Eyelash Extensions!
[ 30 April 2007 ]
Before.
After. Just call me Bambi.
I had heard about eyelash extensions but never really considered getting any myself. To me, they seemed to fall into the realm of those women who require excessive upkeep, & that has never really been my thing! However, when I received an email from Pascaline of Lady Cil inviting me to try a set, I jumped at the opportunity. Seriously, who doesn’t secretly want to look a little bit more like Bambi?!
It was very exciting because I have never even worn false eyelashes before. I was an eyelash treatment virgin! I have attempted to stick falsies on before, but god they look awful, it’s a very drag queen-esque scenario.
A day later, I was on the way to undergo my transformation. Pascaline is adorable, a very sweet woman with a lilting French accent who can definitely be trusted to look after you & put you at ease. I lay down on the massage bed (complete with yellow angora blanket) & closed my eyes.
Pascaline applied a cooling pad to my eyes, which also had the advantage of sticking down all my lower lashes so they wouldn’t get in the way. Then I… well, I did nothing. I lay there with my eyes closed as we listened to French music & Nina Simone, talking a little bit but mostly just relaxing. There were tweezers & glue & a strange device which puffs air (to dry the glue) whizzing around above my head, but for the most part, I was blissfully unaware!
The eyelash extension process is very labour-intensive, because when you apply an extra eyelash, it needs to stick to one which is mature, but not too much — otherwise, if it’s too mature it might fall out quickly, & if it’s not mature enough it may not have the strength to hold an extra one. That’s part of why it takes so long. My session lasted about two & a half hours, but when you consider that there is one woman individually attaching 45 new eyelashes PER EYE, it makes sense.
The end result AMAZED me. Pascaline uses thick black lashes which create a very obvious, but still subtle, effect. I was so thrilled when I looked in the mirror, my lashes were long & thick & gorgeous. The best thing is that I don’t need to wear eye makeup at all, in fact it almost looks excessive — which also means that I wake up looking amazing! It’s SO GOOD!
The cost of an initial treatment is $200 for a set, but after that, refills are only $40 & they only need to be done every 3 weeks or so. $200 is, admittedly, quite expensive, but I believe it is absolutely worth it… & think of all the money you’ll save on mascara! However, I have GOOD NEWS! Pascaline has offered to do a “Gala special“, which is 30 eyelashes (instead of 45) for $150, with a FREE refill included. How awesome is that?!
A couple of my eyelashes have fallen out so far, & I had it done 3 days ago, but they still look excellent & that’s just the way eyelashes are — they fall out! Plus, that’s what refills are for…
The website warns that it is an addictive procedure & oh my god, IT IS, I am obsessed. I feel so glamorous, but quite frankly, the photographs speak for themselves. I am not wearing ANY makeup in these shots, I took them just after I got out of bed!
Man, I love these eyelashes so much. If you’re in Melbourne, definitely check out Lady Cil & if you have any questions or queries, get in touch with Pascaline. She is so adorable & I’m sure she would love to hear from you!
Okay, I’m going to go & bat my eyelashes in a winsome manner now…
Note: In the interests of full disclosure, you should know that I received my set of eyelashes in exchange for a fair, honest review of the service. I believe that my honesty & integrity are of utmost importance, & I am never going to falsely hype up something that I don’t really love. I haven’t omitted any information at all — I would consider that a disservice to you, my readers, who I am crazy about! Pascaline knew this was a chance she took at the time, but thankfully, I adore her work — & you will too!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala 
Tags: beauty,
consumption,
gala,
madame Share this! + Email This + Del.icio.us
+ Facebook
+ Stumbleupon
+ Technorati
Comment
Read more tagged beauty...
Daily Outfit -- 27th April 2007 -- Part Two! Ebay Glee Super-dry Skin Concealer Recommendations Moisturiser How To Get A Great Tattoo And Never Regret It How To Rock A Beehive How Do I Choose An Eyeshadow Which Suits Me?
Read more tagged consumption...
Daily Outfit -- 24th April 2007 A Very Short Guide To Shopping in Wellington Sleepytime Ebay Glee Daily Outfit -- 5th April 2007 -- nighttime! The Most Amazing Dress In The World Daily Outfit -- 2nd April 2007 Super-dry Skin
Read more tagged gala...
Daily Outfit -- 27th April 2007 -- Part Two! I Was A Teenage Goth A Super-Geeky Secret Self-Interview Questions International Dress-Up Day #003 What's In My Bag? Au Revoir! Recent Music Obsessions
Read more tagged madame...
Burlesque Chic iCiNG's Definition Of Chic Modern Manners Marriage -- The Final Frontier Paparazzi Photos Destructive Relationships Miss Sixty Fall 2007 The Most Amazing Dress In The World
that’s just gorgeous, i’m seriously contemplating seeking out this wonderful lady when i come to melbourne. i always wear mascara anyway, because my lashes are blonde and it really annoys me…
I will take you to see her myself! & I will feed your cupcakes while you’re being beautified. She does them in every colour of the rainbow so if you wanted, say, blue ones, you could have ‘em…
Oh my gosh, amazing! I wonder if I can find someone who does this affordably here in the States! Of course, to go makeup free I’d still need to get mine dyed, too, since they’re so blonde (aaaaagh it’s a curse). But wow, awesome! About how long are they supposed to last?
Jorden — I knowwww, aren’t they fabulous? I think they can last up to 2 months if you’re really careful with them, but it all depends. They’re glued to your natural eyelashes so as those fall out, so will the extensions. Pascaline recommends getting a refill about every 3 weeks.
They look great! That is certainly something I wouldn’t have thought of doing, but the results are stunning.
And don’t you just love it when you get offered free stuff in exchange for reviewing it on your blog?? I know I sure do! :)
Immense difference. I love that they are not overdone or plastic-y, spiky, spidery… My lashes are already very long & thick naturally (a couple of people have asked me if I wear false lashes), so
thank God I don’t feel a huge need to get eyelash extensions….. My parents’d freak! “$200 on your EYELASHES?!! Get good grades, go to university, get a job, and THEN we’ll see!” lolz… :D
That’s rather expensive. A little too expensive. The free refill option is a bonus, but that’s all.
TotalBliss have always done my extensions.
The initial cost is $160 for a full glamour set (as many lashes that can fit in the two hour slot, usually they go overtime to make sure they are perfect/ you’re happy. My first set had 45 lashes in each eye, and that was with a slow trainee)
My first set cost $70 as the girl was a trainee and I would be her 8th set of Falsies (she needed 10 to be able to charge full price) she done a VERY good job and also told me that if any were to fall out within the first few days due to her inexperience she would, of course, replace them for free..no questions asked. None fell out, I took care of them with the instructions they provided (note- don’t use make up remover with alcohol, stick to a foaming solution. Also do not wear waterproof mascara…I’m sure you can google the information as to why, for right now I forget. Quite a few other things are needed to keep them in the best shape, which you should have received in your care package)
The refills for my lashes were $30, they replaced however many had fallen out from your last initial booking (it is recommended you go every 3-4 weeks. I went every 4). The eyelash replacement sessions would last roughly an hour, max. If I remember correctly most of mine took no more than half an hour. If you missed your previous replacement booking, they would provide you with a slight discount rate, so you wouldn’t have to pay the $160 for another full set.
Of course the above information will change from store to store, the place I went to is in the Northern suburbs. TotalBliss regularly have trainees needing experience, so it’s worth a shot calling one in your area to see what their current rates are. Even then, I searched through quite a few places around Melbourne(oh boy, trust me. I searched high and low) the average rate was $180-190 for the initial set.
Albeit, I no longer wear them. It’s been over one month since my last replacement session and I still have roughly 20 in each eye. And, thankfully, when they apply them they make sure the placement is even on each side. The 20 that are still in are all roughly in the same spot. Phew. I’ve finally realised they are a silly waste of money.
Pretty cool, but I think it’s a lot less time consuming to slather on a decent mascara =)
Very good review. I had always wondered what it was all about.
Aimee — Yeah! If I hadn’t been offered to try it I probably never would have, but it looks magnificent, I’m so thrilled. I think they’re an excellent solution.
[a} — Thanks! I’m glad they don’t make me look like a drag queen, haha.
Gemma — Thanks for the information, though I would disagree on the “silly waste of money” part ;>
They are gorgeous!!!
I was considering eyelash extensions…but I can’t afford it :[...so I’ll stick with my mascara (I use three kinds!). I love falsies…well, the spikey ones, at least.
Wow, they look so natural…
droolsThe love you feel for your extensions matches the joy I feel when I get my eyelashes dyed. My true beauty is revealed!
Oooh – I love this. It is expensive, but think of the saving to your precious peepers – those of us with black lashes wouldn’t need to apply any more paint-like gunk! What is the glue stuff made of though, I wonder?
You look so beautiful!!!
Are they OK for an older man to wear?
I’m 54, fit and funky. Im keen on sports, will they stay on in tough conditions??
Thanks, your an inspiration.
It’s so you! You look really fabulous.
Remember that it is important to get eyelash extensions done by professional stylists. We are creating a list of certified and trained eyelash extensions stylists in every city at http://www.eyelashextensionsguide.com.