Are you a lash artist? Amongst the thousands of lash adhesives to choose from, have you ever been curious about which ones to use? In this blog post, we’ll discuss some red flags to watch out for when it comes to adhesive selection. Stay safe and informed!
When shopping for a lash extensions adhesive it’s important to note that all lash adhesives currently on the market contain acrylates of some type. Even the sensitive ones who claim to be “Cyanoacrylate free”.
Formaldehyde
Cyanoacrylate is present in all eyelash adhesives and is a Formaldehyde and Cyano-acetate derivative. Cyanoacrylate is the derivative formed when the two chemicals react together. It is used as an ingredient in all medical and non-medical grade adhesives used today.
Formaldehyde derivatives can be found in products such as eyelash adhesive, soaps, paints, makeup, preservatives and more.
This means that formaldehyde was used to make the products, the final product does not contain traceable amounts. Which is how the “Formaldehyde free” adhesives are allowed to be on the market.
As an eyelash artist, you will be inhaling lash fumes in incredibly small amounts over many hours every day, and you must ensure a proper ventilation system in the lashing room. If you are particularly sensitive, we advise you to wear a respiratory protective mask.
We wouldn’t recommend you to purchase a lash extension adhesive with Formaldehyde in the ingredients list.
Latex
Latex (natural rubber) is known to cause allergic reactions to some people. It is not advisable to use a glue containing latex. Make sure to check if the supplier has a “Latex free” label in their adhesive product description.
Fumes
Lash adhesive fumes that are released when the adhesive polymerizes can be heavily irritating to the lash artist and clients eyes when breathed in excess. Pick an adhesive that has “low fumes” on the bottle with a faster drying time to reduce the fume irritation.
NEVER USE COTTON AROUND UNCURED ADHESIVE AS IT IS FLAMMABLE AND RELEASES A VAST AMOUNT OF FUMES.
Dry time
Ideal dry time for cyanoacrylate adhesive is 0.5-1 second, allowing you to lash with speed and efficiency. For a beginner lash artist, we want to look for a slower drying adhesive. Slower drying adhesives with a 2-5 second dry time are more forgiving and allow you to correct mistakes. We would recommend not purchasing an adhesive that doesn’t match your lashing speed.
Shock curing
Shock curing happens when there is an excessive amount of moisture directly in contact with the adhesive before it is cured. The adhesive will have a white appearance on the lashes and retention will be poor. Too much moisture will cause the adhesive to become brittle and easily fall off with any friction. Make sure your lash room has a relative humidity range that matches the one listed on the adhesive bottle.
Buy from a trusted supplier
Only buy lash adhesives that are listed on trusted websites and from lash suppliers. We would recommend avoiding purchasing on Amazon unless the adhesive is directly from the supplier’s business and not a third party supplier. Make sure the label is also cruelty free!
Be on the lookout for some of these adhesive red flags. And if you have any questions at all, please book now and we would be more than happy to chat with you about your options!
Beautiverse team
Contact us anytime for additional information if needed.
Text: 647-932-0285
Email: Admin@beautiverse.ca