I love a great pair of lashes, and 2013 saw false lash sales rocket due to the trend. Obviously false lashes are nothing new, historically made popular by Twiggy in the sixties, but there has been boost in recent years due to celebrities rocking out pairs on their appearances. My sister, who is almost mid way through college, has recently starting wearing them on the daily, buying cheap pairs in bulk from china on eBay with larger bottles of glue, which has got me wondering. How safe are they?
I don't often wear lashes, mainly just for nights out or special occasions, and on the odd night at work. I love how they open up eyes and add that finishing touch to your makeup. But they aren't something I would wear everyday. After all they've invented plenty of mascaras that can do decent job of making your natural lashes long and voluptuous, and also I'm worried about damage to them.
Your eyelashes are designed to protect the eyes from harmful particles and act like feelers to alert the brain to close the eyelid if an object is coming towards the eye. Pretty cool! There's around 70 - 150 lashes on your top lid alone, and the curve of them and the lid helps harmful particles and sweat slip away from the eye. So they are pretty important to the well being of your eyes. I know from experience how eye infections feel and as a contact lens wearer, eye hygiene is dead important! So how can false lashes effet our eye health?
Most false lashes (if you haven't come across them yet!) are thin synthetic strands fixed along a strip, which is then glued to the eyelid, just above the lash line. The glue used is usually liquid latex (water, latex and ammonia) more often used for special effects makeup. It dries with a rubbery consistency, which makes it great for easy removal. What's not too great about it is that if you use to much glue on your lashes, or don't allow to dry to a tacky state it can seep into your lash line and cause irritation as well as bonding your natural lashes to your false ones. Meaning that when removing the falsies, you own lashes may be pulled out too. Everyone's lashes are different, but pulling them out can stop them renewing, ending up with sparse lids.
Worse than loosing lashes is the risk of infection or allergies which in severe cases can lead to blindness. I've had conjunctivitis and a surface infection before (due to dirt trapped under a contact lens) and I know how horrible they are, as well as annoying to treat. Luckily mine were nothing serious, neither cause by lashes however. False lashes aren't designed like the bodies natural ones and therefore don't protect the eye as well against foreign bodies. This is what can cause infections, by effecting the eyes surface or blocking tear ducts. Believe me, something you don't want to experience! By wearing falsies frequently you are opening up your eyes to infection for long periods of time, increasing the risk of pulling out your own lashes, and more likely to irritate sensitive skin by reapplying glues everyday.
So, you may be really put off wearing them ever again now, I apologise! But there are ways to ensure safe lash use!
Do: Use minimal glue, and allow to dry to a tacky state before application. Use good quailty glues, and check ingredients of new brands, just in case your allergic. Cut lashes to fit, one doesn't fit all, so they will need trimming to insure a proper fit. Try self-adhesive lashes such as Eylure's Ready to Wear pre-glued range (£5.25 from Superdrug).
Don't: Sleep in falsies. Place the strip ontop of your natural lashes, place them just above. Avoid doubling up, this will increase risks. Don't wear everyday, try to minimise the time wearing them. Use mascara after applying, this can also pull out natural lashes on removal.
Don't be scared to wear falsies, as long as they are applied correctly and worn for a suitable amount of time you'll be fine, after all they are fabulous!
Foxy x
*This post is not sponsored! written out of interest*
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