Eyelash extension revelation

Being of the blonde persuasion comes with its benefits in the beauty department. Body hair is fine, allowing me to be slightly lazy with the leg shave cycle and I’ve never suffered an unsightly moustache. But it has its drawbacks too. Lacking the olive skin that looks so lovely on the beach from day one and having to endure a pinkish pre-tan tinge. Eyebrows that ‘bleach out’ with super strong sun exposure representing albino slugs and my personal bane, blonde eyelashes.

Voila. I was really impressed with the outcome. Aside from looking amazing they look completely different to disposable false eyelashes. There isn’t a ridge where they meet the eyelid - they just look like I’m well endowed in the lash department.

Having spent well over more than half my life applying a daily black coating I feel like I just look weird without it. There’s usually a half hour window at commence and close each day that I’m sans mascara. If there’s any impending stint that may see these slots extended, for example holidays, top of the list is an emergency lash tint.

Before

Great as tints are they just take me one notch up from looking eyelid-bald. It just doesn’t cut it like mascara does. Most of my friends are adept at the disposable false eyelashes but a combination of being a serial offender of cutting it fine on time and squirting the glue into my eye has seen me shy away from these.

While in Trevor Sorbie undergoing the awesome three month blow dry (click here) I got nattering to their in-house beautician, Sarah, about Eyelash Extensions by Lash Perfect. Mooted as semi-permanent lashes - with the right maintenance, they can reportedly last up to 8-12 weeks.

In the face of outlining my ongoing gripe and slight scepticism of what they offered, the lovely Sarah invited me to road test the treatment.

Prior to undergoing transformation I filled out a questionnaire to establish what look I wanted to go for. Options varied from natural to dramatic, curled or long; whatever look you wanted to achieve. What the hell - let’s go full drama and fingers crossed for a non-transvestite result, I decided.

After

Laid out in shiny little packages was an array of individual lashes. This is where this treatment differs - these contained single lashes. Yes entirely individual lashes. This was going to be a fine art. Rather than glued to the lid, each lash is very precisely and painstakingly glued to your actual lashes. Sit back, relax - it’s approximately a two hour journey.

Laid on the bed, various pads were placed across my face and eye area to protect and provide easy viewing for Sarah. A pleasant experience, it passed super fast. Both Sarah and I could talk the hind legs of a donkey, so we nattered the minutes away.

Voila. I was really impressed with the outcome. Aside from looking amazing they look completely different to disposable false eyelashes. There isn’t a ridge where they meet the eyelid - they just look like I’m well endowed in the lash department.

I couldn’t feel them on me either and could just see them slightly in my line of sight. In the first 24 hours care needs to be taken not to wet them so the glue can set and following this you just need to take extra care when washing your face and avoid rubbing them.

I was out on the lash, excuse the pun, a few hours after having them applied and have to say when I came to I’d forgotten and wondered for a split second whether I had spiders on my eyes. But through the post-booze haze I smiled as there were no panda eyes on display, just perfection.

The first couple of days took some getting used to as I’m used to washing my whole face with a cloth, but just had to take extra care. No drama. Twelve days on and they still look impressive. A couple need replacing but mascara is a long lost friend and I could easily get hooked on this. They’d be ideal for a holiday or special occasion.

If you fancy trying them out, Sarah has a special offer for Confidential readers throughout March and April. She’ll do the first set for £60 (normal price £97) then if you really like them, two subsequent maintenance sessions for £31 per session (normal price £42).

If you decide you don’t want to continue with them, removal is free of charge. To book simply ring the salon quoting ‘Confidential’. Try them, they’re fabulous.

Nails by Sarah
Trevor Sorbie
19 Spring Gardens
Manchester
M2 1FB
0161 839 2255