Help with extremely curly lashes

[lashesunlimited]

First the good news - I have booked 6 new clients for this week! Soon my dream of making this a full-time occupation will realise.

A lot of my clients are African (I live in South Africa). Their lashes are extremely curly, short and criss-cross and I do not have C-Curls. Xtreme Lashes have just started stocking them and I refuse to buy from them ($40 for 0.2g) so am waiting until I can afford to buy from USA or Australia. Which company would you suggest?

What can I do in the meantime? I have Xtreme Lashes 0.15mm J-Curl and Mink Lashes (gorgeous, bought from extendyourlashes.com) in 0.15mm and 0.20mm.

Do I straighten with a heated lash curler? Will the natural lashes pull the extensions out of shape/style when they assume their natural curl?

[i-LashNYC]

Hi! This is what I do in situations like that, I usually straighten a bit with the heated lash curler, then I usually attach the extension from the underside of the natural lash. if the lash is very curly or even sideways I attach enough so the extension remains in the direction that I wish it to go in. Even if the bond is only a little bit.

I usually try and pick the straigtest lashes and avoid the really wacky ones but for styling purposes sometimes you just have to put an extesnion there.

I always tell my clients to be extra careful and explain what I did so if they come off a bit sooner they understand why. For the most part I havent had a problem. Those clients typically come in every 2 weeks as opposed to every 3 like the majority of my clients.

I hope that helps and made sense.

[lashesunlimited]

Hi ilashnyc

Thanks for that. Glad to catch you online as the time difference is beyond me! It's 19h00 in SA. Do you find then that their lashes don't last as well? That's been my experience but maybe it's been my application technique.

[i-LashNYC]

Sometimes the lashes shed a bit quicker IF the client is not super careful with them. Basically because you are attaching to less surface area in order to keep the lash in a straight direction.

Make sure that you are cleaning the lashes appropriately prior to application to ensure proper adhesion. Even before fills.

[Poshlash]

If you have heated lash curler, you can straighten them by using slow and smooth stoke from base to tip.(like a flat iron) Lay the heated lash curler form the top of the lash. If you have protien remover or lash primer on hand, use it before begining this procedure, it would help a lot. It would act as mouse for your hair, and tame those unruly lashes. For african/textured lashes, it's very important to COMPLETELY attach the base with ample amt of glue, since in most cases, you can't adhere EE lashes to natural lashes from 'base to tip'.(african/textured lashes are extremely curly) You may choose to use "C" "CC" or "D" curls to accomodate the curvature. These listed above above are the curliest available. Most africans also will have oilier skin than any other decendents. You must make sure that the lashes are 'squeeky clean' before EE application.

Hope this helped. ;D

[Eyecatching Lashes]

The best way to deal with this type of lashes is to use an eyelash lift/straightening system. I use the i-Appeal System by i-lash Designer Systems. This system works in the same way as a perm but lifts and not curls the lashes. It can be used for straight or downward pointing lashes as well as to lift, straighten and control curly or excessively curly lashes, just as you described.


This system uses silicon pads instead of rollers and is so much easier to use than fiddly perming rollers. You get perfect results every time and the eye opening effects are fantastic on every client.

[Lash Out! Administrator]

Eyecatching, you pose an interesting topic here.
But, what happens when the full set is applied (after perm straightening) and then the perm grows out? Obviously you can't perm the extensions - right? So what happens then - Do you take all the lashes off and start again with the perming again?

I use the same application technique as ilashnyc. These type of clients don't have the extension applied to the entire body of the natural length. Most of the time, only HALF the natural lash is glued onto the extension - angled in the direction I want it to go.

In the past I have tried to use C curl lashes on client with super curly lashes, only to find the extension curling right back onto their eyelid. Does not look good at all in my opinion.

[lashesunlimited]

Thank you all. Did a set today, straightened and lifted a little with the heated curler, attached as much as I could. Also my first time using minks. Loved the finish, think I'm sold on them for life! Actually, today was a few firsts - used the poo mix, witchazel to prime, Q1 glue and even magnifying glasses! Never tried perming and too afraid - not been trained. Thanks again for all the tips.

[Eyecatching Lashes]

I'm also a hugh fan of the mink lashes as they are just so versatile. Tami in answer to your question about using a system like i-Appeal to lift and straighten curly lashes or to lift straight lashes. I find this really works as unlike an eyelash straightener which simply provides a temporary solution for the initial application ( as you can't stop the lashes returning to their natural state, which will obviously put stress on the lash and therefore shorten the life of the eyelash extension), the i-Appeal prepares the natural lashes for perfect application.

Turning now to your specific query about what happens as the lashes gradually return to their curly state as they fall out and are replenished. Well my experience is that the lashes can be easily in-filled for about a period of approx 3 to in some cases even 4 months( if not excessively curly) months before I'm finding it difficult to apply lashes. Yes at this stage you do need to ask the client to wear them off or to remove them, redo the i-Appeal and then apply a new set. However I'm finding that the client is more than happy with this process as the lashes last so well in between fills.