Author: Cynthia Tsang

Uncategorized

Break free from “breaks”

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Lashes by our master lash artist – Natalie Seguin

When your lash artist warns you that your natural lashes “need a break,” there is usually a reason she is saying that. And chances are it has nothing to do with your natural lashes and everything to do with your faux ones and how they’re being applied.

We need a break from a lot of things – the weather, our significant other, the news. But if your lash technician is giving you the right service with care and quality, long lashes aren’t something you would need a break from.

Here are a few reasons your lashes might require a little time off:

  • Your lash expert is isolating the natural lashes improperly. It can lead to long-term issues. Improper isolation will caused your natural lashes to clump together, causing them to become stressed, breakage and fall out prematurely.
  • Your natural lashes have had enough of the big flares they’re sadly being subjected to. And rightfully so! When a technician applies “cluster” lashes (big flares of five to seven lashes with a knot joining them at the bottom), they actually lay them on top of multiple natural lashes. The clusters are too heavy to put on individual lashes, so this seems like a great idea. But instead, it causes follicle stress and breakage to the natural lashes.
  • Your lash extensions are too heavy for your natural lashes. You might want mega volume looks, but if you don’t have a strong natural lash. Lashes are not one-eye-fits-all. They range from thin and fine to coarse and thick. Some are dry, others are oily. There’s even straight or curly. A properly trained lash technician will assess the limit of what your natural lashes can handle. It’s also important for you to be realistic and believe (and adhere to) their advice. Do it for your lash health. With the right extensions in place, the only break you’ll have to take is from using mascara on your lovely long lashes.
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Meet the Lash L’Amour Ladies – Claudia Grimaud, Brow Master

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What is your license or certification?

I am a certified type 6 aesthetician

How long have you been a beautician?

17 years

Which beauty services do you specialize in?

I specialize in Eyebrow Artistry 

One beauty tip that you wish all your client know?

 The best advice I can give is: drink 8 cups of water daily and reduce  alcohol to a minimum. Brush your brows and never go to bed with makeup on your face. Your skin will thank you for that. 

Three things in your life that make you feel blessed

My health, my family, all my opportunities in this life. 

What is your favorite beauty “treat” that you do for yourself?

I get a massage every single month .

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?  

My free time is dedicated to yoga practice . 

How many languages do you speak and what are they?

 I speak English, Portuguese, and a little Spanish.

Do you have kids or pets? How many?  

I am blessed with my daughter Michelle and a little dog name Figo ( fee-go)

What’s something I would never guess about you?

I meditate 20 minutes every morning. 

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10 TIPS YOUR LASH ARTIST WANTS YOU TO KNOW

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There’s Basic Lash 101 – Come to a lash appointment on time without eye makeup and ready for a hour-long beauty nap. Duh.

But what about the not-so-obvious stuff – insights that come with years of experience?

Well, get ready to be schooled.

Here are the top 10 tips from our Lash L’Amour lash experts that are sure to help you get the most out of your appointment:

  1. It’s not a one-lash-fits-all service. Read: A full set is customized to each person, taking into considering eye shape, natural lash fullness, and lash strength. These factors will dictate the fullness, length, and shape of your extensions.
  2. Your natural lashes (along with your extensions) will shed due to the natural cycle of hair growth. Translation: a refill every two to three weeks is highly recommended. The longer you wait between refills, the more time we’ll need to fill your lashes back to your desire fullness.
  3. Trust is important. We’re trained, licensed, and certified lash masters who take pride in our craft, so relax and let us guide you with recommendations on length, lash safety, and styling. We want to be your lash gurus.
  4. The road to beautiful lashes is a two-way street. We do our job by properly adhering each extension/volume fan perfectly to each of your natural lashes. You’ll need to take care of those babies at home. Your lifestyle and lash care affect the longevity of your extensions, so be sure to: avoid hot steam and oily products, don’t sleep face down or pull on your extensions, and skip mascara and liquid eyeliner.
  5. Clean those lush lashes daily! After the first 12 hours of getting your lashes done, it’s perfectly okay to wash them with water and a lash foam cleanser to avoid irritation and buildup.
  6. We would jump for joy if before your lash nap at Lash L’Amour, you would skip the caffeine, hit the restroom, and silence your phone for some “me time.”
  7. Don’t be shy! Your lashes speak volumes, so you should too! Speak up if you feel any discomfort. You should not feel any burning, scratching, or itchy sensations during the process.  If that neck pillow is bugging you, ask us to remove it. Lying down for a long time isn’t for everyone, so if you need to adjust things, please let us know. We want you to have the best experience when getting your lashes done.  
  8. We love a good chat. But keep talking to a minimum during your service. Concentration is the cornerstone of a great lash experience, as it takes intense focus to adhere a few hundred tiny extensions onto your natural lashes.  We only have an hour or so to make you feel and look like a million bucks.
  9. Change it up once in a while. Try a new lash look to keep it fun and fresh.
  10. Communicate with us. Ask questions, give feedback, and challenge us. We love hearing from you.
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Meet the Lash L’Amour Ladies – Erin Burke, Master Lash Artist and Quality Control Manager

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How long have you been with Lash L’Amour?
I have been here since day one. I was Cynthia’s first employee, eight years ago. I’m proud to say that I have seen this business grow from zero clients to the booming empire it is now.

Where do you live?
I live in Watertown with my two cats, Louie and Charlie.

Take us through your day as Master Lash Artist and Quality Control Manager.
I work in the Newton location, Monday through Friday, taking clients all day. I’m also the go-to person for all of the girls to ask technical questions or ask my opinion on certain questions about clients or lashes. I try to make sure that your experience is the same at Lash L’Amour no matter which lash artist you see, or which location you visit. I try to give them all of the knowledge I have acquired over the past eight years about lashes and customer service.

What is your favorite beauty “treat” that you do for yourself?
I love treating myself to facials. I’m trying to fight aging as much as I can!

When did you get your first pair of lashes? How did they make you feel?
My first set of lashes was done by Cynthia eight years ago when I was first hired. Lashes make me feel prettier!

What does having great lashes bring to a woman’s life?
I love that lashes make me feel pretty even without makeup. I have very blonde natural lashes, so if I’m not wearing mascara they’re pretty much nonexistent. When I have lashes on, I feel like I look good when I wake up in the morning. Lash extensions have given me the confidence to leave the house without any makeup and not feel self conscious!

What is your “can’t leave the house without” makeup?
I can’t leave the house without mineral foundation and blush.

What makes you feel beautiful?
Feeling confident makes me feel beautiful! Having a good hair day doesn’t hurt either.

Blog

How to Choose the Right Lash Extension Spa

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With lashes staying strong as one of the hottest beauty services in Boston, it’s amazing to us how many lash extension places are popping up. Choosing which one to trust to create a gorgeous (and safe) flirty fringe for your eyes can be daunting.

We’ve put together a few tips for deciding which location suits you. We hope to see you at Lash L’Amour for your next appointment!

Photo and lashes by Allison Schofield/ Lash L’Amour
  1. There’s something to be said for being a one-trick pony. When you specialize in a beauty service, you can dedicate all your hard work, time, and talent to it. Choose a lash spa that has lash extension application as its main menu item, as opposed to lashes being the add-on.
  2. Ask your other lash-wearing beauticians about their lashes. People who are in the industry know who’s best in the industry.
  3. We highly recommend calling the lash spa for questions prior to making an appointment.  A knowledgeable staff should be able to answer all your questions and address any concerns you might have.
  4. Why would you get a beauty service done without at least investigating? Channel your inner Nancy Drew and check out the lash spa’s reviews on-line and website. Also see if the lash spa has an Instagram, posting examples of their work.
  5. Lash artists should be properly trained, licensed, and certified. Ask upfront if this is the case (if they bat an eye at the question, go elsewhere). Also inquire if they’re up-to-date on the latest trends, techniques, and materials – the lash world is always changing. Their technicians know-how should, too.
  6. Try before you buy – sort of. A reputable place will let you come in for a complimentary consultation appointment and adhesive test. This is important especially if you have never had lashes. During the test, they will apply a few extensions on each eye using two different strengths of adhesive. If you’re allergic, you will experience minor redness and itchiness within 48 hours. If not, then you’re good to go.
  7. Make sure they listen. If you don’t want über-drama, you shouldn’t have dense and mile-long extensions. A good lash place will listen to what you want for a look that fits your lifestyle, face shape, etc. Translation – you’ll leave your appointment looking how you want to – not how they want you to.
  8. It’s worth it to pay a little extra for cleanliness, safety, and peace of mind coupled with a spa-like experience.
  9. Be extra careful and do your research before buying a lash service at a discount price
  10. Because this beauty service is unlike any other (read: it’s near your eyes), it’s important to have a great relationship with their team, should any issues arise. A good lash spa has responsive customer service and pays attention to clients’ needs.
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How to Maintain Full Lashes During the Fall Shedding Season

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They call it fall for reason. Leaves fall from trees. Clocks fall back an hour. You might even notice that your lashes seem to be falling off (or shedding) a bit more than usual. There’s no need to panic. It’s perfectly normal and have we a few tips to get you through it.

All of your lashes are in different stages of their 60- to 90-day growth cycle. There are baby lashes just appearing and growing (the Anagen phase lasting 15 to 20 days), “teenage” lashes (transitional Catagen phase lasting 14 to 21 days), and mature lashes (the resting Telogen phase lasting 30 to 45 days). In fall and winter, the length of the cycle can shift (no one knows why), and lashes may shed more frequently.

Everything starts closer to the end of the summer. During this time, intense heat may trigger more lash hairs to go into the resting phase, stopping growth, and causing them to fall out over the next month or two.

Also when temps and humidity start to drop in autumn, if your skin is dry, your hair follicles (located just below the skin) aren’t being as nourished well. Translation: their growth is affected and they can become brittle. Result: they fall out before their time is up.

There are a few ways to help your lashes stay full throughout the fall and winter months.

  • Invest in a lash growth serum to help them stay nourished. We love LiLash Purified Eyelash Serum because it can be safely used with lash extensions. It conditions and nourishes follicles to boost the appearance of length, thickness, and curl of your lashes. Grab one during your next visit at any of our locations or order it online from us.
  • Take Vitamin D. Known to keep bones and skin healthy, in recent years, it’s also been linked to boosting hair growth. A 2012 study in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine suggests that Vitamin D can actually help create new follicles!
  • Don’t wait three weeks for refill. Come in sooner. Heavier shedding means more frequent fills, so we’ll see you soon!

 

 

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Advance Your Career with Lash L’Amour

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It’s no secret that we have a learning center in South Boston. What’s even less hush hush is the incredible talent we have visiting from around the U.S. to teach at our school during special sessions.
 
And there’s an upcoming class you won’t want to miss.
 
Trina Dial of Maven Lash & Brow Artistry is coming from Texas to teach her Volume II Class. She travels all over the country to teach lash professionals her skilled techniques. And with 41,000 followers on Instagram, she’s clearly a maven of the lash beauty world.
 
During this two-day advanced master class for experienced artists proficient in volume application, you will learn all about styling and design – they’re the backbones of Volume II! We’ll study Maven’s unique Face Studies program, corrective lashing, creating illusion, structural symmetry and balancing facial appearance. Implementing the Face Studies techniques and lessons will revolutionize the way you assess your client’s features, challenging you to think creatively and design with intention.
 
As part of the class, you’ll receive:
  • Study Manual
  • Skill Building Worksheets
  • Student Kit
  • Face Studies™ Workbook
  • Practice on Live Models
  • Client Forms
  • Certificate (*upon successful completion of case study)
  • Ongoing Mentorship and Support
The Class is held at our Lash L’Amour learning center  at 840 Summer Street, 2nd floor, in
South Boston on April 29 and 30, 2019, and registration is available here.
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The Importance of Cleansing Your Lashes

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You take great measures to keep yourself beautiful and pampered. Your hair is shiny and lush. Your face is radiant, your skin soft and dewy. What about your lashes?

One of the biggest culprits of premature lash loss is not taking care of your lashes properly at home. To the naked eye, they might look squeaky clean. Glancing at them through your lash technician’s magnifying glass tells a different story.

Every day (especially during a night out in glamorous full makeup), your lash line is bombarded by dead skin, excess oils, and cosmetics. When you clean your lashes, you’re rinsing away these nasties to prevent bacteria build up, allergens, and even natural lash loss. This build up also eats away at your extension’s glue bond, breaking it down over time. Translation – extensions coule fall off your natural lash instead of lasting the entire life of the natural lash.

Give your lashes what they need – a proper cleansing with Lash L’Amour’s new foam cleanser. Available in scent-free or in a minty tea tree formula, this gentle cleanser removes makeup and oils for squeaky clean lashes. Choose the Tea Tree Extract for anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant agents that soothe and are great for sensitive skin.

How frequently you cleanse depends on you. If you keep your look natural, wash your eyelash extensions two to three times per week. If you reach for the makeup every day, wash lashes/remove makeup daily. Also using a cleanser specifically created for lashes means you will avoid potential glycols, oils, and other no-nos for lash extensions often found in regular facial cleansers and makeup removers.

How to use: Pump a small amount of foam onto your fingers. Gently apply to your lashes. Massage the lashes, eyelid, lash line, and around the eyes gently to remove makeup and clean your lashes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Lash L’Amour’s new foam lash cleansers are sold in all three of our locations and are available to purchase online for $20.

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Lash Lift vs. Extensions – Which is Right for You?

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Fact: When your lashes are lacking, it’s time for extensions.

But what if you already have the length but just not the lift? You might want to look into a lash lift.

It’s all in the name. Like a perm for your lashes, this service gives your natural lashes a nice upward shape and realistic curl that leads to fresh-faced, open-eyed beauty.

A lash lift lasts (say that three times fast) eight to 12 weeks and involves applying a super safe keratin to the lashes. Once the service is complete, you can also finish up with a tint for an extra depth and darkness that lasts three weeks.

But this isn’t a one-lift-fits-all service. It all comes down to what your natural lashes are like. A lift helps your natural lashes reach their full potential. Translation: If you have fine and short natural lashes or sparse lashes, the lift won’t make a difference. It won’t fill in gaps or add volume. If this is the case, skip the lash lift service and go straight to extensions.

An excellent candidate for the best lash lift results is someone with long natural lashes that are fuller than average. If you have you are batting an average length and amount, you also might want to get the lift.

No matter which service you choose – a lift, tiny, or extensions – your longer fuller, lashes await.

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Meet the Lash L’Amour Ladies: Monica Economou-Frasca, Spa Director

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 Where are you from originally? Loutaki, Greece
 
How long have you been in Boston? 27 years. I live in Swampscott with Roman, the most beautiful bulldog.
 
Tell us about your home in Greece. I grew up in one of the most beautiful little towns in Greece, surrounded by crystal clear water on one side and mountain on the other. It’s a gem. I call it home and it always will be since my heart feels the fullest when I’m there.
 
How long have you been with Lash L’Amour? 7 years
 
Take us through your day as spa director. My day begins with a quick call to Cynthia to plan the day. Then I travel to one (or sometimes all three) of the locations, checking in with front desk staff, following up on emails, ordering supplies, dealing with client issues, taking staff meetings, recruiting our next best lash specialists, fixing schedules, and completing all the to-do lists from the boss lady.
 
What is your favorite beauty “treat” that you do for yourself? I love to get massages, and have nails and lashes done.
 
When did you get your first pair of lashes? How did they make you feel? Ten years ago. I felt liberated and a lot more confident without makeup.
 
How do extensions add to a woman’s life? The end result is magical. It’s an immediate confidence boost and you’re ready to conquer the world. The feeling of freshly done lashes is undeniably one of the most amazing feelings in the world for a woman.
 
What is your “can’t leave the house without” makeup? bottom lash liner and brow powder
 
What makes you feel beautiful? My lashes!

Meet the Lash L’Amour Ladies is a new series where you will get to know each of our wonderful and talented staff and management team members.