False Eyelashes: The Myths and Facts

Lash artist Kristin Wood gives us the dish on falsies.

April 7, 2015

Natalie Schack,

Your mornings are pure chaos, from the moment you wake up bleary-eyed to the second you walk out the door into the blinding morning sunlight. Between breakfast, showering, choosing an outfit and your ages-long makeup routine, you’re looking to cut something out.

Fortunately, relief is in sight, thanks to lash extensions. Ladies with these babies are a vision 24/7, with long, luscious eyelashes that make their peepers pretty as can be—no mascara or eyeliner required. We asked lash artist Kristin Wood from Kristin Wood Lashes for her insight on the myths and facts behind the falsies craze. Wood, who holds three beauty licenses and has more than 18 years of experience in the beauty industry, recommends consumers inquire about certifications and the overall methods and techniques of any eyelash studio. When you ask the right questions, you can focus on the benefits of looking great—not the problems with it.

See what I mean?

MYTH: Fake lashes make your natural ones fall out.

Fake lashes are attached to your real lashes, one milliliter from the lid itself, so they fall out naturally when the lash does. Because you won’t need to use mascara—which contains harsh chemicals—false lashes can actually be a lot better for you than your regular makeup routine if properly applied.

FACT: There is no legal certification requirement for lash artists.

(However, the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology notes the application of permanent eyelash extensions falls under the scope of practice of a licensed aesthetician, cosmetologist or barber. )
Because there are no regulated legal requirements (yet!) for the service, you could fall prey to cheaper prices and end up getting sloppy, unhygienic services, which lead to sometimes-painful issues such as ingrown hairs (which happen when a false lash is glued too close to the lid or two natural lashes get glued together). As a consumer, Wood recommends making sure the place of business has an approved shop permit, as well as an eyelash certification.

MYTH: Fake lashes look fake.

This one's a bit of a half-half. Fake lashes can look as fake or as natural as you'd like. At Kristin Wood Lashes , Wood shapes and customizes the lashes to your "vision," whether that be a cat-eye shape or an exaggerated center. You can go full as can be or just get enough to look like you've mastered the mascara game—without having to apply a thing in the morning.

FACT: If you have sensitive eyes, you’ll have to be extra careful with falsies.

We admit: Our eyes are total babies, and false lashes definitely didn’t help things. The long, thick, silk strands sometimes itched our lids, and when those suckers fell off into our eyes—ack! Wood suggests washing lashes gently with baby shampoo to keep them clean and help cut down on muck getting into your eyes. That’s also why it’s extra important for sensitive-eye-sufferers to get an aesthetician who knows how to apply lashes properly and is trained and certified.

MYTH: Only the rich and famous use false lashes.

The rich and famous definitely do use false lashes. But you'll see them popping up more and more among us everyday ladies as well. Kristin Wood Lashes now offers tiers of pricing to be competitive for those gals who don't have buckets of money and time but want to ditch the mascara. Wood’s Ready to Wear line is at the lowest price level (starting at $150, with an hour-and-a-half application time), and the service goes up to Couture (which starts at $350 and can take three hours to apply).

FACT: Fake lashes fall out naturally.

That means that you lose your lengthy, gorgeous strands at the same rate you'd lose your own lashes, about every two months. Because they're all growing in on a different schedule, you'll want to touch up your lashes regularly (Wood recommends every two to three weeks) to avoid those spidery, uneven lashes. Touch-ups run about $75.

Kristin Wood Lashes is located at 1016 Kapahulu Ave. in Kilohana Square. Call 738-7386 to get info on a custom set of lashes.