese, her English is PURRFECT! This is probably because she grew up in the USA when she was young and therefore speaks English very very fluently. No worries about miscommunication here!
Cute vs Sexy vs Mix style
The style will determine the distribution of the lashes and its overall look. After asking about my preferences and understanding about my occupation, Jeane picked the “Mix” style for me. It looks seductive yet professional and natural enough!
Type of Curl
KJStudio offers a variety of lashes to choose from. I opted for a more natural look and Jeane picked B-curls for me. B-curls are extremely light and has a natural curl to it.
So my final decision is…
B-curl Mix, Volume Lashes
Jeane explained that the lash extension that I’m doing this time is actually not the usual eyelash extension. This is the new service they are introducing in July 2015, called VOLUME LASH EXTENSION.
Basically, it uses multiple lash extension to each natural eyelash in a fanned shape. This allows for 200-500 eyelash extensions to be applied to each eye rather than the regular 80-100 extensions per eye. This means that multiple lahses can be applied without damaging the original eyelash. The look is also more natural, not clumpy or heavy. When multiple volume lashes are applied, they create a full and natural feather-effect look.
The therapist can apply anything from 2D up to 8D.
2D = approximately 200 lashes per eye, 3D = approximately 300 lashes per eye this can continue upto 5D. This technique can be done up to 8D, but anything over 5 D can be quite over dramatic.
Russian Volume Lashes are NOT, cluster lashes, Y lashes or W lashes! Volume lashes are a new and advanced technique in the beauty industry that is very technically demanding on the lash specialist as it contains a lot of nuance and requires a lot more skill compared to normal / classic eyelash extensions!
However, it will last much longer before you will notice you require a refill! Volume lashes are known to last at least 6 to 7 weeks!
After learning so much, I am very excited to get started!
I was led to a treatment hall with comfortable beds segregated by drawn-curtains.
Hello old lashes!
Can’t wait for your transformation!
Jeane started by applying tapes on my lower lashes to protect them during the procedure!
She then disinfected her instruments and ensured that the tapes were firmly put into place.
Jeane proceeded to clean my natural eyelashes with cotton buds before she began the lash extension. This is important as clean eyelashes will ensure that the lash extension will last longer!
I’m a little ashamed to find out that my natural eyelashes actually had mascara left over from the night before even though I had already tried to clean it thoroughly! *perils of using mascara!*
Strand by strand, Jean used black glue to attach the lash extensions onto my now clean naturla eyelashes 1mm away from the eyelid.
Her hand must be really very steady as she attached them so precisely!
She used a mixture of 2D to 4D lashes!
This is how a 2D lash looks like!
As my eyes were closed and the background was playing soothing music, I almost felt like I was doing a massage! Hahaha.
Throughout the 1h – 1.5hr session, there wasn’t any pain at all.
Zero!
I was trying to hard not to fall asleep, lest I opened my eyes while I snoozed away.
In fact, Jeane told me that most of her clients fell asleep.
It was that comfortable
Nearing the end of the procedure, Jeane used a handheld fan to blow-dry the last bit of the glue.
Finally, she removed the tapes on my eyes…
TA DAHHH!
What do you think???
美美hor!
To me, it looks so beautiful and natural, it looks as if the lash extensions were there all along!
Just in case you forgot how it looked before, here is a side by side comparison!
After the extensions were done, Jeane handled me a piece of paper with instructions on how to take care of my new lashes
Their service is so thorough, don’t you think?
SO HAPPY I don’t have to put up eyeliner and mascara any more!
Just in case you want to make your lashes look even more dramatic, you can purchase a mascara suitable for lash extensions from KJStudio here as well
On the other side of the hall, there was a makeup room for us to put on makeup after the session.
I cannot stop touching my lashes now. Hahaha.
The lashes are really natural and long that I don’t even need to wear eye makeup anymore!
That would really save a lot a lot of time in the morning and at night when I remove makeup.
In total, I was given 360 strands of B curl Volume lashes, ranging from 8.9mm to 11mm.
I really love my new lashes. But of coz, nothing lasts forever. Here are some of the points you should take note of if you want to get your extensions!
- The extensions can last for 3 to 6 weeks, depending on how you take care of it. It has been three days since I had my extensions, and one strand of the 360 new strands has already fallen off.
- I have to be a little more careful when it comes washing my face. But that’s alright. I’ve learnt to wash my face via cupping my eyes.
- The lashes will cluster together after washing my face. After using towel to dry my face, I used a separate piece of tissue to dap the lashes dry.
- I have yet to try applying eyeliner, so I can’t comment much on the removal part. It is a good thing though, that I don’t need to apply eyeliner and mascara anymore!
All said and done, I am still getting compliments about my lashes everyday!
Thanks so much, Jeane!
KJStudio is located at:
43 Keong Saik Road, S(098147)
Level 2
Above COVO hair salon
(Walk through the orange door)
Tel: 6221 6209
PROMOTIONS!
If you like my volume lashes, quote “Beauty Undercover” and receive 20% discount on Volume Lashes for first-timers!
Thank you once again, Jeane! Eyelash extensions is really very addictive!
I’ll probably be back soon to refill my lashes!
Read more reviews about KJStudio here!