Weddings, swimming pools, barbecues, travel, sunscreen, vacations, heat, wet, salt water... Summer is here in all its glory and all of a sudden the otherwise reliable eyelash glue doesn't want to work with you. Could the summer climate and fun have anything to do with it?
Well, it looks like it. Summer brings with it 3 things you need to watch out for when it comes to eyelash extensions!
Summer's here and the glue's gone crazy? Your lashes don't want to stick, even if you and your client work together, and a once enjoyable job has suddenly become a nightmare with uncertain results.
Your clients want lashes before the holidays, your diary is full and you're looking forward to your well-deserved time off - so why now!
Point number 1: It's the heat!
Every eyelash glue - in order to work properly - needs the most optimal conditions. If you yourself feel that the temperature in your salon has risen by several degrees and is barely bearable, trust that your glue has recognized it as such. After all, every eyelash glue has a temperature range in which it works best. And sometimes all it takes is a fluctuation of just a few degrees for the glue to stop working.
Our Lashes PRO Fusion S was designed to tolerate a very wide range of temperatures. The recommended room temperature for working with this adhesive is 23°C, which is a comfortable condition for being in a salon in general. The acceptable temperature range - where the adhesive will still work as it should - is between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius.
You ask: Why doesn't the glue want to stick in the heat?
Answer. At high temperatures, this time is noticeably reduced or accelerated, because the glue shock polymerizes, and so - before you can bring the soaked eyelash to the eye - the glue is already partially hardened and will not stick to the natural eyelash.
What to do? Make sure your salon is at the optimum temperature, either by more frequent ventilation or air conditioning. Also remember to store the glue with care. Keep it unopened in the fridge. Leave the adhesive at room temperature for 24 hours before using it for the first time and never put it in the fridge after the nozzle has been pierced. After use, clean the nozzle carefully and store the adhesive in a dark, dry place where it will remain at room temperature.
I wrote: False eyelashes that stick - 5 principles for working with glue.
Point number 2: It's also the humidity that's to blame!
Yes, temperature is very important, but perhaps even more important when working with adhesive is the humidity of the surrounding air. While you can feel the temperature on your skin right away, humidity can be a tough nut to crack and you just can't tell if the humidity in your room has increased or decreased significantly. Therefore, if you want to monitor the humidity levels in your salon, I recommend getting a humidity meter to help you out.
Paradoxically, it's fighting the heat in the room that can significantly change humidity. Ventilating through a window usually adds some of that interior humidity, and using the air conditioning in turn absorbs the humidity.
The recommended relative humidity when working with Lashes PRO Fusion S adhesive is 45% and the acceptable RH range is 40% to 60%.
What to do? If you find yourself struggling with high humidity for a long time or repeatedly, you could try getting a dehumidifier.
If that's not an option for whatever reason, a "slow" adhesive like our Lashes PRO Beginner can be your way out of an unfortunate situation. It hardens more slowly in the base (1-5 seconds, compared to the standard 1-2 seconds), so even though the polymerisation is accelerated by the high humidity of the surrounding air, you have a better chance of applying the false lash in place and creating a strong bond between the adhesive and the lash before it has fully hardened.
For low room humidity, a humidifier is the most convenient option. But a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative is to brighten up your living room with houseplants, for example, which you will regularly spray with water. The flowers will be happy, the environment will be cosy and you will no longer have a problem with low humidity.
Why is humidity so important for eyelash extensions, you ask?
Answer: If the relative humidity is too high or low, the glue will not work properly. In the first case, it will shock polymerize, thus reducing the adhesion to the natural eyelash. In short, it will harden before you can even apply the adhesive to the client's false eyelash.
In the second case, the drying time of the glue will be prolonged. You'll have to wait much longer for the fake eyelash to bond, and even after application, the eyelash may still slip or tilt. The client will have poor retention and an even more messy set of lashes.
Point number 3: Environmental influences are to blame too!
In this hot, boisterous season, you have to take into account that the lashes are getting a harder time than usual. We're all sweating more, slathering ourselves in sunscreen, showering more often and generally - spending more time in the water, only this then takes away the eyelash extensions.
So remind your clients of the 5 summer tips against false eyelash loss and, just to be safe, the 6 principles for the proper care of eyelash extensions. While you're at work, don't forget to take a little extra time to properly prepare your clients' natural lashes before applying the false ones. A few extra minutes on the lounger can add up to a few days of beautiful lashes for your client.
More interesting reading on my blog:
Taping and tape work as a way to perfect results
Mistake and pioneers - lash trends at the turn of the millennium
UV Lash System - has the eyelash extension revolution arrived?
Work like a pro with the UV lamp
As a final word of advice, make sure you change your glue drop more often over the summer when you work and keep steady nerves and understanding clients. If by chance the job doesn't go exactly as you'd like, remember that summer will be gone before you know it, so don't dismiss it because of the difficulties at work and instead try to enjoy the beautiful days while you can!
