6.2 Classic lash application practice
With the fundamentals mastered, the next step is to practice classic lash application on your mannequin. The application process for volume lashes is nearly identical, except there are additional fanning techniques that you will learn. Watch our expert demonstrate each of the key skills required to apply a full set of lashes.
Preparing your mannequin head
Very soon, you will be required to commence your first assessable activity, Major Assignment 1 [MA1]. This will require you to complete full sets of lash extensions on your supplied mannequin head. The below AED video will detail how to prepare your mannequin head for practice lash extension application.
Practice placement onto makeup round
No lash technician ever woke up one morning and was able to control his or her fine motor skills to the level required to apply individual lash extensions onto an eyelash. This is a skill that takes practice, practice and then some more practice.
The below two AED videos outline lash extension practice drills that will prove critical to your development as a lash technician. Take your time to view these demonstrations and complete the below Practical Activity before progressing any further with this course. While Practical Activities are not assessed, failure to complete them will very likely be obvious to our course tutors when assessing your Major Assignments later in this module.
Practical Activities
- For the next week, practice lash placement on a makeup round. Makeup rounds can be purchased from most chemists and supermarkets, or wholesale makeup supply outlets. Time yourself on your first attempt and on your last attempt to see how much you have improved. Remember, dipping your adhesive correctly is critical!
- Once you have developed the fine motor tweezer skills required to effectively place lashes onto a makeup round, progress to practice lash attachment on a makeup round. Again, time yourself on your first attempt and on your last attempt to see how much you have improved. Remember, do not progress any further in this course until you have mastered these two practice drills. Correct lash attachment is absolutely critical. You might want to leave your complete rounds to the side to check to see if there are any obvious retention issues in the days after you have attached them!
Isolation skills
The next skill for you to master is effective isolation of single lashes. This will be done utilising your practice mannequin head prepared with a practice lash strip, as demonstrated in the AED video at the start of this module. Watch the below AED video for a demonstration of effective lash isolation on a mannequin head.
Full set application (on your mannequin)
You have now completed the required training drills to progress onto applying a full set of practice lash extensions onto a mannequin head. When you are practising full sets for the first time, you may need to take little breaks. Physically your body may not be used to sitting still for so long, and mentally you might become exhausted from all that concentration! It is important that you perfect your application on a mannequin before moving onto real models.
Watch the below AED video to see a full set of classic lash extension applied to a single practice lash strip on a mannequin head.
Practical activity
- You are now ready to practice full sets of classic lash extensions from end to end on a mannequin head. Do this as many times as you need until you feel 100% comfortable with your adhesive use, lash pickup and isolation, and application technique. We would highly recommend repeating this Practical Activity for a period of at least 2-3 weeks before progressing further with this course. During that time, revisit previous modules and demonstrations to ensure your technique is sound and you are carrying out all of the steps required to complete a full set of lash extensions.
Application on a model
When applying lashes on a model, there are extra steps that you will need to complete. For example, you will need to cleanse the eyelashes (not required on a mannequin!), and you will also be working with natural lashes that will likely be different to your training lashes. Watch our expert demonstrate each of the key skills required to apply a full set of lashes to a model:
As you saw in the demonstrations, there is a specific order steps must be completed. As a recap, when applying lashes on real models, you need to:
General troubleshooting tips
Even the most experienced lash technicians can run into issues. Some problems can be easily avoided, and some will happen, even if you have done everything correctly! Remember, temperature and humidity can impact retention, so you need to ensure that your workspace has a humidity level between 45%-60% and a temperature of 22-26°C / 71-79° F. Retention can sometimes be quite tricky even as an experienced lash tech. We will see clients that have strange patterns with retention as well as clients that just cannot keep their lashes on. Sometimes there is no reason as to why this is happening, but the following can be major causes of poor retention:
- Oily skin and hair (this is because oil breaks down the adhesive)
- Medications or hormone supplements
- Active lifestyles
- Skincare or products used on the face
- Weather (high humidity will definitely affect the retention of your extensions)
- Health – when sick, your lashes do not do well
- Clients that sleep on their faces, sometimes they have no idea they’re even doing this or won’t admit they are!
- Eye shape – people with hooded eyes can find extensions don’t last very long
To combat retention issues, always ensure:
- Your adhesive is fresh – if it looks dry or tacky, throw it out
- You never use an adhesive that has gone past its expiry date
- You thoroughly cleanse the lashes and do not rush this process
- You stress the importance of aftercare and supply your clients with a take-home kit
- You store your lashes and adhesives correctly
- You correct humidity or temperature issues before you commence a service
Being a mobile lash technician is not advisable. There may be some instances where it could work, but most often, you will be unable to control your environment. If possible, set up your own studio or rent a space – it will be so much easier in the long run and will ensure you don’t damage your reputation!
If you are interested in learning more troubleshooting tips, access the resources linked: