Is Eyelash Perming Dangerous?

Since the dawn of time, women and men have tried dramatic techniques to enhance their looks. Of late, a trendy new idea has become wildly popular around the globe: permed lashes. This time-saving eye enhancer has plenty of admirers and while the Federal Drug Administration does not sanction lash perms, that has not stopped cosmeticians from learning the ins and outs of chemical eyelash curling, then offering the service at beauty shops. Both women and men are asking for lash perms. Before you decide to join them, make an informed decision.

Function

Getting perfectly curled lashes can be accomplished in several ways. The first requires treating the lashes with a special glue, and then wrapping the lashes over mini-rollers made of foam rubber. A perming solution is applied to the lashes using a small brush. A setting solution saturates the lashes for around five minutes to complete the process. Method two calls for using heated clips rather than spiral rollers to hold the eyelashes in place, then the chemical solution is brushed over the lashes. Some cosmetologists recommend applying permanent dye at the same time, so this step adds from one to two coats of tint to the process. When the clips are removed, the eyelashes can't be exposed to water for around four hours; if they are, the perm won't hold. A third recipe for eyelash perming calls for priming the lashes with oil-free makeup remover, allowing the eyes to dry for at least ten minutes, then winding the lashes on rods (small, medium and large are sold to cover all lash lengths). Glue is applied first, then a perming lotion followed by a setting lotion to complete the process. A nourishing eye lotion may be applied.

Time Frame

Expect to spend anywhere from five minutes to four hours having your eyelashes permed. This wide berth of time is contingent upon the method of curling used by the cosmetologist, the number of pre-perming steps used before the actual process begins, the number of curling agents employed (some are three-step series) and the amount of time required to cure, dry and protect the eye once the actual process is complete. Check with your makeup professional before starting the process to ascertain the wait time. The cost of having your eyelashes permed has more to do with where the job is done than the number of steps in the process. Large cities and elite salons tend to have pricier service menus than smaller ones. Typical charging range anywhere from $30 to $60 and this doesn't include the addition of a tinting agent as an extra step. Women report that perms have lasted from anywhere between two and four months.

Benefits

If you decide to have your eyelashes permed you can look forward to saving time while looking terrific. Benefits include no daily eyelash curling time using manual or heated lash curlers, a terrific, natural look 24/7, plumper-looking lashes, a noticeable boost in the way your eye appears (some say lash curling makes eyes look wide awake at all times), only four to six salon treatments a year for upkeep and lashes that stay curled and glamorous in the most extreme weather and climate situations.

Warning

Unfortunately, the dangers you may encounter when having an eyelash perm include: potential eye irritation from chemicals; the potential for eye infection; mistakes made by beauty operators who have not received adequate training; over-processed, fried eyelash ends; lash fall-out; sensory reactions to the odor of the solutions used and allergic reactions that may affect other parts of the body. Experts recommend a patch test before the treatment is started, warn against applying curling and tinting products at the same time and suggest that those who wear contact lenses be particularly cautious about having this done. Finally, unstable chemicals (due to age or improper mixing), premature eyelash fall-out and blindness are potential risks for anyone saying yes to this treatment, so you can see why the FDA has no intention of approving this process any time soon.

Considerations

There is no shortage of beauty-enhancing products on the global market and today's appearance-conscious male and female is less risk-averse than a generation ago, so it is up to you to decide, whether or not eyelash perming is wise for you. No deaths have as yet been reported as a direct result of using an eyelash perm, but this is not an endorsement for its use. Be aware of the fact that while some manufacturers of eyelash perm products will not sell their kits to cosmetologists without proof of licensing, globalization has made obtaining them on the Internet a snap. Additionally, audiovisual instructional aids are often just an hour long--this may not be adequate training for some cosmetologists. The bottom line is that most of the learning for practitioners takes place by doing applications on customers. This does not bode well for women and men who have booked an appointment for a lash perm with a newbie. Be forthright. Ask your cosmetologist how long they have been doing eyelash perms and if you're uncomfortable, ask for a more seasoned person to do your lash perm. Make sure you are given a patch test. Ask specifically what the process entails and what you can expect. Don't double-up on services, but if you elect to have your lashes tinted and permed, be certain your practitioner takes twice as many precautions.