Ever thought about having eyelash extensions but felt a bit hesitant to take the plunge? I visited Boudoir Lashes in South Kensington to find out exactly what was involved.

Eyelash Extensions at Boudoir Lashes

Eyelash extensions are one of those things I’ve deliberated over for a while. When they first came out, I was really keen to try some, because it sounded like the perfect idea for the occasionally lazy person like me. A full set of lashes, eliminating any need for mascara, and making you look polished even when you have a bare face? Brilliant. There’s something about lashes that make me feel a lot more feminine. I’ve been a long term user of fake lashes, graduating from full sets to individual glue-on lashes, but I was keen to get them done professionally. So when Asma Docrat of Boudoir Lashes contacted me, I thought it was finally time to give it a go!

The Process

I was quite nervous before I went in to the Becca store on Pelham Road, South Kensington. The night before, I’d had nightmares of TOWIE style monster-lashes, and I’ll admit it to you now, readers, I was worried. But a quick Google of Asma and Boudoir Lashes showed me some excellent results, and I knew I’d be in good hands. Asma is absolutely lovely, very calming, and VERY knowledgeable about what she does. She’s being doing extensions for years, and is a bit of an eyelash queen. She answered any questions I had, talked me through my treatment, and was extremely sweet and helpful.

I lay down on the bed, and Asma taped down my lower lashes. I know that this is the part most people get freaked out by, but it’s not like normal tape, and it doesn’t hurt a bit. It feels a little strange at first, but then settles down quickly. Asma then proceeded to apply individual lashes to my eyes, and while I must have been lying down for over an hour, the time flew by. Chatting to Asma definitely helped! Ultimately, this is a painless procedure, and a lot of people even drift off during. Asma was hygienic, gentle, and worked carefully.

The Results

I certainly didn’t have TOWIE lashes! Asma had given me a slightly ‘decadent’ look, as she called it, which meant that while my lashes were very prominent, they were still acceptable for day wear. It definitely took me a while to get used to at first – specially waking up the next morning, looking at my bare face with these extraordinary lashes on! But I adjusted very quickly, and loved them. While mine were super-glam, Asma can pretty much create any look you want, whether you just want some side lashes for a little definition, or whether you’d like full on Bambi eyes!

Not wearing any mascara was absolutely amazing. I actually stopped wearing even eyeshadow, because my eyes looked great as they were. It took me mere minutes to get ready in the mornings, because I had so little to do! The lashes made me feel really feminine, and actually a lot more confident. Being able to go out with just a bit of foundation and blusher on is a great feeling, so while you might think of the treatment as ‘high maintenance’, it actually works wonders in terms of cutting down your work!

Maintenance

Asma carefully talked me through what I’d have to do to protect my lashes, and gave me leaflets on how to look after them. I was a bit worried I’d have problems, because I wear contacts, love sleeping with my face pressed against the pillow, and am prone to rubbing my eyes, but they lasted amazingly! Trust me, if they lasted on me, they can last on anybody. Otherwise, they were super duper low maintenance, because I didn’t even wear any mascara until the end of week three, so I barely needed to touch my eyes.

Week Two

I think I maybe lost a lash or two in the second week, but otherwise they stayed looking exactly the same. The only thing I had to do with them was comb them through a little to separate them.

Week Three

Definitely started losing a few more lashes this week, but amazingly, they still looked good overall. I was worried they’d look really ‘patchy’ and odd, but they still looked fine! Towards the end of the week, I used a bit of mascara just to balance things out.

Week Four

Most of the lashes had more or less gone, but if you don’t succumb to bad habits like me, you’d be able to keep them going for longer, I’m sure of it. I’d heard horror stories about your real lashes falling out along with the false ones, and I’m happy to say I had no such issues! My lashes look perfectly fine and healthy…if extremely short. This is a big warning: you WILL be disappointed when your lashes go back to ‘normal’, because even my fairly long lashes looked stumpy. But that’s ok, you can always book another appointment!

Ultimately, I was very happy with my experience, and can definitely recommend Asma at Boudoir Lashes. If you’re going to get lash extensions, it’s vital you go to someone who knows what they’re doing. Asma knows her stuff extremely well, and will give you what you’re looking for. Visit www.boudoirlashes.co.uk to see what Asma can do for you, and you can take the step towards incredible lashes! When you get in touch, quote ‘LADYMLASHES’ to get a 50% discount off lashes Mon-Fri, terms and conditions apply. Offer expires at the end of July 2012.