Before you let clients point the finger and blame you for poor retention, first take a look at some culprits on their end. Here, Stefani Altieri, master lash educator and medical esthetician for The Lash Shop and http://www.skynlashacademy.com/StellaLash Academy, shares what factors could be to blame—and how to address them.
1) Touching Lashes Often: Fingers’ natural oils coupled with constant lash contact cause extensions to loosen and fall off. “You need to be really assertive to get your point across. [Tell them] if they don’t stop they will keep wasting their time and money,” Altieri says. “If they really can’t control it, tell them to invest in hand sanitizer to use prior to touching.”
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2) Allergies or Itchy Eyes: Not only do itchy eyes mean regular, rough rubbing, but also they tend to water and are often paired with eye drops, all of which break down adhesive, resulting in premature loosening or breakage. “[Suggest] they try over-the-counter allergy medications or take a break from lashes while dealing with severe seasonal allergies,” says Altieri, who warns to be careful to not diagnose without MD credentials. “Or, [for consistently itchy eyes], recommend a trial basis with only a little bit of [lashes] on each side.”
3) Hormonal Changes: While honesty is always the best policy, treading lightly may be warranted with clients who are in aging denial. “Ask if it’s a possible scenario and [recommend] monitoring [the situation] closely to see what’s going on,” says Altieri, who notes that hormonal changes can cause an overabundance or decrease of oil production or hair loss or growth, all of which affect retention.
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4) Diet: One fad diet sure to affect retention: hCG. “It’s hormone-based so it causes an abundance of oil production, and lashes won’t stay on more than a week,” explains Altieri. The solution: Advise clients to lay off lashes or go for weekly fills. The catch: Clients don’t always divulge this type of information. Express the importance of honesty so you can best assess the situation and list it on your consent form, recommends Altieri.
5) Certain Medications: “You can’t tell clients to go off medication that they need,” stresses Altieri, who notes that prescription side effects can lead to hair loss, premature hair shedding, an increase in oil production or severe dryness. “They’ll need to discuss it with their pharmacist or healthcare provider.”
[Image: Getty Images]
