Eyelash Adhesive

Be aware of lash glue fumes !

These can affect you when working with adhesives all day.
Use a mask to protect you from breathing in the glue vapours and have a well ventilated work space to help you and your client.

The correct room temperature and relative humidity are crucial too to help with glue vapours being minimised.

Black adhesives can give a denser looking lash line.  Clear adhesives are also available but are not as popular with lash techs.

Thicknesses of adhesives
Thinner adhesives are generally much faster curing and thicker adhesives tend to be a little slower.

Curing speed

This means the time you have from dipping the lash into the adhesive and applying it to the natural lash. 
If you find lashes aren’t sticking to the natural lash or are coming off when brushing through the lashes, it may be that your adhesive is too fast for how you work or your environment you may need to try a slower curing one.

Working environment

Check with the manufacturer of your chosen lash glue for the ideal humidity and temperature of your working environment for that specific lash glue. Otherwise you may not have the correct glue for your environment which can lead to bad lash retention.
Use a humidifier or dehumidifier as needed, you can test the humidity using a hygrometer.

Cyanoacrylate which is in lash glues and cotton wool don’t mix. If the adhesive gets on the cotton wool it can catch fire or smoke.

Storage of lash glues

Store the glue upright at a temperature range of between 16-24 °C.  Check manufactures guidelines on your chosen lash adhesive.

Before use allow the bottle to stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to treatment and shake the bottle for approximately 10-20 seconds before using.

Humidity should be between 40-70%

TOP TIP –  The ideal humidity is 55%.

Room temperature should be between 21 – 23°C

If the humidity is too high the eyelash adhesive will not cure correctly and shock polymerization takes place, causing a weaker bond with the natural lash.  If the humidity is too low then the curing time will be slower as there is not enough moisture to ‘cure’ the eyelash adhesive and client will have poor retention with the adhesive.

Clean the nozzle every time before replacing the lid.  Replace and tighten the lid to stop any moisture or air getting in.

TOP TIP –  Keep the lash glue away from lash lift vapours and peroxide vapours in a hairdressers as this affects the glue.

Once you have opened your lash glue you have a 3 month shelf life. 

The fumes and vapours from lash glue can potentially be dangerous.  The vapours are attracted by moisture in eyes, nose and throat. You must advise clients to keep eyes closed at all times during the treatment.

It is also advisable to ask the client not to talk through the treatment incase too many vapours can get onto the throat and can potentially create irritation.

It is up to you to protect your client from the vapours.  It is important to have a good airflow around the area where you are working as the glue vapours are heavier than air and can potentially drop onto clients face area.

As a lash technician doing many lash sets per day if you do not protect yourself you can become sensitised to the glue  causing breathing problems and flu like symptoms.  This is from breathing in the vapours. 

Lash adhesive fumes
You need to protect yourself and your client from the vapours.
Sensitive low odour adhesives by nature have less vapours.
Regular cyanoacrylate adhesives have characteristic odour and vapours.
These can be controlled by
1-  Having the correct room temperature
2-  Having the correct humidity for the glues
3- Having air flow around your working area to remove the vapours and local extraction to if possible to remove the vapours from around your breathing zone and clients face.

Once sensitised you have this for life so best protect yourself from the start by having the correct working environment.

Lash Glue and Hot weather

A 10% hike in temperature can double the curing time of lash glue.
If a technician uses a very fast glue it may have cured before it is applied to the natural lash resulting in the lash extension falling off the natural lash within 1-24 hours.

What can you do?

Go down to a slightly slower setting glue.

Put glue beads on jade stone more often i.e. every 10 minutes.

In hot weather your glue may feel more gloopy and you can encounter more lashes falling off when brushing through during the treatment and poorer retention.

Make sure your environment temperature and humidity is spot on for your adhesive according to instructions.

Discard the first drop that may be stuck in the nozzle and use the second drop.

Lash glues in colder weather

If your lash glue is cold i.e. stored overnight somewhere cool or cold and not brought up to room temperature before use or the lash room is too cold glues will cure much more slowly and feel like the lashes are not sticking and brush offs can occur.  The lashes will stick but will just take longer to cure than in the summer months.

During hot and cold weather many lash techs have issues with retention. Remember the glue doesn’t change the environment does