Have you recently gotten lash extensions and immediately noticed a few in the sink? Not to worry! This is a natural and normal occurrence. Stay tuned to find out why you're seeing those lashes!

We all have a hair growth and shed cycle. It varies from person to person. Some of us go through a quick few week cycle, some of us are closer to a few months. What is a growth cycle? And what does it mean for lash extensions?

All the hairs on our body - from the coarse hairs on our heads to the super fine "vellus" hairs on our foreheads - grow and shed. When we shed hair, a new one is produced behind it. There are three phases to this growth cycle (in all hair, but I will specifically be discussing eyelashes), called the Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen phases. During the Anagen phase, the hair is growing out, and can last 30-45 days. The Catagen phase is where the lash rests and stops growing - this phase can last 2-3 weeks. Finally, the last phase, Telogen, is when the lash eventually falls out. Every single eyelash (that's up to 150 on the upper eyelid) has its own cycle. This is why, any given day, we lose a few lashes.

Most of the time we don't notice this shedding of eyelashes. Especially when there isn't an extension attached. But once an extension is attached to that shedding lash, we see it! We've become more aware of our lashes, and it can be concerning when we suddenly start noticing the shedding. Does that mean the extensions are pulling them out? Not at all, if you're going to an experienced stylist who isn't using too heavy of an extension. Occasionally, you'll notice an extension without a natural lash attached to it. This means the adhesive didn't hold, and there can be many reasons for that. Some of the most common reasons for the adhesive to break down: The eyelids are oily, which damages the bond; there has been excessive rubbing of the eye; the adhesive used was nearing the end of its shelf life; oil-based makeup, creams, or mascara was used; they got wet too quickly after being applied (you must wait 24 hours); or the extension used was too heavy and didn't form a good bond.

This cycle is why you need to get infills every 2-3 weeks. Some people can make their lashes last 4 weeks, but it's rare! Usually the drier your skin is naturally and the less you mess with your lashes (i.e. no makeup, no touching/pulling/picking, etc) the longer they last. They really are easy once you have them on, just treat them with value.

I offer free consultations. If you're wondering about lash extensions and if they're right for you, please schedule an appointment on my Hours & Scheduling page!