Spring Shed — What it Is & What To Do About It

Spring Shed — What it Is & What To Do About It

The weather's getting warmer — and for a lot of us, it couldn't come sooner! But April showers don't just bring May flowers. As the season starts to transition into spring, your lashes are changing too.

On average, people shed between 1 to 5 lashes every day because at any given point in time, you have lashes in every stage of growth—from baby lashes just appearing, to more mature lashes, to fully grown ones ready to shed. While a single lash normally takes months to complete its growth cycle, that cycle can shift in the spring, causing lashes to shed more frequently.

If your clients are coming in for their fill appointments complaining their lashes are falling out, don’t panic! It's time to educate yourself — and them — on the Spring Shed. 
 

So why do lashes shed in the spring?
Much like fall, our lashes are preparing for a coming lack of humidity in the spring, which leads to seasonal hair loss. This includes the hair on our heads as well! On average, the cycle of a single lash lasts somewhere between 60 and 90 days, with the active growth (Anagen) phase lasting 15-20 days, the transitional (Catagen) phase lasting 14-21 days, and the resting (Telogen) phase lasting 30-45 days. During spring, the growing heat may trigger more lash hairs to go into the resting phase, halting growth, and causing them to fall out.

Additionally, changes in humidity can play a role in your lashes’ growth cycle. If your skin is very dry, your hair follicles (located just under the skin) don’t get the nourishment they need for your lashes to grow. This causes brittle lashes to fall out before their time is up.
 

What can I do to prepare for the Spring Shed?

Educate your clients.

Avoid the panicked my-lashes-are-falling-out phone calls, and tell your clients what to expect. Let them know at their next appointment that some people experience heavier lash shedding in the spring, and that it’s completely normal.

Check for signs of stress.

Make sure that your client's heavier shedding is not due to stress on the lashes. Remember, overloading the lashes with weight can result in premature shedding. If lashes are shedding from excess weight, you’ll notice in your fill appointments that your client is missing their teenage lashes (Catagen lashes), and they only have baby and mature lashes left.

Book your clients in earlier.

Heavier shedding means more frequent fills. If you notice your clients are experiencing more lash loss than usual, encourage them to book a 2-week fill instead of an appointment in 3-4 weeks.

Use products that promote retention!

This won't keep your client's natural lashes from shedding, but promoting retention will ensure that all falling lashes have a natural lash attached, and your extensions aren't just popping off. Our Elite Bond adhesive will give you lasting hold through the spring months. With an ideal RH range of 20-75%, Elite effortlessly bonds lash extensions to the natural lash on those crisp spring days. 

Not sure what the RH in your lashing space is? Track relative humidity and temperature with our Hygrometer!
 
Once you let your clients in on the secret of the Spring Shed, everyone can enjoy a calm, warmer season that lets nature take its course. 

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