Lash shedding is part of the natural cycle of hair loss, re-growth, and regeneration. All hair on our bodies sheds and re-grows, and all hair does so in cycles – you’ve probably noticed this if you wax regularly, and you can notice it with the hair on your head as well.
Growing in cycles means that hair grows in generations. At any given time, we have hairs which are in either one of the three hair growth stages: the anagen stage (the beginning stage when the lashes have just started to grow out of the skin, they are small and barely visible), the catagen stage (the transitional stage during which the hair is mid length – this stage lasts the longest), and the telogen stage (the hair is full grown and ready to shed, and when it falls out, a new baby lash starts growing in its place, repeating the cycle).Because hair grows in generations, we are never left hairless and we never truly notice that we are, in fact, losing hair all the time.
Lash extensions are glued to the already existing lashes which are mid-growth, in the catagen stage of the lash growth cycle. This is the best stage for the attachment of lash extensions because the natural lashes are long enough to amplify the effect, but young enough to keep the look fresh for a longer period of time – while your lashes may look longer if the extensions were attached to the lashes in the telogen stage of their growth cycle, those lashes would shed very quickly, and the extensions would be lost sooner. Eyelash extensions can last only as long as the growth cycle of the natural lashes. Extensions are not immune to lash shedding, as they are attached to the natural lashes and fall out with them. Unfortunately, it may very well happen that the extensions lifespan is cut short by factors other than natural lash shedding like poor aftercare, make up, oil-rich products, the season, your lifestyle, and skin type.
You won’t lose all your extensions at the same time, but the loss of the longest and thickest lashes will leave the lashes looking uneven as the shed lashes are replaced by new, smaller ones. This is why you are advised to book your refill appointment every two to three weeks – depending on your lash shedding cycle. Your diligence when it comes to personal hygiene and lash aftercare will influence the retention of the extensions.
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