Continued from History of eye extensions and eye makeup (part 1)
In the early 2000s, semi-permanent eyelash extensions further developed in South Korea as lash wearers looked for a safe solution to make their lashes last longer. It is difficult to confirm who exactly came up with eyelash extensions as there is no clear record, but rumor has it that someone at a tape lash factory used leftover synthetic lashes to create individual lashes that can be applied to a natural lash.
At the initial stage of production, the quality of eyelash extensions left a lot to be desired. Factories were only capable of producing hard, plastic, straight J-curls.
Not only that, but the huge range of eyelash extension glue for all kinds of different wettities and drying speeds that we see today didn’t exist back then. Lash technicians in the early 2000s had to mix adhesives and driers themselves to suit their needs.
The quality of the supplies was poor and the shelf life short, but since there were hardly any lash technicians in the world, it cost over $2,000 to get a set of eyelash extensions back then. It was only after eyelash extensions grew in popularity and more and more eyelash technicians began to provide their services that prices began to drop.
Hollywood approved
In the mid-2000s, early adopters of this soon-to-be mega-trend, Paris Hilton and Madonna, famously wore eyelash extensions and helped the eyelash industry take off.
Semi-permanent eyelash extensions have finally provided a way to create natural looking lashes that won’t flake off in the blink of an eye (pun intended). Eyelash addicts loved the convenience of eyelash extensions. Do you wake up every day for a month with your lashes still looking perfect? What’s not to love!
From the J Curl to… every curl imaginable
Around the early 2000s, eyelash mapping wasn’t really a thing. Why; Because when there is only one curl available (J curl), and with a thick diameter and only 1 or 2 lengths to choose from, there isn’t much room for customization!
Fortunately, lash artists these days are gifted with an abundant array of curls (B, C, CC, D, DD, U, L, M and more!), which helps them design a variety of sets, all tailored for every person. eyelash condition and eye shape of the client.
We at BL Lashes are proud to be the FIRST to create unique curls like B, D, U, M, L, L+, EZ.
See all available curls in the eyelash extension chart
Classic in volume and many other styles
Early on, only classic eyelash extension (1 to 1 technique) was performed. Then one day in the 2010s, a clever eyelash artist in Russia reportedly developed a never-before-seen technique of grabbing two or three eyelashes and wrapping them around a natural eyelash. Thus was born our favorite Russian volume binding technique.
In the early stage of tumor lash, only thicker 0.15-0.20 mm lashes were available. As a result, volume docking was limited to 2D in 3D only. Then lash makers like us caught wind of the volume lash technique and started developing thinner 0.05-0.07mm lash extensions, which then launched the volume lash trend.
As we approached the mid-2010s, even thinner 0.03mm lashes were developed. This advance in production has allowed eyelash artists to create high volume eyelash sets using up to 20 strands per natural eyelash.
Here’s how to calculate the weight and thickness of volume lashes
The popularity of volume lash extensions has expanded the creative boundaries of lash artists and every few months inspires innovative lash techniques such as hybrid, Kim-K style, Wispy lash and Wet look. In recent years, the development of pre-made eyelash fans has made eyelash extensions even more popular, as they significantly reduce application time.
With a wide variety of lash supplies available in every curl, thickness, length and color imaginable, lash artists can create safe, custom lash extension kits while still having room to flex their creative muscles.
Here’s how to choose pre-made eyelash fans
Thanks, Kim K!
Love her or hate her, we have Kim Kardashian, reality star and contour queen, to thank for the parabolic growth of the eyelash industry.
It has popularized eyelash extension more than we could have imagined, and it really has become an everyday aesthetic embraced by millions of women around the world. Lashes have now become a must-have for the Instagram generation.
This is still just the beginning and we look forward to seeing how our industry grows and evolves in the near future. What new trends will appear in 5, 10, 15 years? We’re just as excited to hear about it as you are.
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