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Are extensions the answer to non-existent eyelashes?

I have Asian eyelashes. They’re so short they stick out straight instead of curling upwards. And instead of, you know, protecting my eyes against foreign objects, the shortest of the bunch occasionally point downwards, jabbing me in the eyeball — the struggle is real.

I’ve tried every cult favourite mascara, from bargain buys to high end brands, promising users long, fluttery, runway-worthy lashes only to find that nothing ever works. Instead, I’m left with an empty wallet and small clumpy stumps. After all, how could they? You need to start with some lashes for mascaras to have any effect.

Which is why I was curious when I received an invitation to Winks Eyelash Boutique in Toronto, Ont. to try out eyelash extensions at their new Queen Street West location. I figured I already had non-existent eyelashes, so what did I have to lose?

When I arrived for my appointment, I immediately told my eyelash technician, Joanna, that I probably have the shortest sparsest eyelashes she’s ever seen.

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She smiled politely and told me to just remove my mascara.

But I wasn’t kidding. Here’s what my eyelashes look like. Note: Unless you look at them at an angle, they’re basically invisible.

After I removed all traces of my eye make up (a very important step to ensure the eyelash extensions adhere properly), I turned around to face Joanna.

“Wow” was all she could say. We weren’t off to a good start.

Joanna got down to work, first taping down my microscopic lower lashes (try to spot them in the picture above). This was to prevent the lower lashes from sticking to the upper lashes as she added the extensions. The entire process was done with my eyes closed to ensure that no glue got on my eyeballs.

“Whatever you do, do not open your eyes,” she warns me. ” If not, your eyes will sting like crazy.”

You’d think it’d be easy to keep your eyes shut, lest unknown chemicals seep onto your eyeballs, but because I could feel her tweezers poking around, my lashes and my eyelids fluttered and twitched instinctively.

Joanna spent the next hour sticking individual lash extensions to the base of my natural lashes. She estimated it would take her 30 to 35 extensions to complete the job.

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As we waited for the glue to dry, she shared some tips on how to make your lash extension last as long as possible.

  • No rubbing, tugging or scratching – If your eyes are itchy, gently apply pressure to your eyelids

  • Avoid getting them wet for 24 hours after application as it takes time for the glue to set

  • Don’t shower facing the stream from the shower head and avoid long hot showers

  • You can use eye make up, but avoid mascaras or make up removers with oil in them

Once the glue dried, I was surprised to see that I actually had lashes!

Here’s a before and after:

Joanna explained that with proper care, these eyelash extensions should last two to three weeks, which is a good thing since extensions start at $125, with touch-ups running for around $50.

Have you ever tried eyelash extensions? Let us know about your experience by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.