Are eyelash extensions suitable for teenagers?
13 Jun 2023
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So perhaps you have a teen who’s suddenly taking a much bigger interest in their personal appearance – and has started asking for things like brow shaping and tinting, or even lash extensions for the first time.
The formal, prom and end of year party season is of course in full swing – and this may be the first time that they will have a professional beauty treatment done.
It can be a difficult choice to make – in that one never wants to leave their child with the impression that they are not enough/not beautiful just as they are – yet – small cosmetic enhancements for special events can really boost confidence and be a fun milestone into the beginning of adulthood.
We’re not the authority on this (and we’re very much for bodily autonomy, of course!) – so when it comes down to cosmetic enhancements and whether or not your teen is old enough to have certain treatments done – that will be a personal/family decision.
However, what we do think is that if and when your teen chooses/you decide that it’s ok for them to get their first set of lash extensions, lash lift, or brow shape done, that it should be done really, really well – and with consideration to their youth and natural features. One of our skills is creating custom lashes and brows for a realistic and natural look that’s not overdone.
Lash and brow treatments – if they’re done badly or without enough care can ruin the natural lashes and brows (usually not permanently – but sometimes for a considerable amount of time!) and look quite unsightly. Most teenagers have the nicest/thickest lashes and brows that they will ever have (as our lashes and brows generally thin out as we age) and we want to complement this natural beauty/work with it rather than destroying it with thin, badly shaped brows or heavy, clumpy lashes. A lash lift that is done with a very strong/quick acting solution can often cause over-curling and frizzing (teens are more prone to this, particularly if using acne medication) – therefore we use a slow, keratin-based solution that conditions the lashes whilst lifting them. We have never had a single instance of over-processed, frizzed lashes with this particular technique.
One thing that we often see here at Lady Lash (when removing lash extensions done elsewhere) is teenagers who have had a set applied by a new artist (sometimes a friend who is learning – we all do start somewhere!) that are so incredibly thick and heavy, that the natural lashes have been compromised. The look of it can be harsh and severe, and sometimes there’s glue blocking hair follicles, which can result in eye infections, styes or just general discomfort. Isolation (where the lashes are separated properly) is really important to avoid any damage to the natural lashes. This is not to say that all beginners are bad – not at all – it’s just that we do tend to find these problems are more common in new artists who have not yet fully grasped glue use, isolation the the less-is-more approach. The heavy/solid/dense lash look does not actually suit that many people, and we find that particularly with teens, a little restraint (and some clever styling/lash design) goes a long way – as it can end up looking unnatural and OTT when lashes are too long and thick, particularly on a young, fresh face!
So in terms of what set to get (once you’ve decided that yes, lashes are ok!) – here is some advice/my personal opinion on what’s best for first time lashes or brows.
- for most teens, a classic set will be the best bet – it’s a little easier to maintain than volume (easier to clean and if mascara/eye makeup is worn for a formal etc, easier to take it off). These are single (1:1) lashes and come in lite, natural and glam (which refers to the coverage/how many lashes are applied) and are priced according to the density (thicker sets take longer)
- for bigger eyes or where your teen has loads of lashes, a glam classic set usually works well, as we apply more lashes
- don’t go too long – we can create a beautiful look with an enhanced curl, but going too long will mean the lashes look messier/straggly faster as they grow out, and are harder to maintain. We’ll advise what’s the best length for your natural lashes so that they look good for longer but still give a great effect
- lite/wing sets are amazing for a subtle ‘cat eye’ like enhancement, and if your teen suffers from hay fever (we can avoid the inner eye area) they’re a good choice.
- natural classic sets are our most popular starter set – we cover the whole length of the eye but they can be done in all styles (cat/longer ends, longer middle, wispy etc)
- if your teen does lots of sport – particularly swimming, or dance/theatre etc where lots of eye makeup is worn, a lash lift might be better as it’s a little lower maintenance.
- we love volume lashes – they’re great for creating a thicker look especially for people who don’t have that many lashes and can still look natural and realistic – but they might be too much for a first set. We can always infill with volume or hybrid if classic is too light on
Our salon policy is that we accept clients who are 16 years and older independently, however under this age we do require the in-person permission of a legal guardian. There are a few reasons for this, but one is that some ingredients can cause reactions, and a parent or guardian needs to be involved in the process so that we can get an accurate medical history of things like allergies. We have also had the odd occasion where a very young client has had to have their extensions removed very quickly due to school policies. Uh oh!
Some schools do have strict policies around cosmetics/makeup, and lash extensions that are more obvious/dramatic may be classified as this. So if you are considering letting your teen book in for lash extensions for the first time, I would encourage doing a little research as to what the school will accept – so that an emergency removal the day after the formal isn’t needed! Lash lifting/tinting may be a better option if the school has a strict policy, as it looks quite natural and is harder to detect.
Lastly, one thing to note (though it should go without saying) is that Lady Lash is a very welcoming and inclusive environment for people of all gender identities – and if your teen has been experimenting with different looks, or even transitioning and wanting to try some new things cosmetically with this process, they will be in very good hands. They are more than welcome to bring someone along to the appointments for support.
We have lash and brow stylists in every salon who are particularly adept at talking through how different treatments work, and providing advice on brow grooming, makeup and styling for those transitioning. It can be a little scary (particularly for those who have never visited a salon before) but we aim to make it as fun and exciting as possible!