An adverse reaction to cosmetic products in a client is the nightmare of all lash artists. How to know what's an irritation and what's an allergic reaction? What to do? and how to prevent similar situations? You will learn everything when you read on.

You may be familiar with this situation: A client comes to you wanting to try false lashes for the first time. During the initial interview, she doesn't mention any allergies or other medical conditions that might prevent the application of false lashes. You think it's perfect and get to work. At that moment, however, the client's eyes starts to swell, she tears up, her skin and eyes are red and you know that she is sick and that you cannot continue with the work.
How can you avoid such unpleasant situations?
I have 3 useful tips for you to eliminate the risk of your client leaving crying and with swollen eyes instead of beautiful lashes.
1) Ask thoroughly
If it is your client's first application, take the time to complete a client card with her to learn from her anything that might be relevant to your work. Records about whether the client wears contact lenses, has any allergies or what cosmetics she is sensitive to will be useful for future visits as well.
Schedule your consultation a day or two before the actual application. Try to instill a sense of trust in your client so she doesn't feel the need to keep anything from you. If she has seen another lash artist before, try to find out what brand of products the lash artist used and if the client has experienced any unusual irritation before.
For clients who have no experience with false eyelashes, ask about suspicious skin reactions to cosmetic products and medications, allergic reactions to false nail application, etc. You should also be concerned about various eczema, inflammation and injuries in the area around the eyes.
After a longer time interval, e.g. after a year or after the client has taken a break from false eyelashes, make sure to update the information.
2) Use reliable products
Only a lash artist who does not care about her own reputation and good name would dare to apply a product to her client's eyelashes, which has a dubious origin, unknown composition and which she bought from God knows where.
In cosmetic products, and especially those applied in close proximity to the sensitive eye area, quality and trouble-free ingredients are key. Think about this when you consider buying cheaper "no name" adhesives, primers and other materials from untested sellers especially from Asia.
Lashes PRO can be relied on for consistent product quality and we guarantee it, but even so, we cannot promise you 100% that an allergic reaction won't occur when using Lashes PRO glue.
The adhesives are based on cyanoacrylate, which unfortunately we have not yet been able to avoid completely in the composition. This substance is the most common culprit for swelling and irritation in sensitive clients.
For some, the problematic ingredient causing health problems is the black dye contained in the classic glue. This can be avoided if you use a UV glue for application using a UV lamp.
UV lamps are said to be safe even for clients with proven allergies. Is there any truth to this? Find out in the article The safe way to beautiful lashes: Work with a UV lamp like a professional.
In rare cases, an allergy to alcohol in cosmetic products or sensitivity to any other ingredient in the adhesive or products used may occur. It is rare, but it can happen. So it is always better to have enough information and knowledge to be able to resolve even an unusual reaction and not ruin the client's lashes or health.
Although the glue should never touch the skin when lashes are applied correctly, it can happen, and once an allergy to a chemical ingredient in the glue occurs, it will manifest itself to a greater or lesser degree later on.
3) Perform a patch test
Have you been told by a client that she has had a problematic reaction to a cosmetic product in the past? Has the client indicated that she suffers from a higher number of allergies? Is this the client's first time with you and do you want to make sure everything goes smoothly?
If so, suggest a patch test 24 hours before the actual lash application. Lash artist Karolína Zalabák (IG lashbar_kadan) advises applying 15 - 20 lashes on each eye as a test. If there is no reaction within 24 hours, you can finish the whole set. An allergic reaction may or may not show up right away. Alert the client that if any symptoms appear the following day, she should contact you and the lashes should be removed as soon as possible.
Some sources state that the patch test should be performed by applying a drop of glue directly to the skin, for example, on the wrist or in the elbow socket. Karolína Zalabák warns: "Glue does not belong on the skin! It could burn quite a lot and it might harm the client."

What's the difference between an allergy and eye irritation?
It would definitely be appropriate to mention how an allergy to cryoacrylate actually manifests itself. The range of symptoms can vary, but if your client experiences any of these symptoms, you should beware:
- swelling in the eye area or anywhere on the face
- burning of the eyes or skin on the face;
- scaling of the skin on both eyelids at the same time;
- feeling of a foreign body in the eye;
- tearing;
- sneezing
- watery rhinitis
- swelling of the nodes in the neck;
- breathing problems.

In this case, there is nothing else to do but to stop working on the lashes immediately and remove the already glued lashes quickly but gently. Thoroughly cleanse the natural lashes with a cleansing foam and send the client to the doctor who will prescribe a suitable medication to alleviate the symptoms. As a rule, the patient is prescribed immunomacular ointment and cold compresses at this stage of damage. The redness and swelling may last for several days to weeks after the removal of the eyelashes.
In contrast, in the case of mere 'irritation', which can also occur during the application of false lashes, the symptoms disappear more quickly and can be well recognised by the fact that they usually occur in one eye only, not symmetrically on both sides of the face.
Strong fumes from the glue, close contact of the end of the false eyelash with the eyelid, contact of the glue with the skin, neglected hygiene before eyelash application, etc. may be to blame. For less experienced lash artists, irritation can also be caused by a poorly glued pad, which reaches the eyeball with its edge. This causes the so-called red eye syndrome.
In such a case, I also recommend stopping the work and evaluating how serious the irritation is and whether you can finish the set after a short break or whether you would rather finish it the next day when the eye and its surroundings have calmed down.

When should you avoid applying false eyelashes?
In addition to allergies, there are a number of other health complications that are a clear stop sign for any professional. These include:
- ongoing conjunctivitis;
- dermatitis around the eyes
- open wounds and abrasions in the eye area
- recent eye or eyelid surgery;
- stye
- alopecia
- chemotherapy
- and other inflammatory or bacterial diseases.
It is not recommended to apply false lashes if the client is wearing contact lenses. Ask the client to remove them before starting work.
When should you avoid applying false lashes?

I definitely do not recommend false lash application if the client is pregnant. Pregnancy hormones can have a negative effect on the growth and loss of natural lashes and retention cannot be guaranteed. Also, the client is directly exposed to the fumes from the adhesive during application, which should definitely be avoided during this period.
In addition to the above commonly mentioned contraindications, I would also like to point out that I usually don't apply false eyelashes if the client has a cold or is obviously struggling with a virus. Firstly, it is almost certain that she would not be able to lie down for two hours during the application without sniffling, coughing, sneezing and other symptoms, and secondly, the body is weakened by the infection and it is at that point that the body may start to react negatively to some of the irritants in the glue.
It is always a good idea to keep a cool head and take a kind but uncompromising approach. Apologize to the client, justify the re-arrangement and arrange a new appointment when she is healthy. More beautiful eyelashes are definitely not worth the health complications. This should always be kept in mind.
I trust that your professional approach will be met with understanding by your clients and that you will eliminate the risk of allergic reactions in your salon to a minimum thanks to the knowledge from this article,.
PS: It doesn't hurt to remind yourself of the principles of correct and safe practice with glue.