Client Preparation for Eyelash Extensions

Course: Eyelash extensions course from A to Z · Module 5 of 10

Retention and comfort are largely decided before the first extension goes on. In this module you’ll learn how to handle client preparation for eyelash extensions: what to tell her before the appointment, how to cleanse the lashes, how to place pads and tape without causing irritation, how to position her on the bed and how to protect her eyes throughout the treatment.

Module objectives

Give clients clear pre-appointment instructions so they arrive properly prepared.
Cleanse the lashes effectively and safely.
Place hydrogel pads and tape so the lower lashes are fully covered without touching the waterline.
Position the client comfortably and securely.
Protect the eyes throughout the treatment and recognise signs of irritation.

Client preparation for eyelash extensions: before the appointment

Good preparation starts with your confirmation message. Salon and brand guides broadly agree on these points:

Arrive without eye make-up. Removing it in the treatment room eats into lashing time, and mascara residue or oily products interfere with bonding.
Avoid oily products around the eyes before the appointment (oil-based make-up removers, eye creams with oils), for the same reason.
Contact lenses: industry sources recommend removing them before the treatment. Divine Lashes explains that with the eyes closed for the whole appointment, less oxygen and moisture reach the cornea, and a lens restricts that supply further, which can cause dryness and irritation. Ask her to bring her lens case and, ideally, her glasses.
Extensions from another salon: if she has some, decide at consultation whether they should come off before a new set.
Punctuality: the appointment has a fixed length; arriving late means less lashing time.

On arrival: a quick check

Update the health questionnaire (Module 3): changes since the last visit, reactions, medication, eye discomfort.
Look at the eyes and surrounding skin. If there is redness, swelling, discharge or any sign of infection, don’t go ahead.
Check she isn’t wearing contact lenses.
Explain what she’ll feel: that her eyes will stay closed, that she’ll feel the pads, and that she should tell you straight away about any itching, stinging or watering.
Suggest a bathroom visit before you start and ask her to silence her phone: once she’s lying down, any interruption means stopping.

Positioning on the bed

Your client lies on her back with her head as close as possible to the end of the bed where you sit, so you don’t have to lean over (Module 2). Adjust the pillow so her neck is supported and her face points straight up, not turned to one side. A light blanket and hands resting on her tummy help her stay still and relaxed, which means calmer eyelids.

Practical tip: before placing the pads, ask her to close her eyes gently, without squeezing. A squeezed eyelid wrinkles the skin, shifts the pad and leaves gaps where lower lashes escape.

Cleansing the lashes

Dr Sara Wester, an ophthalmologist at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, recommends cleaning the lashes thoroughly before extensions are applied. As well as being hygienic, cleansing removes sebum from the glands along the lid margin (Module 1), make-up and pollution, all of which get in the way of a good bond.

Step by step

Wash your hands (Module 3).
Inspect the lashes in good light: mascara residue, flaky skin, product build-up.
Apply a dedicated lash cleanser with a clean disposable brush, eyes closed, following the direction of growth.
Rinse using the method set out by the cleanser’s manufacturer (some industry guides use saline), without letting liquid get into the eye.
Dry the lashes and under-eye skin completely, gently and without rubbing. Pads won’t stick well to damp skin or skin with cream residue.
Check again: if residue remains, repeat before moving on.

You’ll find lash cleansers in our glue and liquids section.

Hydrogel pads: how to place them

Pads isolate the lower lashes so they don’t get stuck to the upper ones. They are also one of the most common sources of irritation when badly placed: the AAO EyeWiki and the Amano study (Cornea, 2012) both list conjunctival erosion from eyelid-fixing tapes or pads among the complications described.

Step by step

Make sure the skin is clean and dry.
Ask your client to look up (eyes open) if that’s how you were trained, or work with her eyes closed: what matters is a clear view of the lower waterline.
Place the pad so it fully covers the lower lashes, starting at the inner corner and working outwards.
Leave a gap from the waterline. Manufacturers express this differently: Lashbase, for example, recommends positioning its pads 0.5–1 mm from the waterline, while GladGirl simply says to leave space between pad and waterline. Follow your product’s instructions.
Ask her to close her eyes and check that the pad isn’t touching the eye, isn’t covering the glands along the lid margin and isn’t leaving any lower lashes loose.
Ask how it feels. If she feels stinging, itching or something in her eye, reposition the pad before you start.

Pads are single use. You’ll find hydrogel pads in our accessories.

Tape: when and how to use it

Tape is used to secure the lower lashes over the pad or to hold back lashes that get in your way. Some pad manufacturers recommend placing tape over the pads to make sure all the lower lashes stay covered for the whole appointment.

Precautions to keep in mind:

Tape must never touch the waterline or the eye. In the Amano study there were cases of conjunctival erosion linked to eyelid-fixing tapes and one case of allergic blepharitis attributed to tape.
Apply it without tension. Don’t pull on the eyelid skin.
Ask about sensitivity to tape adhesives at consultation and note which tape you use on the client record.
Remove it carefully, slowly and while supporting the skin, without pulling on the lashes.

There are different types of tape (paper, breathable, micro-foam); you’ll find several options in our accessories.

Primer, at the right moment

With the lashes clean and the pads in place, the final preparation step is usually primer, if you use it. As you saw in Module 4: a lightly loaded micro brush, lashes only, no contact with skin or waterline, and allow it to dry completely before you start. If any product lands on the pad or skin, wipe it away.

The exact order (for instance, whether pads go on before or after cleansing) may vary with your training and the products you use; what matters is that when you start, the lashes are clean, dry, isolated and free of excess product.

Protecting the eyes throughout the treatment

Eyes closed from start to finish. Your client shouldn’t open them until you’ve removed the pads and told her she can.
Never pass products over her face. Keep the glue holder to one side and bring the extension in from the outside.
Use the minimum amount of product (adhesive, primer, remover). The AAO EyeWiki attributes extension-related keratoconjunctivitis to chemicals spreading onto the surface of the eye.
Watch for signs of irritation: watering, stinging, fluttering eyelids or redness. Stop, check the position of pads and tape, and ask your client how she feels.
If the discomfort doesn’t settle, don’t carry on. Remove what’s needed and advise her to see a healthcare professional if it persists.
When you finish, remove pads and tape slowly, as the manufacturer directs, supporting the skin and without pulling on the lashes.

Common mistakes

Giving no pre-appointment instructions and losing half the appointment to make-up removal.
Placing pads on damp or creamy skin so they lift during the treatment.
Leaving the pad touching the waterline or the eye.
Leaving lower lashes uncovered so they end up stuck to the upper lashes.
Stretching the eyelid skin with tape.
Carrying on when the client says her eye stings.
Applying primer with an overloaded micro brush so it drips onto the pad.

Module summary

Ask clients to arrive without eye make-up, avoid oily products around the eyes and remove contact lenses.
On arrival, update the questionnaire and check eyes and skin; with signs of infection or inflammation, don’t treat.
Cleanse the lashes thoroughly with a dedicated cleanser and dry them completely.
The pad covers all the lower lashes without touching the waterline or the eye, at the distance the manufacturer specifies.
Tape goes on without tension and never over the waterline.
Eyes closed throughout, minimum product, and stop immediately if there is any discomfort.

Self-assessment

Why should clients remove contact lenses before the treatment?

Because their eyes will be closed for a long time, which reduces the oxygen and moisture reaching the cornea; a lens restricts that further and can cause dryness and irritation, according to the industry sources reviewed.

How far should the pad be from the waterline?

Whatever the pad manufacturer specifies. Lashbase, for example, recommends 0.5–1 mm; in any case, the pad must not touch the waterline or the eye.

Which tape-related complications were described in the Amano study?

Conjunctival erosion from eyelid-fixing tapes (three cases) and one case of allergic blepharitis attributed to tape.

Why must the skin be fully dry before placing pads?

Because pads don’t stick well to damp skin or skin with cream residue; they lift and leave lower lashes free.

Your client feels stinging right at the start. What do you do?

Stop, check the position of pads and tape and whether there’s excess product, and correct it. If the discomfort doesn’t settle, don’t continue, and advise her to see a healthcare professional if it persists.

Sources

Note: this module is for education and information only and does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator. 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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