That’s what brands claim, but is that really so?
Let’s figure it out!
So, any semi-permanent glue for individual eyelash extensions is a substance containing several components as follows: Cyanoacrylate, stabilizers, and a coloring agent.
- A coloring agent or pigment is a substance used to color glue. Manufacturers commonly add black pigments to their products, and they get them from gum and dyes. The pigment has nothing to do with eyelash extensions adhesion or retention.
🔺It can cause allergies.
- Cyanoacrylate is the main component of any eyelash extension glue.
This substance is extremely caustic and has a harsh smell caused by the vapor emanating from the glue you are working with. Lash artists should be extremely cautious while working with glue, as those fumes are the ones that cause allergic reactions. Nevertheless, this ingredient is the one that makes your eyelash extensions stick in place firmly.
🔺Cyanoacrylate can cause irritation by contact or by fumes, thus it requires following a number of precautions (e.g. making sure that your client's eyes are tightly closed during the appointment, preventing eye/skin contact, fumes control, using fan/nanomister, etc.).
- Stabilizers make the eyelash extension glue persistent under various climatic conditions and help to prevent the glue from hardening inside the bottle.
🔺It’s quite likely they cause allergies as well.
But that’s not all, as manufacturers use some additional ingredients, which, for example, serve as preservatives. Consequently, the percentage ratio of these substances in glue, as well as their chemical formula (there are more aggressive and less aggressive mixtures), define the quality of glue.
Well, when you apply a microdrop of glue onto the surface of the natural lash, the stabilizers evaporate after some time, the Cyanoacrylate molecules consolidate, and the glue eventually dries.
Well, when you apply a microdrop of glue onto the surface of the natural lash, the stabilizers evaporate after some time, the Cyanoacrylate molecules consolidate, and the glue eventually dries.
It won’t be able to glue anything at all! Oh yes, there will be no harsh fumes in this case of course!
So, we come to the conclusion that there are no hypoallergenic semi-permanent glues for individual eyelash extensions. They just don't exist!
What you can do in order to eliminate the risk of possible reactions is to perform a patch test a couple of days before the appointment to make sure that your client is not allergic to the glue.
Why do they advertise “hypoallergenic glue” on the labels then?
Manufacturers most likely reduce the percentage of Cyanoacrylate in their products, and this solution has longer drying time. You will have to either deliberately “speed up” the glue you apply, or accept the fact and wait twice as long to complete the eyelash extension procedure. However, such eyelash glues still contain the same strong material Cyanoacrylate, although in a lower content.
Why are some clients allergic to one kind of glue and are OK with another one?
Well, it’s all personal! Different strokes for different folks!