Stick ’Em Right: A Proper Guide to Slapping on Lash Patches Like a Pro

Right, darling - you're ready to perform a lash set, but before you even think of taking up your lash tweezers, you need to get your lash patches in order. I know they appear to be little details, but believe me, if you get them incorrect, your customer will be blinking furiously, wetting their eyes, and perhaps muttering a few choice words. Get them right, though, and you'll have a comfortable, happy customer who's ready to relax while you do your magic.

Step One: Get Your Bits Together 

Before you contact your customer, make sure you have your lash patches, tweezers, cleaner, and other supplies available. Nobody likes to lie down while you rummage around looking for anything. Choose high-quality hydrogel or foam patches over inexpensive, fragile ones, which might slide about or dry out midway. Also, make sure they're brand new and haven't been sitting in your drawer since Christmas.

Step Two: Clean Up the Area 

I'm not suggesting your client's face is dirty, but natural oils, cosmetics, or moisturiser can cause patches to move around like a cooked egg on a nonstick skillet. Gently wash the under-eye region with lash-safe cleanser or micellar water on a lint-free pad. No pulling or scrubbing; keep it gently so you don't hurt their skin before you even begin.

Step Three: Position Is Everything 

Here is where the magic occurs. Ask your customer to look up; this will offer you some extra space to work with. Gently draw down their bottom lashes with one hand, then put the patch so that it covers all of them without touching the waterline. You don't want it too close to the eye, since that will result in watery eyes and discomfort. But if it's too low, stray lashes will escape, and you'll be chasing them throughout the appointment.

Consider it like snuggling them in with a blanket: tight but not smothering. The patch's inner corners should be properly lined up, and the outside edge should match the form of their eye. No wrinkles, no strange air bubbles; smooth it out so it lies flat on the skin. 

Step Four: Comfort Check

Before you touch the lash extensions, ask your client whether it feels comfortable. A short "That comfy, babe?" can spare you an hour of their quiet agony. If they feel any poking or rubbing, make an adjustment. Remember, once you start lashing, relocating the patch is like attempting to change your shoes halfway through a 5k run: feasible but inconvenient. 

Step Five: Keep an Eye on It

Even if you've positioned them correctly, lash patches may shift if your customer speaks a lot, wriggles, or has especially wet eyes. Give them a brief check midway through the set to ensure that everything is still in order. If you see a stray lower lash, simply pin it down using micropore tape - a simple repair that gets the job done. 

Be Gentle When Removing

When you're finished, don't pull them off like a plaster. Hold the skin tight and gradually peel from the outside corners inwards. If the patch feels stuck, a dab of water on a microbrush will help loosen it up. The goal is to leave your customer with full lashes and pleasant eyes, not red scars or irritated skin.

Finally, while lash patches may appear to be a little detail, they have the potential to make or ruin your entire lash session. Nail the positioning, keep your client comfortable, and you'll be halfway to a beautiful set. It's one of those "little things" that distinguishes excellent technicians from great ones, so take your time, love, and stick 'em properly.