Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make: my eyelashes are no longer Asian. Goodbye lash inferiority complex! I now have lush and long lash extensions. I went to Fembotika iLash Bar to see Colleen on the recommendation of Lucky on Twitter, and I’m glad I did. Best eyelash extensions in Toronto? I believe that!
Colleen, the owner of Fembotika, is extremely passionate about lash extensions. She shares that her love for false lashes goes way back to when she was 13, when she was always late for class because she had to wear her false lashes first. She moved to Toronto from Vancouver to pursue her dream of opening her own lash salon. At the moment, Fembotika is located inside Redd Hair Studio (1187 King Street West, Toronto), where the lash application process happens on a very brightly-lit bed.
The setup: where the magic happens.
Before Your Appointment
Obviously, you shouldn’t wear any eye makeup when you come in for your lash extensions. Do not curl your lashes, either. If you are a contact lens wearer, wear your glasses for the day or be ready to your contacts out when you get there.
It was my first time, so I had to fill out a client information sheet. It asks about your lash history: whether you ever had lash extensions done, and if you had a bad experience in the past.
The Lashing Process
The first part of the process is the consultation. Colleen takes a look at your natural lashes, and then you agree on the curliness of the lashes. There are four types of curls — J, B, C and D — going from the least curly to the curliest doll-like lashes. I didn’t want mine super curly, and Colleen suggested the B curls would look like C’s on my eyes so we went with those.
After the consultation, a cool gel pad or medical tape is applied on top of the bottom lashes to avoid getting your eyes glued shut. Individual lashes are applied very close to the roots of your own lashes. This process can take anywhere between one and two hours. I got the Go Big or Go Home package ($200) with 80 lashes in each eye. I found the whole process really relaxing and if I wasn’t so excited, I could’ve definitely fallen asleep.
Taking Care of Your Pretties
For the first 24 hours after application, you should avoid getting the lashes wet to allow the glue to dry completely. Yes, this means washing around the eyes with a cloth instead of splashing your face as usual. No saunas or swimming pools, either.
After that, never use waterproof makeup remover on your lashes. Which means, no waterproof eye makeup. Wear eye makeup that doesn’t require a separate makeup remover, or get an awesome face cleanser like Philosophy Purity Made Simple, Consonant Body Organic Face Wash, or Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk. Mascaras aren’t recommended, but honestly, you won’t need mascaras while wearing lash extensions. Oh, and never take a curler to your lashes; they curl on their own. 
If you take care of your lashes, your lash extensions should only fall off when your natural lashes fall off. Lash extensions usually last 3-4 weeks until they need a fill.
Before and After Photos
And of course, the only reasons why you’re reading this post: the before and after shots. 
Update: My natural lashes are very spaced out, so Fembotika suggests that the lash extensions be feathered next time to give the lashes a fluffier appearance. The process will take a bit longer, as it involves placing two super fine lashes on one lash.
Oh, and a beauty blogger tip? If you ever plan on blogging about your lash extension experience, get your brows waxed or threaded beforehand for the best photos. I had the unfortunate task of Photoshopping my stray brow hairs for these macro. Such a pain!
Click on the photos to enlarge and enjoy!
My Fembotika Lashes
Before / After (Click to enlarge)
Keep reading to see more pictures!
