When I want a luscious curled look, I always lean on a good pair of falsies to do the trick. Eye lash extensions are also a fun alternative for a 30-45 day look, but between the upkeep, the annoyance and the cost, it's not something I wanted to do forever.
That's where The Perm comes in. Now, I know what you're thinking: 1. That's insane. 2. How safe is it to perm the hairs that are mere millimeters from your eyeballs?
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| Look! Lashes! |
I read up on the procedure so I wouldn't freak out and then headed to Yelp to find the best spot for an affordable perm. Li's Salon in Chinatown, NY won out. Cindy, the perm expert took a same day appointment (always call same day to ensure that she is in). In typical Chinatown fashion, the salon was a little cramped and all of the stylists are always eating when they're not working. The eyelash station was in back, where Cindy also performs facials and the like.
- I laid down and was instructed to close my eyes.
- Then Cindy gently washed my eye area to get rid of any residue or make up from my eye lashes.
- She stuck two thin foam cushions to my lash line and proceeded to wipe an adhesive and perm solution to my eyelashes. This part was a little bit uncomfortable, because she applied pressure to the top of the cushions downward into the eye. It was only about 15-20 seconds per eye so it was over before I could protest. The smell was not the rosiest. It was a mix of grandma's perm solution and eggs, but I suppose you just get used to it after a few minutes.
- A thin wet pad was also applied to the bottom of the eye. I have no idea what this was for, but it was comfortable... like an eye mask.
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| This is not me, but a good depiction of what was happening |
- All of this was then covered with some form of plastic wrap and I was left to marinate for about 30 minutes.
- Cindy then removed the plastic and applied a cleaning solution to my eye area and the lashes to release them from the foam cushions.
- She gave me a final cleansing wipe and sat me up to be on my way. Lashes curled!
I was in shock. The whole procedure took less than an hour, I had curled lashes and Cindy said I could immediately put mascara on. The skin on the top of my eye was a little sensitive for about half an hour after. I would assume it was the foam adhesive, but it was no more uncomfortable than the feeling of your skin after a make up remover wipe. I never felt any of the perm solution on my skin. Cindy was quite gentle and worked with precision.
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| Fresh off the presses! |
The appointment was $25 and well worth it. These aren't the best pictures, but keep in mind, my eye lashes can't be seen at all when they aren't permed. Eye lash curlers don't give a curl that holds so I have stopped trying years ago.
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| Mascara face! |
xoxo,
Y.
