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faq

eyelash extensions

what are eyelash extensions?

you only have to type "eyelash extensions southampton" into google to know how many websites do eyelash extensions just in southampton. but at lashes and lasers we want to provide you with a bit more detail. there are misconceptions and an air of mystery about eyelash extensions that we would like to clear up.

eyelash extensions are not simply fake eyelashes and are connected individually to the hair rather than as a single strip so they look much more natural. as importantly to how they look is how they feel, and eyelash extensions can't be felt; they blend naturally into your own lashes and cause no discomfort whatsoever.

eyelash extensions are a fairly modern form of beauty product that has been gathering in popularity over the last 10 years or so. eyelash extensions act in the same way as hair extensions; they consist of individual strands of what is usually a synthetic material that are then adhered to the eyelashes. this is done one by one and as a result the eyelash extensions move, look and feel like natural eyelashes.

semi permanent eyelash extensions are individual extensions for your eyelashes. these individual strands of material are often synthetic but can be made from more luxurious fibres such as silk. these are then fixed to your eyelashes using an adhesive that keeps the extensions attached for weeks.

semi permanent eyelash extensions are designed to be strong but flexible in order to deliver a natural look and a pronounced shape that is kept throughout the whole lifespan of the extensions.

semi permanent eyelash extensions come in many shades and varieties to both match natural hair colour or contrast it depending on what you want and what you want them for. it is also possible to choose the thickness and length giving you complete control of your look, whether it’s bright and outrageous or subtle and sexy.

what are russian volume lashes?

the russian layering technique originated in russia and has recently made a breakthrough in the us and europe. this multi-lash technique involves adhering synthetic, ultra-fine lashes onto a single natural lash. the main benefit of russian layering is that it gives clients a full, high impact glamorous look with maximum natural looking volume.

we achieve this look by attaching multiple extensions to a single eyelash. this is a development that has been made possible by new technologies allowing much thinner and lighter materials to be used. fibres are as small as 0.07mm in diameter, meaning that the eyelid and lashes are not weighed down.

why get eyelash extensions?

there are many reasons why people use eyelash extensions. they are much lower maintenance than using curlers and mascara for example. they also don't carry the same disadvantages as makeup equivalents. for instance, eyelash extensions do not smudge and can be worn whilst swimming or going to the gym.

eyelash extensions look as good when you get up in the morning as they do when you go to bed at night. they accentuate your natural eyelashes making them long and luscious. some people may have suffered hair loss for a number of reasons and could benefit from using eyelash extensions.

using eyelash extensions affords you the choice of how long or how thick your eyelashes are. you can choose the colour and tone or have them matched perfectly to your natural colour so they can be as flamboyant or as subtle as you want them to be.

how long do semi permanent eyelash extensions last?

"how long do semi permanent eyelash extensions last?" is a very common question if you haven't had them done before. there is no hard and fast deadline on how long the semi permanent eyelash extensions last because it varies from woman to woman. eyelashes themselves grow and fall out to be replaced by another eyelash in a cycle; because the semi permanent eyelash extensions are attached to the eyelashes, they will naturally grow out and fall off. this process takes between 3 to 6 weeks for most people.

how frequently will i need to come back?

as mentioned above, semi permanent eyelash extensions usually last for about a month if not a bit longer. at this point if you intend to continue using them you will require another session with an eyelash technician. you will want to get them touched up before the end of their lifecycle because the process of eyelash growth will mean that they become patchy and gain gaps between the extensions. during touch ups, the eyelash technician will add new extensions to the newer eyelashes filling any gaps and restoring them to their former beauty.

if you had them put in for a special occasion like a hen party or a wedding then you can come back to have them removed.

the process of applying or removing eyelash extensions must be performed by someone who not only knows what they are doing but who is qualified to do it.

laser tattoo removal

will my tattoo be completely removed?

possibly. modern lasers can give fantastic results but there are no guarantees. sometimes the total elimination of the tattoo is not possible despite the use of the most advanced tattoo removal equipment.

there are many factors that can affect treatment results such as:

age of tattoo
application method
type of ink used
depth of ink
density of ink
area of tattoo
your healing ability
skin type

tattoos that are carried out by professionals are usually more difficult to remove as they contain more pigment colours and much more detail in the design. often with an amateur tattoo, the ink is more sparsely applied and of lesser quality to what is used today in most modern tattoo studios, this is usually easier to remove. some amateur tattooists (and even some ‘professionals’) create pockets of inks that are too deep and extremely difficult to eradicate completely. you may be surprised but there is no recognised international standard for the manufacture of tattoo ink, sometimes pigments may be mixed with other unknown compounds. sometimes these compounds can react to the laser light.

how much does it cost?

treatment prices are from £30 to £100 per session depending on type of tattoo, size, and colours used. we will be able to give you a full quote during your consultation. consultations and patch testing normally takes around 45 minutes and is charged at £20.

can you remove all colours?

no. - laser tattoo removal works best on tattoos of black ink that was sparsely applied to fair skin.black ink is also able to absorb the full spectrum of light. a wide range of other colours can usually be removed successfully or lightened to a large degree: brown, red*, orange, darker green, blue, purple

(important! some people can have an allergic reaction to red ink particles absorbed into to body)

the most difficult colours to remove are pastel colours such as: light green, pale blue, teal, turquoise, pink*

these colours may be lightened, but it is difficult to remove them completely. if you are going to cover-up your tattoo with a new design these pastel colours are usually easy to cover.

usually untreatable colours:

white*, yellow, light green, skin tones, fluorescent or uv*

white and yellow ink does fade over time and become less noticeable, be cautious of anyone who guarantees to remove all traces of green ink.

*colours with potential problems

occasionally the tattoo may go darker where the ingredients in certain ink colours carbonise. this irreversible darkening is sometimes seen with the following colours:

white, pink, flesh tone colours, fluorescent or ultra-violet, light brown, red.

although these complications are rare, it is one of the reasons we insist on a patch test for each colour in the tattoo so that potential complications can be predicted before undergoing laser treatment.

can i have just a part of my tattoo removed?

yes. our lasers are very accurate. we can take the face off your pin-up girl to have it redone. we can take just the name off pieces or remove misspelt letters.

can i have a tattoo over the treated area?

yes, once the treatment site has fully healed you can have a tattoo on the same area. we recommend a minimum of 6 months after your last treatment.

will i see a difference straight away?

occasionally you will but usually the tattoo will look normal again after treatment. the main fading is in the first 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.

how does laser treatment work on tattoos?

our laser produces a very high power in quick pulses. the light energy produced tends to pass through normally pigmented skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink deep in the dermis layer. the pigment is rapidly heated, expands and shatters into tiny particles which are evacuated from the body through normal immune response. as the ink particles are removed, the tattoo begins to fade. multiple treatments are required.

is the tattoo removal laser dangerous?

tattoo removal lasers are very safe for use when used by a trained laser operator with correct working procedure and safety equipment (appropriate goggles to protect the eyes). the radiation emitted by a tattoo removal laser is non-ionising and carries no risk of cancer or other abnormal cell growth. the procedure in non-surgical, and non-invasive.

does it hurt?

lasers will cause some discomfort and it is usual to experience a small amount of pain in the area afterwards.the laser pulses have been likened to having your skin 'pinged' with an elastic band. this is usually tolerated by most people without any anaesthetic. however, some areas are more sensitive than others, especially around the ankles or the shoulder blade.

fortunately, the discomfort does decrease as treatment progresses and the tattoo pigments fade.most people will be able to tolerate the treatment but local anaesthetic cream can be used if required.

will the laser treatment leave a scar?

not normally. it is very unusual to develop any scarring but it is a possibility, especially with poor aftercare (there is a reported 5% chance of scarring following tattoo removal treatments).the low pulse width of our laser reduces the risk of scarring.

how long does the treatment take?

usually between 5 and 30 minutes, longer sessions could cause too much skin trauma so are not recommended larger tattoos need to be treated in several separate sittings 2 - 3 weeks apart. depending on the tattoo and the result required (removal or cover up) up to 12 or more sessions may be required. treatment sessions are minimum 6 to 8 weeks apart. often leaving a longer time between treatments can achieve better results

what happens immediately after treatment?

straight after treatment the area will feel hot and skin will form small white 'blisters', these are water vapour spots created by the intense heat under the skin, and might be flat or slightly raised. this is a good sign that the treatment is working. these white spots start to fade quickly and the remaining ink will start to show through.

what are the other possible side effects?

most side effects of laser procedures are temporary, generally few and to be expected.normally symptoms will subside within a week and may include:

localised swelling and redness - the most common side effect, could feel similar to sunburn for a day or two
blistering - don't worry when blistering occurs, this is part of the normal healing process and the skin will heal nicely afterwards as long as you do not pick and scratch the scab.
infection - there is always a risk of infection to the area after treatment. a good level of hygiene is important.
scabbing - if you do experience blistering and/or bleeding, when the scab forms it is very important not to pick or scratch as this could cause scarring and impair further treatments.
hyper-pigmentation - loss of skin colour may occur. but, normal skin tone should return within 6–12 months. occasionally hyper-pigmentation can be permanent or pigment returns in patches. risk is increased with multiple treatments and on darker skin types.
hyper-pigmentation - an abundance of colour in the skinat the treated area. more common in darker skin types and patients with fresh tans. usually a temporary effect that responds to topical bleaching therapy and resolves over time.
sunburn - a risk that follows treatment, it is important that you keep the area covered in a minimum spf 25 sun cream if the area is not covered by clothing or a dressing.
lack of complete pigment removal – some colourscannot be treated, traces (or ghosting) of pigment may remain.
slight pin-prick bleeding or weeping - this is normal and nothing to worry about.
allergic reaction - a possible development an allergic reaction to the tattoo dye as it is released in your system.
detailed written aftercare advice will be provided as part of your consultation.

am i suitable for treatment?

certain medical conditions and medications would make exposure to the laser treatment dangerous to you.

patients that should not be treated:

pregnancy or a patient trying to become pregnant
breastfeeding
chemotherapy within last 6 months
users of accutane or tretinoin-retin a in last 6 months*
type i diabetes
bleeding disorders
anyone with an immune system disorder
active infections or inflammatory skin conditions at the treatment site
tanned or sunburned skin in area of tattoo
thrombocytopenia
peripheral vascular disease
anemia
rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
chronic disease (crohn’s disease, ibd, etc.)
renal failure (acute or chronic)
malignancy
multiple sclerosis
epilepsy (because repeated flasher may induce a fit)
collagen vascular diseases
users of st. john's wort in the past 3 months*
waxing, plucking, sugaring or threading depilation treatment of the area in the previous 4~6 weeks*
surgical metal pins or plates under tissue to be treated
wearing a pacemaker
taking any topical medication (e.g. hydrocortisone) or is wearing perfumes, deodorants, sun block, oils, etc.*

* some conditions will only temporally prevent you from undergoing laser treatment; medical contraindications will be discussed during your consultation.

patients to exercise extra precautions or care with:

allergic reaction to ink, primarily red tattoo ink, may lead to increased chance of anaphylaxis.
skin types iv or above
history of keloid scarring
history of hyper or hyper-pigmentation
antibiotic use may cause an increased sensitivity to light.

other conditions to consider:

chronic disease because of delay in healing. these patients may need longer between treatments to heal. older clients may also take longer to heal.

lash volume lift (lvl)

what is a lash volume lift?

an lvl is essentially a perm for your eyelashes. we use pads and a formula which is brushed onto lashes to set them around the curled pad. the treatment takes about half an hour and results can last for up to 8 weeks. we use a range of sized pads, each giving a different type of curl but the pad most suitable for your eyelash length and thickness will be assessed during your appointment.

does it sting?

the formula does have a strong smell but there should be minimal discomfort during the treatment.

why should i get a lash lift?

an lvl is a great treatment for many reasons. everyone wants great lashes but not everyone wants to get lash extensions. this is perfect for those busy mums don't have time for eyelash curlers and mascara in the morning as it alleviates the need for using as much make up., saving you time. it's great for special occasions as the lash treatment gives a more dramatic look without using glue on lashes that never look great by the end of the night! it is also great for holidays and swimming, ensuring you look your best with minimal effort.

eyelash and eyebrow tinting

what is eyelash and eyebrow tinting?

eyelash tinting is always to be performed by a trained professional beauty therapist. it is the process of carefully dying the eyelashes with colours, usually darker ones. this is done to either perfectly match your skin tone and colour or can be done to create a more colourful look. you have the choice of a range of colours from blues to browns so achieve the look you want.

what are the benefits of eyelash and brow tinting?

well, there are many benefits to eyelash and brow tinting so we have listed some of the main ones below for you:

adds colour to eyelashes
helps define brows and lashes
removes the need for mascara and some other makeup
lashes appear longer and thicker
lashes last for around 4-6 weeks
won't smudge when swimming or working out
great for holidays and special occasions

what to do before you get them done

because eyelash and brow tinting uses dyes it is important to see if your skin will be affected by the dye as a result of allergy. to do this we provide a patch test 12 to 24 hours prior to treatment. this will confirm that you will not react badly to it, which only happens is a small minority of cases. this process is similar to when you dye your hair.