If you're great at creating amazing lash looks but struggling with speed, it can be frustrating if you have to turn down clients due to lack of time. If you’d like to be able to help more clients in your day, you’ll need to find ways to do your job faster, while still being careful and precise.
Luckily, with practice, any lash technician can speed up their lash extension application without sacrificing quality. In this post, we’ll help you discover how.
Practice faster isolation
One key facet of lash extension application is isolation. It is one of the most important things in the process, and it’s also where you need to be the most precise.
Once you’re comfortable with the basics of lash extension isolation, then you can begin practicing quicker application.
For in-depth tips on how to improve your isolation skills, check out Ways to Improve Your Lash Extension Isolation Skills
Place under-eye pads well
If under-eye pads are not covering the bottom lashes properly, they will keep popping up and get mixed in with the upper lashes. Separating these lashes will slow you down! So when you place the eye pads in the beginning, do it well.
For tips on how to improve your eye pad placement, check out How to use under-eye pads 101.
How the lash room setup can help you speed up the application
If you are wondering how to lash faster, we recommend you to prepare for your client before their appointment. These little things will save you time!
- Good lighting: Lighting is important for quick, precise application. A dim, yellow light makes it difficult to see small lashes and can be harmful to your eyesight in the long run. This is the time to get yourself a bright fluorescent studio light. Glamcor light is a popular option.
- A tidy lash cart: Use a lash cart next to your lash bed and pre-organize all the supplies you’ll need during the application. You can even organize the supplies according to your movement.
- A table clock: To check your progress during the application, get yourself a simple table clock next to the bed (you should be able to see it easily). Checking your phone for the time not only slows you down, but it can also be quite distracting.
- Thermometer & hygrometer: Change in humidity and temperature can affect the drying speed of lash extension glue and slows down your set. Always place a thermometer and hygrometer next to your lash bed.
Keep brushing and fluffing at a minimum
Yes, yes, we want our clients’ lashes to be absolutely perfect, but sometimes we just have to hold back on the primping and preening. One thing that tends to take up too much unnecessary time, especially with newer lash technicians, is fluffing lashes as they’re applied. Brushing too much during the lashing process also weakens the adhesive bond or pull the eyelash extensions loose.
If you think your excessive brushing is caused by the anxiety and uncertainty about the design, make sure you write down the lash mapping (including the curls and lengths) on the under-eye pads before starting the application.
As for brushing, while yes, it is important, there’s no need to do it every few lashes or so. Instead, do it during times when your hands aren’t holding tweezers, like for example when you’re replacing your glue drop. Or when you need to check the overall design.
Being efficient with your time simply opens up more time for your clients, so don’t waste it.
How the client setup can help you speed up the application
- Client preparation: When a client comes to the salon with eye makeup on, it can waste your precious time to remove mascara stuck in the lash line. Tell your client to come to the salon with no makeup on. A lash stylist should not be spending more than a few minutes cleansing and prepping client's lashes for the service. For customers who inevitably cannot remove their makeup, keep a makeup remover prepared in the lash room, and allow the customer to remove it herself before the procedure.
- No chatting during the set: Of course, chatting with your client helps you bond, but when a client talks, she moves her face, and that in turn slows you down. Moreover, talking can be distracting to the lash artist. Give your client a hydrating lip mask so that she won’t be able to chat.
- Client’s comfort: It’s really difficult to lash on twitchy eyes. Eyelid twitching comes from stress, anxiety, and caffeine. Make your lash room as comfortable as possible for the client so she can relax her eyes.
- Blanket: Make sure to have a cozy, weighted blanket
- Pillow: Provide a soft and fluffy cloud pillow
- Music: Play a soothing playlist so she can fall asleep
- No caffeine: Tell your client not to drink coffee before the appointment if possible.
Take advantage of your lash supplies
Some lash products were specifically designed to improve the process of lash extension, so of course they’ll also help you do your work quicker.
Here are some products with which you should arm your lash extension arsenal for quick, yet stunning lashes.
Lash primer
Lash primer should be your best friend. Because it removes all sorts of dirt and oil from your client’s lashes, it also keeps lashes from slipping off and increases their retention.
Imagine the horror and frustration of having to reapply an extension lash over and over again, and all just because you haven’t prepped your client’s lashes!
Make sure to never skip the primer, and you’ll be sure to attach lashes successfully the first time, giving you more time to complete the rest of the set…and the next client’s and the next clients...
Extension base
Another great way of speeding up your lashing is to use BL Extension Base.
BL Extension Base is as known as ‘glue-aid’ for its ability to boost the drying speed of the glue in unfavorable conditions such as low humidity or high temperatures, which tend to slow down the drying speed of your glue. If the primer removes oil and dirt from the eyelashes, the extension base removes the oil and dirt from the false lashes. This enhances the adhesion and reduces the lash application time.
To use, simply apply a small amount of it on a micro swab, then touch the micro swab to the base of the lash extensions along the tape strip, wait 1 minute, and then apply lashes as usual.
Mach glue
If you’ve already built up your lashing skills well enough that you can start to go faster, then it’s time to graduate up to Mach Glue. Mach Glue works in just one second and can retain lashes for up to 7 weeks. It definitely shaves the time off the application process, so you can do more lashes in less time.
Laser Lash
A great option for speeding up a lash application is Laser Lash. Thanks to their microscopic laser-processed indentations, BL Laser Lashes create an instant bond between the extensions and the natural lashes. As a result, the extension lashes don’t slide off the natural lashes, which saves you time from reapplying and allows you to move quickly to the next lash.
Super Flat Lashes
Another great option to do fast lashing is by using BL Super Flat Lashes which can create superior, interlocking flat shapes which are 75% lighter than normal mink lashes and increase retention time up to 10 days longer than a classic mink lash set. Due to the flat shape of these lashes, it is easier to attach which in turn shortens the eyelash extension application time.
Eyelash Supplements
Encourage lash clients to use eyelash supplements to strengthen their lashes that have been weakened by frequent lash procedures or makeup. The healthier the eyelashes, the prettier the eyelash extension design and better the extension retention. In addition, thick and long eyelashes are easier to perform the lash extension, which also helps reduce the lash application time.
Go, Speed Lasher, Go
Each of the tips and methods above alone can already help you to be faster at creating fab lash looks. In combination, they’ll make you into the Wonder Woman of the lash industry!
The only thing we can say is to not force it. It’s better to learn to do things right then to be quick about it, so be sure to practice, practice, practice and with time you’ll be able to adapt quicker alternatives.
We all want to be better at what we do, especially in our chosen careers, but success takes time, so don’t beat yourself up over it if you’re slow now. You’ll get there.
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