Have you ever wondered why is your eyelash extension glue not drying?
There can be many possible reasons as to why this is happening, but in order to prevent this scenario from reoccurring, the best thing to do is to learn how to properly cure your lash adhesive.
Read this article to learn how to cure eyelash extensions and which products to use to make the whole process easier and more pleasant for your clients.
What’s the Difference Between Drying and Curing?
Drying is a process where lash adhesive air-dries from the outside, allowing technicians to continue adding extensions one after the other without them clumping up together.
Curing is a process where the adhesive dries inside out, not only superficially, with the help of moisture or fine mist particles.
The rule of thumb when getting eyelash extensions is that you should wait 24-48 hours before getting them wet because that’s the time needed for the adhesive to air dry and set.
However, with curing, this is not the case. Curing will allow you or your clients to wet their eyelash extensions as early as 5-10 hours after they’re applied.
Curing is also beneficial for clients with sensitive eyes, as this process lessens the exposure to harmful fumes emitted from lash adhesives and prevents dryness and irritation.
Image source: Instagram @milanesthetics
How to Cure Eyelash Extensions
Curing is a fairly simple process that can make a big difference when it comes to retention. Let’s take a look at the lash extension curing process:
Apply the Extensions
The lash technician applies the extensions to one individual natural lash at a time and bonds them together with a specialized adhesive.
Wait for the Adhesive to Set
Depending on the lash adhesive formula used during the procedure, there is a waiting time of about a couple of seconds, up to 1 minute for it to set.
Learn all about different types of lash extension adhesives and how to use them here.
Cure the Adhesive
To cure and speed up the setting process, lash techs use devices like a mini lash fan, a nano mister, or a nebulizer. However, this step should not be relied on as the sole means of curing.
Wait for the Adhesive to Fully Dry
Curing is a process that will take about 5-10 hours to finish. During this time, the client should avoid getting their lashes wet and should not use oil-based products on or around their lashes.
How to Make the Curing Process Faster? Top Product Picks
There are several products on the market today that professional eyelash technicians use to speed up the curing time at the end of their lash appointments. Let’s get to know them a little bit better:
Lash Drying Fan
An eyelash extension drying fan, or a mini lash fan as most techs call it, is a handheld device used to dry and cure the lash adhesive in a shorter period of time.
It is typically battery-powered and helps circulate the air to speed up the drying process.
This can be quite beneficial for a couple of reasons – first, it can reduce the time your clients have to keep their eyes closed, and second, it can prevent the lashes from sticking together or moving out of place.
While a lash drying fan can be quite helpful in speeding up the drying process, lash techs must still allow the adhesive to cure fully with the addition of other devices, as using the fan alone can shorten the lifespan of lash extensions.
Nano Mister
Nano misters are handheld devices that emit a fine mist of water droplets.
Since most lash adhesives are made of acrylic resins, the best way to cure them is to help them harden and bond together with the natural lash using hydrogen.
By using a nano mister you can introduce hydrogen through the fine mist it emits and in that way cure the extensions more quickly.
However, be careful not to use the nano mister for too long, as this can lead to the whitening of lash extensions and extremely poor retention traits. Some nano misters emit quite big water particles, so be careful not to overwet the lashes.
Nano misters are also believed to help seal the lash extensions, making them more durable and longer-lasting.
Nebulizer
Nebulizers are devices that similarly to nano misters, turn water into a fine, fog-like mist used primarily for inhaling. However, they have become increasingly popular in the lashing industry as a way to cure lash adhesives.
A nebulizer polymerizes the lash glue quickly while cooling and soothing the eyes from exposure to harmful lash adhesive fumes. This can also prevent burning sensations, tingles, itchiness, and redness.
While nebulizers emit a finer mist than nano misters and are also more silent, they can be more pricey.
That being said, experienced lash techs say a nebulizer is better to use in places with high humidity than a nano mister, which is better in climates with low humidity.
Lash Extension Bonder
A lash extension bonder is a liquid sealant used to immediately cure the lash extension adhesive.
Unlike misting devices that start the curation process from the outside of the lash, a lash bonder instantly cures the adhesive from the outside to the inside. Due to this speedy process, a client will experience zero to minimal irritation from fumes.
However, remember to wait at least 5 minutes after applying the extensions, before adding a bonder on top as this can lead to retention issues.
In Conclusion
The curing process for lash extensions involves allowing the adhesive to fully dry and bond with the natural lashes.
This can be achieved by using mist-emitting devices like nano misters and nebulizers, or by applying a specialized bonding agent.
A mini lash drying fan can help speed up the drying process, helping your clients get better retention even when wetting their lashes in under 24 hours.
Find out more about eyelash extensions from this in-depth guide.
