The TRUTH About Sensitive Eyelash Extensions Glue...

Having been in the lash industry for a few years now, and having begun my journey growing the London Lash Instagram Account before moving onto Customer Service for 3 years, I’ve been asked A LOT about sensitive eyelash glue. So here’s a lowdown. 

What Makes A Lash Glue ‘Sensitive’?

Put simply, it’s the amount of cyanoacrylate inside it, the less cyanoacrylate, the more ‘sensitive’ it is deemed to be. What does this mean, though? It means your glue dries slowly, which actually exposes your client to the fumes for longer and increases your working time as you have to hold the extensions for longer while the glue cures on the lashes. It also increases the risk of stickies because it stays wet for longer. 

Does Sensitive Eyelash Glue Prevent Allergic Reactions?

No. It might slow the onset of an allergic reaction or make it less severe in the first instance or two, but if a client is allergic to the cyanoacrylate in lash glue, there’s nothing you can really do to change that fact. Allergic reactions to lash glue are accumulative, that means they build up over time as the body continuously tries to tell you ‘I don’t like this, stop’ - with that being the case, reactions will 1. Become more severe over time, and 2. Are more likely to affect clients who have been with you for a while.

 

Does Eyelash Glue for Sensitive Eyes Prevent Chemical Burn?

No, again it still has the same ingredients and it still produces fumes - like I touched on above, due to its slower drying time you and your client are actually exposed to those fumes for longer, so if their eyes are open during the treatment, they’re just as likely, if not more likely to experience a chemical burn with a slower drying glue. 

So They Don’t Exist? 

I can’t speak for every lash brand, but we never market any glue as ‘sensitive’ for the above reasons - it leads you to believe your client’s allergy will be cured when really, it may reduce it for a while, only for it to come back worse in future. Some brands do have glues which they might market as sensitive, which will be very slow to cure. You can try them, of course, and they might even help, but you should exercise caution at any rate. 

 

Are There Any Lash Extensions Glues Without Cyanoacrylate?

There are glues being developed which don’t contain cyanoacrylate and they are popping up very very sporadically and rarely. Between you and me, we actually tested one a couple of years ago but it didn’t really work the way we hoped it would, and the retention wasn’t anywhere near as good. Since then, they’ve been more difficult to source from developers and brands alike, but if they ever become available and are of excellent quality, rest assured we’ll be first in line to add them to our collection! 

For more information about chemical burns and allergic reactions, check out this blog post, which goes into lots more detail and gives some tips and tricks to help you avoid and recognise them!