Eyelash Extension Consultation and Hygiene

Course: Eyelash extensions course from A to Z · Module 3 of 10

No amount of technique makes up for a poor consultation. In this module you will learn how to run a thorough eyelash extension consultation: what to ask, which situations mean you should not go ahead (or should ask for a healthcare professional’s opinion first), how to approach patch testing, what a client record and consent form should cover, and the hygiene and disinfection routine that belongs in every appointment.

Remember: as a lash artist you don’t diagnose or treat health conditions. Your job is to spot warning signs, decline the treatment when it isn’t appropriate and refer to a healthcare professional when in doubt.

Module objectives

Carry out a structured consultation before the first appointment and update it at every visit.
Recognise situations where extensions should not be applied or should be postponed.
Know what the sources say about patch testing and its limits.
Put together a useful client record and informed consent form while respecting data protection.
Apply a hand, tool and surface hygiene routine at every appointment.

Why consultation is essential

Extensions are applied to a very sensitive area using chemicals (adhesive, primer, remover) just millimetres from the eye. A retrospective study in the journal Cornea (Amano and colleagues, 2012) reviewed 107 women who attended eye clinics in Japan with complaints related to extensions: 64 had keratoconjunctivitis attributed to glue or remover, 42 had allergic blepharitis from the glue, and there were also cases of conjunctival erosion from eyelid-fixing tape and one subconjunctival haemorrhage linked to removal.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeWiki summarises the complications described (keratoconjunctivitis, allergic blepharitis and eyelid swelling, conjunctival erosion, subconjunctival haemorrhage and traction alopecia) and notes that allergic blepharitis symptoms may appear hours or days after application. Consultation exists to reduce those risks and to make sure the client knows what is normal and what isn’t.

The eyelash extension consultation step by step

Explain the treatment. What extensions are, how long the appointment takes, that her eyes will be closed throughout, which products you use and what upkeep they need.
Ask about eye health. Current infections or inflammation, styes, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dry eye, contact lens use, recent eye or eyelid surgery.
Ask about allergies and past reactions. Reactions to lash glue, adhesive tape, eye-area cosmetics or tints.
Ask about the skin around the eyes. Dermatitis, eczema or irritation.
Ask about ongoing medical treatment that could affect the area or the lashes; if there is any, the decision belongs to her doctor.
Look at the natural lashes. Density, diameter, length, direction, gaps, and any very fine or fragile lashes.
Listen to her expectations. Style, level of volume, whether it’s her first time, and her daily routine (sport, sauna, make-up).
Record everything and get a signed consent form before you begin.

Contraindications: when not to go ahead

There is no single official list of contraindications for lash extensions. The table below brings together criteria based on health sources and professional practice, taking a cautious approach.

Situation	What to do	Basis
Active eye infection (conjunctivitis, stye) or inflamed skin around the eye	Don’t treat; postpone until resolved and, where appropriate, cleared by her doctor	The FDA advises against using eye cosmetics with an eye infection or inflamed skin around the eye
Previous reaction to lash adhesive	Don’t treat	The AAO EyeWiki says people with a history of allergy should avoid extensions
Existing eye disease, corneal problems, chronic blepharitis or dermatitis	Don’t treat without prior assessment by an eye health professional	AAO EyeWiki; Dr Sara Wester (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute)
Recent eye or eyelid surgery	Ask for clearance from her ophthalmologist; don’t set the waiting time yourself	Waiting periods quoted in the industry vary widely
Medical treatment affecting the eyes, skin or lashes	Check with her doctor before booking	Precautionary principle
Very fine, short or fragile natural lashes	Consider whether she is a suitable candidate; it may be better not to treat, or to drastically reduce weight	Industry practice

When in doubt, don’t. Losing an appointment is far better than causing an injury.

Contact lenses

Industry preparation guides agree that contact lenses should be removed before the treatment. Ask your client to bring her lens case and glasses.

Patch testing

It pays to be very clear here, because there is a lot of conflicting information around:

There is no single protocol. The AAO EyeWiki says allergy questionnaires or skin patch tests “may be considered”, without setting a method. Brands and academies suggest 24–48 hours of observation, but they don’t agree on the method.
Sources disagree on method. Some suggest putting adhesive on the skin (behind the ear or on the wrist); others, such as London Lash, specifically advise against applying adhesive to the skin because of its irritant properties, and instead suggest attaching a few extensions to each eye using the same products you’ll use in the full treatment.
A clear result guarantees nothing. Industry sources themselves warn that a client may not react to the test but react later, and that sensitivity can develop over time, even in regular clients.

How to handle it in practice

Follow the method and timing set out by your adhesive manufacturer and your educator, and check what your liability insurer requires, as requirements vary.
Use exactly the same products (primer, adhesive, tape) in the test as in the treatment.
Record the date, products and batch numbers, and the result.
Tell the client that if she gets intense itching, swelling, pain or redness she should contact you to have the extensions removed and see a healthcare professional.
If the client declines the test, note this in writing on her record.

The client record

A good record protects you and your client and helps you work better at every infill. It should include:

Contact details and the date of every visit.
Answers to the health questionnaire (eyes, allergies, skin, treatments), updated at every appointment.
Patch test result, if one was done, or a note that it was declined.
Products used: adhesive and batch number, primer, tape or pads.
Design applied: curls, diameters and lengths by zone.
Notes: fragile lashes, sensitivity, anything that happened during the appointment.

Data protection

Questions about allergies and eye health produce health data, which the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Article 9) treats as a special category of personal data. In practice: only ask for what you need, tell clients what you use it for, store it securely, and check your specific obligations with your national data protection authority (for example the AEPD in Spain or the ICO in the UK) or an adviser.

Informed consent

The consent form is where your client confirms she has been informed and agrees to the treatment. In plain language, it should explain:

What the treatment involves and which products are used (including that the adhesive contains cyanoacrylate).
Possible adverse effects (irritation, allergic reaction, discomfort) and that a clear patch test doesn’t rule them out completely.
That she has answered the health questionnaire truthfully.
Aftercare and what to do if she reacts.
Signature and date.

Don’t copy templates from the internet without checking them: adapt the form to your business and, if you have legal questions, ask a professional. In Spain, adverse effects from cosmetic products can be reported to the medicines agency (AEMPS) through its NotificaCS portal; other countries have their own reporting channels.

Hygiene and disinfection at every appointment

Hand hygiene

The AAO EyeWiki includes hand hygiene among its recommendations for practitioners. The WHO advises that rubbing hands with an alcohol-based rub should take 20–30 seconds and washing with soap and water 40–60 seconds, with soap and water used when hands are visibly soiled. Do it before you start and every time you touch anything unrelated to the treatment (phone, hair, door handle).

Single-use items

Micro brushes, disposable wands, pads and tape are single use: used on one client and thrown away. Never put a used micro brush back into a product container. Always keep a stock of disposables; you’ll find them in our accessories section.

Tweezers and reusable tools

Clean first. Remove adhesive residue and dirt. CDC disinfection guidance stresses that meticulous cleaning must come before any disinfection or sterilisation process: without it, the disinfectant can’t work properly.
Disinfect with a product suitable for instruments, following the manufacturer’s contact time and dilution.
Dry and store tweezers in a clean, closed container until the next appointment.
Own more than one set so you’re never tempted to reuse tweezers that haven’t been processed. Browse our tweezers if you need a spare pair.

Surfaces and linen

Clean and disinfect the bed, worktop, lamp and glue holder between clients. Use disposable covers or clean linen on the bed and pillow.

Local rules

Hygiene and licensing requirements for beauty businesses depend on where you work (in Spain, on the autonomous community and the local council). Check the rules that apply to you before you open your treatment room.

Common mistakes

Doing the consultation only once and never updating it at infills.
Applying extensions “carefully” to a client with a red eye or an active infection.
Presenting the patch test as a guarantee.
Not recording the batch number of the adhesive used.
Reusing micro brushes or dipping used ones back into the product.
Disinfecting tweezers with glue residue still on them.

Module summary

Consultation covers eye health, allergies, skin, medical treatment, a look at the lashes and expectations.
Active eye infection, inflamed skin or a previous adhesive reaction: no treatment.
Eye disease, recent surgery or medical treatment: a healthcare professional’s assessment first.
Patch testing has no single protocol, and a clear result does not guarantee there will be no reaction.
Records and consent forms are kept up to date and stored in line with data protection law.
Hand hygiene, single-use disposables, clean and disinfected tweezers and clean surfaces at every appointment.

Self-assessment

A client arrives with a stye on her upper eyelid. What do you do?

You don’t treat. You postpone until it has cleared and, where appropriate, her doctor has given the all-clear.

Why shouldn’t you present a patch test as a guarantee?

Because a client may not react to the test but react later, and sensitivity can develop over time, even in regular clients.

Which product details should go on the client record?

The adhesive used and its batch number, the primer and the tape or pads, plus the design applied (curls, diameters and lengths).

What step must always come before disinfecting tweezers?

Cleaning: removing adhesive residue and dirt, because without prior cleaning the disinfectant can’t work properly.

How long does the WHO recommend for hand rubbing with an alcohol-based rub?

20 to 30 seconds; washing with soap and water takes 40 to 60 seconds.

Sources

Note: this module is for education and information only and does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator, or medical or legal advice. Always follow each product manufacturer’s instructions and, if a client reacts, remove the product and advise her to see a healthcare professional.

Buy the course supplies

All the supplies for this course are available at Lash Canarias:

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