Don’t we all wish we could wake up, do our morning routines and go about our day without having to worry about how we look?
For people who spend a lot of time on makeup, most would find themselves wishing it was easier. In the fast-paced world we live in today, every second counts, and the time spent on making yourself look presentable before going out takes a good chunk of our day. The moments we spend retouching our makeup or fixing our appearance throughout the day notwithstanding, getting ready probably averages an hour each day. Imagine the things we could be doing with that hour—maybe taking our time to enjoy our morning brew or lazing around a bit more in bed—and you’ll find yourself thinking: how can we make it quicker?
Here’s the answer: eyelash extensions.
No, they’re not a new thing. In fact, eyelash extensions date back to the 19th century, when Parisians sewed hair onto their eyelids. Yes, sewn onto eyelids. As horrifying as that sounds, the methods used for eyelash extensions have drastically improved throughout the years (to the point that they look like one’s natural lashes) and most importantly, are painless. Eyelash extensions are available at many salons or clinics nowadays, and anyone—so long as they have the means—can book an appointment and get full, fluttery lashes in an hour or two.
Allow me to tell you an anecdote. A month ago, I received an invitation to the launch of a certain name brand’s trunk show (read more about the trunk show here). Because this brand is popular among women, a lot of Cebu’s most stylish female personalities were in attendance. As with any social event, I did my introductory rounds, said my hellos to those I knew…and realized that every woman present was wearing lash extensions. Well, save for me and two others. Still, realization hit me like a bolt of lightning: eyelash extensions seemed worth it. I had always been curious about the procedure and wanted to try it out for myself, but never got around to it.
It wasn’t until I got home from that event did I do my research. Questions along the lines of “What are the pros and cons?”, “What should I expect before and after getting them done?”, and “Where is the best place to get lash extensions in Cebu?” were typed into my internet browser’s search bar. After extensive research, I had a place in mind to get them done, but I was a bit adamant since I knew this place better as a nail salon (in my opinion, I believe they’re one of the best nail salons in the city). That put my plans on hold. Was I really going to risk getting eyelash extensions at a nail salon? Despite the glowing reviews of their lash services, I wasn’t so confident.
While scrolling through Instagram days later, I came across a post of one of Metro Manila’s best lash places. Called New Lounge, they were a relatively new player in the field, having opened in 2017. Despite that, they’re the go-to for celebrities like Heart Evangelista (one of our favourite cover girls—read here for the nostalgia story!), Nadine Lustre, Miss World Philippines 2018 Katarina Rodriguez and more. New Lounge announced that they were setting up shop in Cebu soon. After checking their reviews, I was wholly convinced that I would get my lashes done at New Lounge once they opened.
The wait didn’t take long. A few days before their soft opening on July 28, they were already accepting appointments. Booking a 5:30PM appointment on that day was a breeze; you can easily pick your preferred time and date, and fill in the needed information such as your name, email and contact number. From there, you’re sent an email and contacted by their staff to confirm your appointment.
Before your appointment, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t wear any eye makeup. This is to avoid taking up too much time. Base makeup and putting on eyebrows are acceptable, though. But for best results, make sure you’re freshly showered and come bare-faced.
Avoid applying any creams or oils on the eye area as well, since these might reduce the effectiveness of the lash glue.
When the date of my appointment rolled around, I was buzzing with nervous excitement—and thirty minutes early. The lounge was pretty much unoccupied save for one lady; she was finishing up her appointment and then I was the only guest left.
Whether or not you’re new to eyelash extensions, a consultation is always done before anything happens. My lash specialist for the day was Kemberly, who spoke comfortably with me in Cebuano. I showed her a photo of the look I wanted to achieve, but requested a shorter length, as it was my first time trying lash extensions. She recommended their Signature Volume Eyelash Extensions, which was a full set, using a mix of 9mm and 10mm lashes.
When it came to the application stage, Kemberly noted that the lashes were the same length as my natural ones and asked if I would be okay with it. Since it was my first time, I told her that I didn’t mind.
“Anyway, if I really like it, I might ask for a longer length when I come back,” I added. She couldn’t help but laugh at that.
It was a gloomy day because of the rain, but the sound of the raindrops added to the ambient sound of the lounge. The application took nearly two hours; I dozed off for a short time in between. It didn’t hurt at all, if falling asleep is any indication.
When Kemberly told me that we were done, she handed me a mirror to show how it looked. The lash extensions were very flattering, and complemented my eye shape well. While they weren’t very long, they were voluminous. Best of all, the lashes felt weightless.
I was floored. There was such a big difference. While my lashes were fairly nice prior to application (thank you for these genes, daddy), the eyelash extensions brought all the attention to my eyes because of how fluttery they looked.
To help take care of my lashes, Kemberly gave me some pointers:
As of writing, it’s been a little over two weeks since my first appointment, and I just had my touch-up. Very little fallout happened, and I opted to go for a longer length. I wanted the 12mm lashes (which is the longest), but Kemberly advised that I do the change gradually so that the lashes blend as natural as possible to the previous application—jumping from a mix of 9mm and 10mm to 12mm would make it look awkward.
Honestly, lash extensions are definitely worth it. As someone who wears makeup daily, my time spent on applying it has been reduced by half (40 minutes is the average when I’m taking my sweet time). I barely have to exert effort now that my lashes look bomb. They don’t bother me at all, and I can even go sans makeup on some days.
Overall, I’d say that eyelash extensions help you look effortless. It gives you a confidence boost too. If you’re looking to get them done, I recommend doing your research and consulting with the lash specialists beforehand, and try to see what suits you best.
New Lounge Cebu is located at One Paseo Building, Paseo Saturnino, Banilad. They’re open from 10:00am to 9:00pm from Mondays through Sundays. You may book your appointment here.
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