A closer look at different eyelash extension types

There are a lot of different eyelash extension types out there and it can really be difficult to figure out what certain types are appropriate to use! Let’s take a closer look at some of their main features.

Having great eyelashes is underrated. Alongside beautiful makeup, they can be the main feature that really stands out and completes the look! Even without makeup, they can serve as a major confidence booster. People always feel glamorous with fabulous eyelashes.

In terms of the number of different eyelash extension types, there are way too many to count. They change and adapt constantly according to current fashion trends, and as lash artists, you must be at the forefront of these changes. By staying up to date we can really and truly satisfy our clients.

Types of Lashes

Choosing between the different eyelash extension types won’t be much of a difficult task, since each and every one of them offer a smooth blend with existing natural lashes. The way it adds to a person’s look can be really subtle – and in a way, even admirable.

Individual lash

Single, individual classic lashes are a single-strand of a lash extension that offer a natural finish. They add impressive length and subtle thickness that can be blended with natural lashes, and what’s more, they aren’t heavy volume and don’t have any textured effect.

Flat lash

Opposite to classic type, flat lashes have a flatter or oval shape base. This kind of lash creates more of a wispy look, compared to the classic type which provides a natural look. Flat lashes can only be applied at the top or bottom of natural lash. Flat lashes are  various in length and sizes so lash artists can use them in different styles. 

Fans

It is important to understand the concept of “fans” and the appropriate diameter and weight when delving into different eyelash extension types. There are two types of fans: Premade and handmade. Premade fans help save time since they are made to be ready for application at a moment’s notice. Handmade fans are more time-consuming. It’s been said that at times, an expert’s hands on handmade fans can really make a difference and improve the final product. 

The type of promade fan you choose will depend on the context as well as the client.  Premade fans do offer a lot of benefits and are quite favored among lash artists. With eyelash premade fans, the making of the fans is already done for you, allowing you to focus your effort on the client more and/or fit more clients into your work day.

Premade fans are also specifically designed for easy attachment, so even beginners can apply them. Only basic lash extension application techniques are needed when it comes down to using premade fans. This saves time and energy for both the clients and the professionals.

In addition – and this may be an important factor – premade fans have great self maintenance. They are very durable and keep their shape well. This is another extension (no pun intended!) of the previous point: it’s because of this durability that they can be more easily attached to the natural lashes than handmade ones.

Making your own fans is an incredible skill, but it is totally okay to tweak around and try different things. Sometimes an artist might work better with one type of fan than the other – sometimes both – but the most important thing is that we have to take our clients as top priority; analyze what is best for them, and proceed.

Fans are really wonderful and have great potential. They can even give your clients a show-stopping look that even THEY won’t suspect. 

Colored

Selecting a shade or color for your lashes is always important, whether it’s individual lashes or strip lashes. Black is the most favored color among them all, since it suits a wide variety of hair colors and offers a great effect.

If you have fair hair or want lashes that provide a softer look, then brown individual lashes are more compatible.

Wispy

Wispy lashes are taking over the beauty world. You must have seen celebrities and influencers sporting them without knowing exactly what they are called. These lashes are ones that look just as their own name suggests: fluffy and wispy. If your client wants length and a feathery texture, it can be achieved by using wispy eyelashes. 

Camelia

Camelia lashes are eyelash extensions that come staggered with a mix of lengths. Each fan features three or four different lengths that can mimic the growth of natural lashes. As Camelia lashes have varying lengths, we as lash artists can control how we proceed, particularly when it comes to creating multi-level volume lash fans.

See more: Volume lashes – the doorway to glamour

A guide to lash materials

If you’re against animal cruelty, it will be good to know that most mink lashes aren’t actually made of mink, but rather a synthetic material called PBT, short for Polybutylene terephthalate. It’s a polyester product used in a wide variety of fields, including lash extension production.

These mink lashes are designed to be soft and silky, imitating real fur while also additionally preventing curl loss when coming in contact with water (something real mink fur lashes are susceptible to).

 

Mink lashes are quite favorable since they are very light and fine and feel as natural as your own lashes. In terms of characteristics, they are shiny in texture, more so than silk lashes – with a glossy look upon successful application. Durability is also a strong suit (as long as you take good care of them), and can be fantastic if your own natural lashes are delicate. 

Since they are so light, they are very comfortable to use and rarely drop, even after many, many weeks of usage.

Silk lashes are also made from PBT material, but the difference between silk lashes and mink ones are their weight, overall shape and finish.

This would be considered “middleweight” among eyelash extension types. They have a shorter taper than mink lashes, as the lash’s body remains thicker for longer with a  semi-gloss appearance. Silk lashes have a thick, full body, and work best if you’re applying a dramatic lash set. 

Among different eyelash extension types, they are also the most commonly used lash type in classic sets. If you’ve ever had a classic set or have done classic sets, silk lashes are not unfamiliar to you.

Real fur lashes are categorized as a luxury service, and not all lash artists offer this. Many salons do not recommend these types of lashes due to concerns about improper animal treatment and hygiene/contamination issues.

As the name suggests, real fur lashes are made of genuine mink fur, providing arguably the softest, most natural-looking extensions. They will cost a lot to acquire and if you have animal allergies and/or are against animal cruelty, this is probably not something you want.

See more: Common eyelash extension materials

Bonding methods

There are two kinds of bonding methods: glue bonding and heat bonding. It can be quite difficult to differentiate them sometimes, but we will give you a simple summary using the case of premade fans. Before we delve into them exclusively: A glue-bonded fan will be one that is held together with an adhesive; heat-bonded means the fan is sealed together using heat and tightened at the bottom. 

To understand the glue bonding method, you must first understand what eyelash extension glue is. It is the key factor used for attaching a lash extension to natural lashes during the application procedure. Make no mistake: this glue is definitely not interchangeable with just any other adhesive.

In fact, using the incorrect glue type can really do damage to your natural lashes and ruin them significantly. Especially in situations where low-quality adhesives are applied, these can make your extensions flakey, uncomfortable and eventually cause pain and discomfort.

As lash extensions are generally pricey, and only done when you want to really invest in your beauty, it’s absolutely of utmost importance that we as lash artists can use the highest quality adhesive there is. 

All lash adhesives contain cyanoacrylate, a glue-like chemical bonding agent. It’s made by mixing cyanide and acrylate together. Although it sounds dangerous, especially for something to put near the eyes, cyanide is actually acting here as just a thickening agent for adhesives.

Once the adhesive is entirely processed and produced, this cyanide is then completely defused and isn’t found in any of the final products. Acrylate on the other hand hardens and thickens quickly when exposed to the air, aiding the fast-drying properties of lash adhesives.

Heat bonded fans are the second type of premade fans besides glue-bonded fans.

Heat bonded fans are made with a special heating method that helps to retain and maintain the lashes in the fan shape without any help from glue; but the general idea is that the lashes are sealed together using heat. 

Both ways are healthy for natural lashes, as long as you make sure the base of the fan is thin, so that it can be completely fleshed with the natural lash.

Ways of packing

There are two ways of packing in eyelash extensions: by tray or by mix. These do not tend to make much of a difference besides esthetics and a slight effectiveness in application. However, it’s still necessary to give you a visual presentation of how each of them proceeds:

And that concludes our article. We hope that we have given enough information needed for you to make successful applications of different eyelash extension types for your clients!