Eyelash extensions

Really—it’s enjoyable. You lie down on a bed and close your eyes for an hour and a half while  music plays in the background and a technician attaches little feathery nothings to your lashes. It’s the most socially acceptable nap-time a working adult could ask for. 

When you're done, you will not end up looking like you just got a permanent strip lash attached to your lid. Most salons will carry extension lengths from 9 to 15mm (or, from natural to Kardashian length). The sweet spot for most is 10-12. You can also choose to have fluffy volume lashes.

With proper care, your extensions can last up to a month and a half. Most places recommend you come back every 2-3 weeks for a touch up, but if you’re looking to save a bit of money, you can prolong their lifespan. Just be careful not to use oily products near your eyes.

If you can't stand the thought of ditching your smoky eye, don't worry, you don't have to. Only liquid-based eye products can be damaging to the extensions, but you can get away with a tiny wing of liquid liner as long as you're not dragging it along the lash line. Make sure to carefully remove the shadow or liner with oil-free makeup remover and Q-tips for precision. Most importantly, stay away from mascara entirely as it leaves the extensions crusty and damaged. 

Many people have made the mistake of pulling off the extensions themselves–not only is it extremely painful but it leaves you with few to no natural eyelashes left. No picking, no pulling, and avoiding sleeping on your face will save your lashes so you can continue looking gorgeous every morning!

Having the extensions removed is as easy as having them put on–painless and relatively quick. If you're not looking to spend any more money, however, the extensions do fall out with the natural shedding of your lashes. This is a much slower process, but it is $free, so there's that.