1. Her own work, up close
Look for photos close enough to see individual lashes, and make sure they are her sets. Each extension, or each fan, should sit on one natural lash, never across several stuck together [2]. From a distance almost any set looks full. Up close you can see whether the lashes are separated, whether the lengths follow the eye, and whether the set looks like it belongs on that face.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology's own checklist starts in the same place: does she have a good reputation, does she practice good hygiene, and what do reviews and before-and-after photos from other customers show [1].
My photos are on the home page, real sets shot on a phone, and more of my work and new sets as I finish them are on Instagram [3]. If you want to see a certain look before you book, text me and ask.
2. Clean tools and fresh supplies
The same page lists infection among the risks of extensions, and says it can come from inadequate hygiene or damage to the eye during application [1]. So cleanliness is not a detail. Watch what happens before she starts: pads, spoolies and tape should come out of fresh packaging, the linen should be clean, and her tweezers should look clean too.
How I do it: the disposable things that touch you are opened fresh for you and thrown away after. Fresh linen on the bed for each appointment, and I sanitize between clients [2]. Tweezers and other metal tools are washed and disinfected between every client [4].
3. Prices and rules written down before you book
You should know four numbers before you book: the full set, the fill, when a fill turns into a new set, and what happens if you cancel. If any of those only appear at the end of the appointment, that is a problem.
Mine are on the home page. Full sets run from $140 for a Classic to $240 for a Mega Volume. A fill is priced by how long it has been since your last set. A Hybrid fill is $90 within 2 weeks of your last set and $110 at 2 to 3 weeks. Past three weeks it is a new set [5]. Fills are only for sets I did. If another artist did your set, book a new set and tell me in the notes, and I take the old one off first.
A $25 deposit holds your time and comes off your total [5]. Reschedule with more than 24 hours notice and your deposit moves to the new time at no charge. Cancel inside 24 hours and the $25 deposit is not returned, plus a $20 cancellation fee. You pay the balance when I arrive, by cash, Zelle or card.
First time booking a full set? Use code FIRST20 at checkout for $20 off. One per client, and it comes off the balance you pay on the day, not off the deposit. It does not apply to fills.
4. Does she ask about your eyes first?
A good first appointment starts with questions, not glue. Before I start I talk it through with you: your eye shape, your lifestyle, the look you are after [2]. That is where the map comes from, and it is included in every set, along with the application and the aftercare walkthrough [5].
If your eyes are sensitive or you have reacted to something before, say so. The AAO suggests asking for the glue's ingredient list, and for a spot test on the inside of your wrist before the glue goes near your eyes [1]. A careful artist will not mind either question. With me, text me before you book and I set up a patch test at least a day before your appointment. It takes about ten minutes, then you wait 24 hours to see how your eyes react [2]. My guides to sensitive eyes and reactions go further.
5. Ask what happens with a set someone else did
If you are switching artists, ask before you book what she does with your current set. My answer: fills are only for sets I did, so if another artist did your set, book a new set, tell me in the notes, and I take the old one off first [2]. That way I know exactly what every lash on your eye is carrying.
The checklist in one place
| What to check | What good looks like | How I answer it |
|---|---|---|
| Her work | Close-up photos of her own sets | Real sets on my home page, more on Instagram |
| Hygiene | Fresh supplies opened for you, clean tools and linen | Disposables opened fresh, fresh linen, tweezers disinfected between clients |
| Prices | Set, fill and new-set rules written down | Sets $140 to $240, fills priced by week, new set after 3 weeks |
| Policy | Deposit and cancellation terms before you pay | $25 deposit off your total; no charge to reschedule with more than 24 hours notice |
| Your eyes | Questions before any glue | Consultation in every set; a patch test if you ask |
| Another artist's set | A clear answer before you book | It comes off first and you get a new set |
Red flags, during and after
- Stinging or burning that does not settle. A faint sting can mean glue fume reached an eye that opened a little [6]. Say so straight away. Pain, itching, redness or swelling afterwards is a reason to see an eye doctor, not to wait for the next appointment [1].
- Lashes glued together. If two lashes move as one when you brush them, they are stuck. My guide to signs of bad lash extensions shows what to look for.
- A set that feels heavy or droops. An extension that is too long or too heavy for its lash works like a lever on the root every time you blink [7].
- No aftercare. If you leave without knowing how to wash, brush and sleep with your set, you were not set up to keep it.
- Distraction. Someone working millimeters from your eyes should be paying attention to your eyes, not a phone or a conversation across the room.
Studio, home studio or mobile
In Las Vegas you will find all three. The questions above apply to every one of them. What changes is who travels and what the space is like. With a studio or a home studio, you drive, park and find the door. With a mobile artist, she does. I message you the day before about parking and how to get in, and on the day I text you when I am outside [8]. I come to you seven days a week, from 6am to 8pm [5].
What to text an artist before you book
- Can I see close-up photos of a set like the one I want?
- What is the fill price, and when does it become a new set?
- What happens if I need to move my appointment?
- Can I have a patch test first?
- What do you do with a set another artist did?
You can text me first with any question, at (323) 855-2577 [5].
Questions about choosing a lash artist
How do I find a good lash tech in Las Vegas?
Start with her own close-up photos. Then check that her prices, fill rules and deposit are written down before you book, and that she opens single-use supplies fresh and keeps her tools clean. Last, check that she asks about your eyes before she starts. Reviews and before-and-after photos from other customers help too.
What are the red flags in a lash tech?
Stinging or burning that does not settle, lashes glued together, extensions that feel heavy or droop, no aftercare explanation, prices that change at the end, and a tech who will not answer questions about hygiene or the glue. Pain or swelling after a set is a reason to see an eye doctor.
How do I know if my lash tech is good?
The set feels like nothing on your eyes, each extension sits on its own natural lash, and the lashes stay separate when you brush them. It sheds gradually rather than in clumps, and your own lashes look healthy every time she checks them at a fill.