I searched for a Lash Artist... For Myself

As a lash extension artist, it’s really hard to find a good artist for myself.

Why, Bash?

We all know why. I am hyper-critical because I compare their work to that of my own as well as lash application basics. There are some application basics that I believe every lasher should know and some can be seen in a photo. To begin, I did a search of the most common social media hashtags for my area. I then checked for their social media presence from Instagram to Yelp, if they had them. I looked for things like isolation, adhesive visibility, and placement. These are things that can easily be seen in photos when you know what you’re looking for.

Now, let’s talk about my experience as a potential client looking for a lash artist. I spent about an hour looking through the Instagram accounts of lashers within a 15 mile radius of my home. I looked at both indie/solo lashers as well as larger companies with lash bars. First things first, I looked through the photos. Upon first glance, I saw some gorgeous sets. I mean really pretty. However, for some as I looked closer, I began to see the errors. For instance, on one artist’s page I could see the extensions resting on the eyelid of the client. That is a huge no-no in this industry. I also saw where the isolation was poor due to overuse of adhesive. The lash bases were stuck together creating a very dark looking lash line that would only cause issues once the natural lash began to grow out. Also pertaining to isolation, there were multiple natural lashes bonded to one extension. Sigh…

These are things that matter when applying eyelash extensions and they matter even more to me because my natural lashes cross over in some spots. If someone is inexperienced in isolation, this can be an issue for my natural lashes by way of pulling some out prematurely because they’d be bonded to a lash that may be ready to shed. This is also one of the biggest issues with wearing cluster lashes for too long. Well, once I weeded those out I moved onto those artists who made my proverbial cut. Next steps involved contacting those artists to ask more specific questions about eyelash extension application as they pertained to me personally.

One of my number one questions was about their experience with natural lashes that tend to cross. The skilled lasher knows techniques to overcome cross hairs. It’s one of the most challenging areas in lash extension application. Some artists have methods to straighten the natural lash prior to the application of the extension and I’ve found some of those methods to be financially punitive to the client or just a Band-Aid. What I believe to work best is for an artist to work on proper isolation of cross hairs. Initially it is a tedious process, however, with time and practice it gets better. To my surprise, most of the artist I spoke with had no experience. That didn’t disqualify them though.

My next question was about lash styles they offered, Classic or Hybrid. I was looking for a Full Hybrid Set just so you know. One artist referred me back to her Instagram page and stated that she “only offered the kind I have on there.” Now, while this isn’t a huge cause for concern, most lash artist refer to lash styles by their categorical names; Classic, Hybrid, Volume, Russian Volume, Mega Volume, etc. I’d be lying if I said that response didn’t put me off. Well, I didn’t disqualify her.

Throughout this search, I never let them know that I too am a lash artist. These are all areas I would have no problem discussing with clients prior to their services. In fact, I encourage them to ask as many questions as possible no matter how silly or trivial they believe them to be. When I speak to potential clients prior to them booking, I try to go over everything I can pertaining to the procedure, lash safety, expectations, outcomes as they relate to eye shapes, and overall lash care. Being proactive and transparent reduces the likelihood of conflicts afterward. My search for a lash artist continues but I don’t have a lot of time as I’m trying to get them done before the holiday. * I’m side eyeing myself *

I’ll come back and let you all know how it goes.