How To Do Eyelash Extensions for Clients With Sensitive Skin

Some clients who visit your salon for lash extensions will have allergies or sensitive skin that’s prone to irritation. Knowing how to correctly apply extensions to these clients is crucial. Otherwise, they could develop rashes, blisters, or itchy, burning patches—and the last thing you want to do is accidentally harm your loyal clientele.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for you to minimize reactions to extensions and extension glue. In this guide, we provide tips on how to do eyelash extensions for clients with sensitive skin so that you can give your clients the results they're looking for without any discomfort.

Communicate With the Client

The easiest way to find out about your client's sensitivities is to ask them. Do they have any known allergies? Are there certain kinds of products that irritate their skin more than others? Have they ever reacted poorly to a beauty treatment before? By asking these questions, you can get a general idea of how sensitive your client is and what products you need to avoid.

Patch-Test Glues

You don't need many tools and chemicals to apply lash extensions, but glue is one necessary product—and this glue tends to be the main cause of bad reactions. Patch-testing glues prior to treatment can help you determine which glues are safe to use on your clients—and which aren’t. To patch-test, place a small amount of glue in a hard-to-see area of your client's body, such as in the inner corner of the elbow or behind the ear.

It may be a good idea to patch-test several types of glues at once to see if your client reacts to all of them or just some. Make sure, however, to space out your patches and to remember what you put where. Typically, most clients who react to lash glues are allergic to cyanoacrylate, a common ingredient in most glues. But they may also be allergic to carbon black, another common additive. By patch-testing both clear and black glue, you can determine if your client is sensitive to them.

In most cases, symptoms of a reaction—such as redness and hives—will begin to show after just a few minutes. However, some symptoms can take longer to appear, so it may be best to recommend extra sensitive clients come in for a patch test 24 to 48 hours before their scheduled appointment. If your client shows no signs of a reaction after this waiting period, you can proceed with the treatment. If they do react, you'll need to use a different kind of glue or postpone the treatment indefinitely.

Use Less Glue

When it comes to sensitive clients, less is more! Try to keep your use of adhesive to a minimum. If you see beads of glue starting to form, that's a sign you should cut back.

Fan, Dry, Mist

Curing the lash glue as you go can minimize your client's exposure to it. After each drop, fan, dry, and use a nebulizer or nano-mister to mist the glue. This will cure it quickly. Liquid glue tends to be worse for people with sensitivities and allergies, so the sooner the glue dries, the sooner their discomfort will end.

Check the Extension Material

The material of lash extensions varies but can include silk, mink, fox, and PBT. All of these materials, however, can potentially cause a reaction. If your client is allergic to animal proteins, you'll need to use synthetic lashes instead. Likewise, if the client is allergic to polyester, try silk, mink, or fox extensions.

Wash Your Tools

Washing and sanitizing your tools is essential. Over time, dirt, oil, and bacteria will build up on tools such as tweezers and brushes, and these contaminants can cause skin irritation and even infections. To avoid this, you should wash your tools using soap and warm tap water after each treatment. Then, once a week, you should sanitize your tools using a chemical solution—most salons use Barbicide or Peroxill. Let your tools sit in the disinfectant for a minimum of 15 minutes, rinse them with clean water, and place them on a paper towel to dry.

The materials of your tools are other important factors to consider. If you're using tools made from materials other than stainless steel and rubber, you may want to switch. Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and easy to clean, and rubber is durable and sanitary. Because these materials are easier to sterilize and much less likely to cause issues when used on sensitive clients.

Place Extensions Farther Back

Another way to prevent reactions is to place the extensions farther back from the lash line. This completely prevents the lash glue from touching the skin. You should place extensions at least 1 mm back for the best results.

Keep the Eyes Closed

Having your clients close their eyes fully during the treatment can prevent reactions by keeping fumes and vapors out of the eyes. You can even adhere tape or eye pads to the eyelids to keep your client’s eyes shut.

Use Antihistamines

If your client’s sensitivity isn’t severe, they can ask their doctor to prescribe them an antihistamine, which can alleviate their symptoms during and after the treatment. Avoiding extensions for clients with more severe sensitivities is the wisest decision, but if your sensitive client is set on extensions, you can recommend this course of action to them to reduce their discomfort.

Working with clients with sensitive skin calls for extra care and attention on your part, but your clients will be grateful that you put in the time and effort to help them look and feel beautiful. Using these tips on how to do eyelash extensions for clients with sensitive skin, you can pinpoint your clients’ sensitivities, find the best products for their skin, and apply extensions in a way that minimizes irritation.

For everything you need to apply lash extensions on your clients, come shop at Lash and Beauty. We’re a lash extension supply store that carries products from top brands such as Borboleta. Whether you need high-quality extensions, stainless steel tweezers, primer, lash cleanser, or something else for lash extension services, you’re sure to find them with us.