Why lashes and trips go so well together
A trip is when extensions earn their keep. You wake up with lashes in a hotel bathroom, by the pool, on a red-eye, and there is no mascara to run in the heat or the water. The planning is just timing: when to get the set, and when you will next see me.
Your first set: at least a few days before
Do not make your first ever set the day before a flight. Two reasons:
- The first 24 hours. No water or steam on the lashes for the first 24 hours: no showers directly on them, no sauna, no heavy sweating [2]. Airport days, hot showers and pools make that hard.
- Your eyes. Glue fume can leave eyes red for a few hours, and a skin reaction can take a day or two, sometimes three, to show [1]. You want that to happen at home, near your own doctor, not on day one of a trip.
If you have never had lashes before, you can also ask for a patch test. 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].
A first set a few days out also gives you time to get used to them: how to wash them, how to brush them, how you sleep in them. My first appointment guide covers the day itself.
Already wearing extensions: a fill a day or two before
If you already have a set I did, book your fill a day or two before you leave. You go with a full line and fresh extensions on the lashes that grew in, and you still get your first 24 hours dry at home. A fill is priced by how long it has been since your last set [3], so time it for the two-week mark if you can.
| Set | Fill within 2 weeks | Fill at 2 to 3 weeks | Full set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | $80 | $95 | $140 |
| Hybrid | $90 | $110 | $160 |
| Wet Set | $100 | $120 | $175 |
| Volume | $105 | $130 | $190 |
| Mega Volume | $135 | $165 | $240 |
Past three weeks there is usually not enough left to build on, so it is a new set [3]. 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.
How long a set lasts on a trip
The extensions last four to six weeks with proper aftercare, falling out as your own lashes shed. To keep a set looking full you need a fill every two to three weeks, and past three weeks there is usually too little left to build on, so it is a new set [2]. So:
- A weekend or a week: a fill or a new set a day or two before you go, and you are covered.
- Two weeks: go with a fresh fill or set and book your next fill for when you are back, inside the three-week window.
- Three weeks or more: the set will be past fill stage by the time you are home. Enjoy it, let it grow out, and book a new set when you are back.
Pools, beaches and sun
After the first 24 hours you can swim. Pool chlorine, salt water and sweat leave residue on the glue that wears it down over time. After a pool or a hard workout, rinse your closed eyes with clean water and wash the lash line that evening [4]. Keep sunscreen and lotions away from your eyes; if they get in, they sting. My swimming and gym guide has more.
What to pack
- A gentle, oil-free lash cleanser for daily washing [2].
- A clean spoolie for brushing every day [2].
- An oil-free makeup remover, if you wear eye makeup. Oil breaks down the adhesive [2].
- A silk pillowcase or a contoured sleep mask if you sleep face-down, especially in a strange bed [5].
Leave the mascara at home. My aftercare says no mascara, especially waterproof [2], and on a trip you will not miss it.
Visiting Las Vegas?
If you are flying in, I can come to you at your hotel. Many hotels need a guest keycard for the elevators, so you or someone from your party meets me in the lobby and brings me up [6]. Book it for the day before the pool, not the morning of: no water, steam, pool, hot tub or sauna for the first 24 hours. My Strip hotels guide has the details, and the bridal guide covers wedding trips.
I work seven days, 6am to 8pm, and Thursdays and Fridays fill first [3], so book as soon as your dates are set. A $25 deposit holds your time and comes off your total. 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.
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.
Questions about lash extensions and travel
How long before a vacation should I get lash extensions?
A first set, at least a few days before you leave, so you get the first 24 hours dry and time to see how your eyes react. If you already wear extensions, a fill a day or two before you go. Never make your first set the day before a flight.
Should I get lash extensions before a vacation?
If you want to wake up with lashes and skip mascara in the heat or the water, yes, as long as the timing works. For a first set, give yourself a few days before you leave. For a trip of three weeks or more, expect to come home to a new set rather than a fill.
Can I swim with new lash extensions on vacation?
Not in the first 24 hours: no water, steam, pool, hot tub or sauna. After that, yes. Rinse your closed eyes with clean water after the pool or the sea and wash the lash line that evening with an oil-free cleanser.