Eyelash extentions - taping and working with tape

I wish all the eyelids were big, round and the skin on them taut and smooth. That would make our job so easy! But we don't live in an ideal world, and if we want to do eyelash extensions for all our clients, we need to be able to deal with sagging eyelids and loose skin. Pick up tape and I'll show you how it can help save the day.

Using tape to fixate natural lashes

The actual extension and application of false lashes is always preceded by the process of preparing the natural lashes and the surrounding skin. At the end of this preparation process, gel eye pads are always applied to the cleansed and degreased skin.

They hold the eyelashes on the lower eyelid nicely out of the way of your work, and the white colour enhances the contrast between the skin and the lashes, helping you to better identify individual lashes when extending. They are also ideal for marking a lash map to work from. The pads are placed approximately 1-2 millimeters below the lower eyelid's eye line so as not to irritate the client. But what if a few unruly lashes peek out from underneath them?

You're right - tape is the solution!

Specifically, the Japanese Nichiban tape is perfect for this task. It has a contrasting white colour, great adhesive properties and is gentle on the skin. Thanks to its innovative design, it contains a dose of elasticity, so it doesn't irritate or pull the delicate skin around the eyes, and it removes easily.

Taping during eyelash extentions application

Does your client have sunken eyes, droopy eyelids or more delicate skin in the outer corner? Don't feel sad and reach for the 3M transparent tape. This is one of the best surgical tapes for eyelash extensions. It doesn't pull, destroy or break lashes, it's suitable for sensitive skin and it adheres nicely even when moved to a different location or repositioned on the skin.

It is painless to remove and leaves no glue residue, so it is a real pleasure to work with. So how does it work for you?

3 most common taping methods for eyelash extentions

A - sunken eyes and droopy eyelids, where loose skin tends to extend up to the lash line, pull towards the brow. Simply place a strip of tape on the eyelid and the other side up to the skin on the forehead. You can gently tighten the lids in this way, just make sure the tape is long enough. The client must not pull or force the eye open.

B - applying false eyelashes at the corners of the eyes can sometimes be a struggle if you can't get where you need to. If you place the tape on the outer half of the eyelid and pull the skin down towards where the natural brow ends, you can get at even the most recessed tiny lashes and it will be much easier to work with.

C - always try to fit as many natural lashes as possible when lengthening. If a client's lashes are growing thickly in multiple layers, this can be quite a challenge, but you can manage it easily. Gently attach the natural lashes to the lid with a piece of tape (the tape holds the sides of the lid, it's not stuck with the lashes to the center of the lid). Then use tweezers to loosen a line of lashes from under the tape and set them with fans. Once you have one row done, pull a few more lashes out from under the tape and continue like this until you are done.

Like everything in our industry, taping takes a little practice. However, the advantage is that if you have a good quality tape, you don't have to worry about not getting it right the first time. Just reposition it or remove it painlessly and try your luck with a new strip.

In addition to Nichiban tape, you can also use narrower tapes for eyelid lifting or taping in the salon, which are gentle on thin and sensitive skin and are also very easy to apply and remove.

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In case you have any questions around taping, feel free to contact me, for example in the messages on Instagram or Facebook. I'll be looking forward to it!