Lash and brow enhancements

Never before have the eye and brow area seemed more in focus than now, in this era of COVID-19 facial masks, where only the top third of the face is visible. Professional Beauty looks at some professional treatments geared to enhancing this part of the face.

Although lash extensions have been around for many years, they have moved from underground experimentation, through highpriced celebrity craze, to a mainstream beauty treatment that has grown in popularity, at a rate of about 20% per year. So says Sonette van Rensburg of The Eyelash Emporium. She continues: “Since the first use of individual eyelash extensions in the early 2000’s, the treatment and products have been continually evolving, with many more variations available, in semi-permanent lash extension applications, and most recently, lash lift treatments. The possibilities of what you can achieve nowadays with lash treatments in terms of creating different looks, styles and effects, are endless. “Improved and more advanced products and training have helped minimise many of the problems that occurred in earlier years with the application of lash extensions, and is now being accepted as a far more safe and sustainable treatment. Lash extensions shouldn’t damage your lashes, especially when a properly trained and skilled lash technician is applying them and the best quality professional products are used.” Van Rensburg notes that it all began with the traditional Classic individual lash-on-lash semipermanent extension. “Applying individual lashes one at a time onto the natural lashes is the foundation of lashing and a technique that offers a gorgeous flutter of natural looking lashes. Semi-permanent lashes are available in different curls, lengths and thicknesses and can be created to look as natural as your own, or as dramatic as you want. “A newer technique, which is much more difficult to master and quite an art, is the Russian Volume xD lashes. This is a big-impact technique that piles on the volume without stressing the natural lashes, allowing greater creative options by mastering fans for one single lash, providing a really wow jaw-dropping look. It is perfect for clients with naturally sparse or thin lashes that are not suitable for the Classic individual treatment.

Advanced styling options are also available for creating a more rebellious, dark eyeliner and uniform volume look or even a perfectly pretty, full volume wispy look, which is particularly favoured by celebs and their followers.

Then there are lash extensions that will help cut down your application and volume treatment time. Silver Screen Fast-fanning lashes create a ready made fan with as many lashes as you need and that self fan and stay together as you pick them up, creating an intense look with colour depth from root to tip . Another option are Pre-made fans, available in C and D Curls 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D in short and long base fans. Fused technology creates a light weight natural looking fan, giving maximum impact to a variety of eye shapes and lash profiles, adding depth and definition to volume or hybrid lash sets. A more recent addition to The Eyelash Emporium’s lash extension range are XPL lashes, an express lash treatment that uses a mix of individual lashes, fans and a professional lash adhesive that gives your client 7-10 days wear. Clients can choose from a timeless classic natural look, to more gorgeous glamorous looking lashes. says van Rensburg: “The Natural & Glam Lash Bundles are perfect for creating an express look in a matter of no time and is perfect for beginners new to lashing and who require a little help with mapping out different looks.” She explains that creating a good set of lashes will depend on the client’s natural eye shape and lash type. Eyelashes are divided into three categories, which will dictate the length and weight of the eyelash extension used, in relation to the client’s natural lashes, to prevent any strain on the bond and the natural eyelash. “During consultation, the length and strength of the client’s natural lashes need to be assessed before choosing the thickness and length of the lash extension. This is to ensure that the correct lashes suited to her

are selected and applied. Generally the thickness is recommended to only go up one to two thicknesses to avoid them from being too heavy, which could cause them to drop off or twist. The same goes for the length; if lashes that are too long are applied to a natural lash that is very short and weak, it will not hold or could break,” concludes Van Rensburg. All products in The Eyelash Emporium range are sourced from top quality, EC-approved materials. Lash extensions made from PBT, an advanced polymer that is super soft, like and silky, yet tough enough to hold their curl. A selection of the best, medical grade adhesives are available and are formaldehyde and latex free.

Lift or curl?

If your client is not blessed with endless eyelashes, you can raise them with an eyelash lift, according to Pieter Vermeer of RefectoCil. He says: “The eyelashes are gently glued onto a shaped silicone pad. This creates a straight lifting effect of the eyelashes from the base. Particularly short eyelashes

would appear much longer after an RefectoCil before and after

application. To achieve a total look, dye the lashes immediately on the silicone pad for only two minutes with one of the eight RefectoCil eyelash tint colours.” For more natural eyelashes, Vermeer recommends an eyelash curl. He continues: “The desired curl to enhance the appearance of the

Experienced thicker, stronger, longer looking lashes

In just 8 WEEKS eye is created by using the appropriate size cylindrical roller. Eyelashes can be tinted immediately after this treatment in only two minutes due to the already porous cuticle layer.” During both treatments, collagen and cysteine will pamper the lashes. Afterwards, you can treat your client to a massage of the eye area, using the moisturising and nourishing RefectoCil Skin Protection Cream and Eye Mask. For a long lasting and wellgroomed result, finish by applying RefectoCil Styling Gel. Both treatments can be offered in the exclusive ambience of a professional salon. Results last up to six weeks, depending on the individual’s lash growth cycle.

RapidLash® is a multi award-winning innovative high performance eyelash enhancing serum, which uses the exclusive Hexatein® 1 Complex formula for lashes that are longer, stronger, fuller, thicker and healthier looking. According to a consumer study of 102 subjects over 56 days, 86% experienced longer-looking and fuller-looking lashes in eight weeks. Hexatein® 1 Complex is a scientifically advanced blend of polypeptides, replenishing amino acids, nourishing pumpkin seed extract, and highly beneficial biotin and panthenol, that helps fortify, hydrate and nurture lashes. This blend, exclusive to RapidLash®, helps promote lash durability, shine, sheen and overall healthier-looking appearance of eyelashes. Polypeptides help protect against breakage, while biotin (pro-vitamin B7 / vitamin H), is an essential factor in maintaining healthier-looking, youthful lashes. Panthenol (vitamin B5) helps coat the lashes and seal in moisture and nourishment for improved overall appearance. The protein structure of lashes is boosted by amino acids, and soybean oil, which is rich in vitamins, helps impart sheen and lustre to lashes, making them appear lush and beautiful.

Working in the beauty industry for over 20 years, the founders of EyEnvy recognised the issues women and men were having with the growth of their eyelashes and eyebrows due to various reasons, including illness. Says Gail Minnot of EyEnvy SA: “EyEnvy is our flagship product and produces great results. This eyelash and eyebrow growing serum is considered one of the best

on the market. Our feedback has been phenomenal – a 59% growth in 2019 alone, with TV and radio having highlighted our success. We also have a great range of add-on products to complement this range.” The EyEnvy team had a mission to focus on salon exclusivity specific to the salon market, allowing technicians, estheticians and professionals in the beauty industry to get their hands on quality products and thus share them with their beloved customers.

RapidBrow® is an innovative eyebrow enhancing serum with the exclusive Hexatein® 2 Complex formula that conditions and enhances the appearance of brows. This product is formulated with Hexatein® 2 Complex, a perfectly balanced mix of potent polypeptides, highly effective keratin, biotin and panthenol, and revolutionary apple fruit cell extract, that helps revitalise, invigorate and condition brows. This blend, unique to RapidBrow®, helps promote more youthful-looking and lush eyebrows. Keratin, a building block of hair, helps boost the protein structure and enhance healthier-looking brows, while apple fruit cell extract is a revolutionary anti-ageing ingredient from stem cells of a rare Swiss apple, that helps rejuvenate the youthful appearance of brows. Sweet almond extract, a rich emollient, helps add shine, sheen and softness to brow hair.

The GDL Brow Lamination Treatment, offered by The Eyelash Emporium, is in line with the biggest current brow grooming trend. This is a quick and easy low maintenance treatment with amazing results that shapes and sculpts the brows. Two processes make up this treatments, namely lifting and straightening the hairs to provide length, and shape and tinting for definition. The Imbalie Beauty Group agrees that brow lamination helps to shape and lift unruly brows. Its Placecol, Perfect 10 and Dream Nails salons use a keratin based formulation to perform the brow lamination, which adds the benefits of strengthening the hairs. These salons note that the Henna brow treatment is also gaining huge popularity, as it stains both the skin and the hair, making it an alternative to normal tinting.