BEWARE THE AUTUMN SHED!
THE AUTUMN SHED: What is it? Why does it happen?
Before we begin, a small disclaimer: We recognize it’s a controversial topic in the lash world as to whether or not the seasons affect human eyelash growth. What we do know is there has been research done regarding lash growth patterns. That being said, a definitive yes or no as to the existence of the Autumn Shed would be premature. This article is simply meant to explain our natural lash growth cycles, and, also, shed some light on potential situations that could arise as the seasons change. Each person is unique and so is their lash growth cycle!
Maybe life pre-lash life, whether you were the client or the artist, you never noticed how our bodies react to the changing of the seasons and this includes our hair follicles! Specifically, your lashes. Similarly to how animals shed more during the changing of seasons, our hair naturally responds to the change in environment. If you’ve taken our Classic Course, you know your lashes have various stages of growth: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen.
In summary, anagen is when your lash is in an active growth stage; catagen is the transitional stage of your lash’s life cycle; telogen refers to the “resting” phase of your lashes.
On average, you will naturally shed 2-5 lashes per day. This might sound scary, but it’s completely normal! We have approximately 90-150 lashes per eye and loss is essential for growth in all things! During the Autumn Shed season, you could shed around 1-2 lashes more than usual due to the decreasing humidity in the air. As a result, our hair and skin feels drier when really it’s our bodies naturally producing more oil (we know it sounds weird but it’s science!) which then causes our lashes to shed more frequently.
How this affects your extensions
Our lash clients know shedding = fill time! Plan ahead, stock up on your favourite Sugarlash PRO essentials, and make sure your clients know what to expect if they got a fresh set at the beginning of the season and 2-3 weeks later in case there is more shedding than normal!
Of course, there are always steps we can take to improve lash retention like cleansing and priming the lashes and ensuring attachment is seamless and that the correct amount of adhesive is used, but it is always important to educate your clients on what the changing leaves really means for the longevity of their extensions!
As always proper aftercare is vital to lash extensions so don’t let autumn make you fall out of love with your lashes (pun intended). The Autumn Shed is nothing to fear as long as you follow these steps:
- Educate your clients!
- Stock up on your favourite supplies - like Primer, Adhesive, and Finishing Spray!
- Use products that promote retention and work together to boost extension longevity!
Armed with knowledge and the right tools, you can be sure that this fall and winter season will have your clients looking fresh and beautiful no matter the weather! As always it all comes down to the essentials: Proper aftercare, education, and tools. At the end of the day, we are only human and seasons changing are out of our control. Make sure your clients know this is just a temporary period our hair goes through naturally!
