What Changes You Can Make to Prolong Lash Retention in the Winter Months

As the weather changes once more, Lash Artists must embrace the winter season with full force. What does this mean for your lash extension treatments? What are some of the key differences about lashing in the winter as opposed to how you lashed in the summer? And how can you make sure to change with the changing season without negatively impacting your lash retention?

The steps we recommend below are particularly helpful for you to make sure the treatments you provide this winter are just as long lasting as usual, and continue to promote client lash health. No need to worry, changing up your routine doesn’t mean purchasing a whole new lash extensions kit – let’s discuss what you can do with what you already have.

Preparing the Eyelashes

While we have previously discussed what makes the best summer pretreatment routine, which you can read about in our dedicated blog post, the winter brings new challenges and therefore you must adapt. Depending on your location around Europe, the winter months may be very cold and dry, which brings different types of issues for long retention. This is particularly an issue if you are using Lash Shampoo, Protein Removing Pads and Cleanser in conjunction with one another, while these products are amazing for the earlier months to get rid of excess oils, dirt and debris, using too many cleansing products will also remove moisture from the client’s lashes. In the winter months, this can be extra drying, causing the natural lashes to become brittle and unhealthy, but can also result in a weaker bond between the Lash Glue and eyelashes. 

So what do we recommend? Follow a shorter Pretreatment routine, depending on how dry your winter is. Drop the Lash Shampoo, and use Protein Removing Pads, Cleanser, Primer, and Booster if this is something you typically use. The Protein Removing Pads will clean the client’s skin and lashes, removing makeup, leftover skincare residue (such as heavier winter moisturisers) and oils without overpowering the natural lashes or drying the skin. Cleanser, though sometimes drying in itself, should still be used to strip the lashes of any traces of leftover skincare, makeup and sebum. 

Primer will add that must-have moisture which promotes healthy lashes and a strong glue bond, while Booster will open up the eyelash hair cuticle ever so slightly, resulting in there being more surface area for strong adhesion. If you’re feeling as though you’re not seeing thorough cleansing of the client’s lashes, swap the Protein Remover Pads with Lash Shampoo in the beginning but keep an eye out on the condition of your client’s lashes throughout each step, and ensure that you are thoroughly rinsing the shampoo from the lashes.

Eyelash Adhesive

Around this time of year, we start getting a lot of questions like:  “Should I change my lash glue in the winter?” or “Why is my eyelash glue not working during the winter months?”  The truth is that there are many factors as to why this may happen. As the season progresses, temperatures drop and the humidity does too. The air in the winter can be cold and drying, and while you may turn on the heating in your lash salon, you have to remember that it becomes a constant game of monitoring any fluctuations in humidity due to the often drastic changes to temperatures.

As with any time of year, it’s best to have a Digital Hygrometer on hand to display fluctuations in humidity which are not as obvious to us the way they may be in the summer. This way you can make sure your room conditions suit your lash glue’s preferences, and if they are far too difficult to control, you will know what they are when looking for an alternative lash glue. Take our quick and simple Glue Quiz for some recommendations based on your specific conditions.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that while you are not in the beauty salon at night, you are most likely not going to keep the heating on 24/7. Therefore, your lash glue must be stored correctly. If opened and stored in a cold environment, lash glue can form condensation inside the bottle, causing it to dry out or become goopy, and no one wants that. The best place to store your lash glue is in an Airtight Container away from moisture, and in a warm environment (in the region off 20ºC) – while it may sound excessive, taking your lash glue home with you at the end of the working day will keep it in a warm and safe environment to keep your glue fresh. After all, the Airtight Glue Container can fit up to six lash glues and it is perfectly compact and travel friendly. 

Client Care

Any discussion about improving or maintaining standards of lash retention are for the ultimate satisfaction of your clients, but what else can you do to provide the best eyelash extensions set and send your clients on their way to celebrate the holiday period with beautiful lashes? 

With plenty to celebrate on the horizon, the winter months can become busy with everyone wanting a stunning fluffy lash set for the holidays, so spending enough time and keeping on schedule is essential. Ensure clients are booked ahead of time, and be sure to be strict when it comes to appointment times, and not squeezing in too many clients. 

Additionally, It is important to note that clients may be more prone to flus and colds in the winter months. While it is of course suggested that you reschedule any client with a cold or flu for both your safety and that of other clients, it isn’t always clear and obvious in the beginning stages of an illness, which is why you should always wear a Face Mask from client to client, and follow good hygiene standards. What you should note is that if a client is experiencing seasonal allergies, sensitivities or even a cold, they may experience watery eyes, which can potentially cause issues while you’re lashing, and even cause shock polymerisation if you don’t spot the watery eyes on time. To combat any potential irritation from lash glue fumes, you could use Foam Tape which is thicker than Eyepatches and will absorb any tears the client may unintentionally cry, and will help to stop any potential irritation from lash glue fumes if the client cannot close their eyes fully during treatment.

During the winter months you will undoubtedly turn on your salon heating for the comfort of your client and of course yourself, no one likes lashing with cold, numb hands. Simply make sure you are keeping an eye on the conditions of your lash glue using a Digital Hygrometer, and be sure to carry out a full Pretreatment routine which will promote hydrated and strong lashes during the winter months. So, don’t be afraid of the cold, take your time, make the necessary changes so that you can look forward to the busy and challenging holiday lashing spirit.