Eyelashes have long been big news, with the likes of Kim Kardashian igniting fierce eyelash envy and encouraging girls across the region to buy falsies in their droves. I’ve never had issues with my lashes considering that they are longer and curlier than average, and have generally been satisfied with a quick coat of black mascara. So I’ve never considered having eyelash extensions; last week, curiosity got the better of me and I paid a visit to Sisters Beauty Lounge in the Dubai Mall to try out the La La Lashes express eyelash extensions.
Standard eyelash extensions usually take around two hours to apply, but the results can last up to three months. The “express” version I booked would only take 30 minutes and the lashes would last two-to-three weeks, informed the very cheerful Chloe, the beautician who would do my treatment. She began by cleansing my natural lashes to remove any makeup and oils. I had to look downwards and keep my eyes open throughout as she applied around 40 lashes to each eye for a complete “glamour” look. A half set option is available if you prefer a more low-key, natural style. Chloe was very light-handed and quick as she glued the synthetic lashes on top of my own—I could barely feel anything being applied. Once this stage was complete, a coat of sealer was applied to fix and finish the treatment. The convenient home care card advised that I stay away from waterproof makeup and take care when cleansing the eye area. To remove, the extensions need to be professionally soaked off at the salon to avoid damaging your natural lashes. This takes ten minutes.
I was pleased with the very natural looking results and the surprising weightlessness of the lashes. They looked longer, darker, and fuller—meaning that I could skip the mascara for the next couple of weeks.
The Verdict: This is a useful treatment if you have a special occasion to attend or if you are going on vacation and want to save time on your beauty routine. However, rather than lasting a full three weeks, I found that the lashes did start to fall off after just a few days—though in all honesty, perhaps I could have been more careful with them. If you are looking for a long-term solution, I would suggest trying semi-permanent lash extensions.
