How to Change Your Pretreatment Routine for Summer

Changing Your Lash Prep in Time for Summer | Why You Should Change Your Eyelash Extension Pretreatment Routine & How

Summer is all about soaking up the sun, lounging peacefully by the poolside, and even jetting off on vacation! Yet, the summer season can be a love-hate time for Lash Techs. Although it is usually the busiest time for business as people are seeking a lush lash set for summer, the changes in weather can play havoc with your lash retention. While your clients are basking in the warm rays, they shouldn’t have to worry about their lashes shedding. There’s no need to panic though, as there’s loads you can do to combat the rising temperatures and humidity—and changing your lash pretreatment routine is one of them!

Why Is a Great Pretreatment Routine Important?

Pretreatment for lash extensions is the process of removing all the oils, dirt, sebum, makeup, and any other retention-reducing nasties from the lashes. You may think that lash prep is only necessary if your client enters the lash studio with visible makeup around their eyes, but this is not the case! Even if your client’s lashes appear to be clean, they will still need to be prepped as makeup isn’t the only factor that will affect retention. If anything, the guilty party will be the oils that are present on the lashes—whether they’re natural oils or as a result of skincare, they will affect the lash glue bonding with the natural lashes.

If there is any oily residue on the lashes, your client's lash retention will be the one to suffer as the lash glue may bond with the residue rather than the natural lashes themselves. You probably won’t be able to notice this during the treatment, even when you’re brushing them with your lash spoolie. However, your client may become aware of poor attachment when showering or washing their lashes as advised. Especially during a vacation, this is the last thing your client wants to experience after spending their hard-earned money to look glam while enjoying the sun. Not only can their lash retention suffer, but your client retention can also be affected!

London Lash Top Tip: In preparation for their appointment, it’s always good to provide your clients with an appointment prep list which could include suggestions such as “Please avoid using any eye creams, oils, or lash serums on the day of your appointment” and “Please do not wear makeup around the eyes”. This will help you to ensure that you have an easier time performing your pretreatment, and you’ll know that once the routine is complete, the lashes will be squeaky clean!

But if they don’t follow the advice you’ve given them, or maybe they’ve forgotten, a thorough pretreatment routine will help you prepare their lashes. As the expert, it’s your responsibility to make sure your client’s eyelashes are clean before you move on with the treatment.

Why Should You Change Your Lash Prep in Summer?

As a Lash Tech, you probably know that summer is a different ball game. Don't get us wrong, there are multiple ways in which you can prep your lash studio for summer, but pretreatment is a huge factor in retention, especially in summer. Compared with winter, the climate can become much hotter and more humid. In summer, your clients are more likely to be using sunscreen to protect their skin, and they may even switch up their skincare routine to manage oiliness or to get a glowy and natural summer look. If they are switching up their routine, then you may need to adapt yours too!

If your clients are using more oily products than usual, or are sweating more, residue can accumulate around their lashes. If you are new to the lash industry or on a budget, using a Lash Shampoo to pretreat your client’s lashes is a great way to start. Simple and easy to use, a Foaming Lash Shampoo is a staple in any pretreatment routine. If you already use a Lash Shampoo, then why not review the rest of your pretreatment routine?

Using a Lash Cleanser helps remove remaining oils and dirt, while a Primer helps prepare the natural lashes for adhesive application. Follow each product’s instructions and choose the steps appropriate to your client’s lashes and working conditions.

For a more detailed approach, explore our 5-step pretreatment routine. Protein Remover Pads help clean the lashes and surrounding eye area, helping your eye patches stay in place.

Booster is applied to the bases of the eyelash extensions while they are on the strip, following the product instructions. Do not apply it to natural lashes or skin. It can accelerate adhesive curing, so consider your room conditions and placement speed before using it. To learn more about the routine, read our lash pretreatment guide.

Lash Aftercare

As we’ve highlighted previously, keeping lashes free from product residue is important for retention. Advise clients to avoid applying oily products directly to their extensions and explain why aftercare is very important. Recommend daily cleansing with an appropriate lash cleanser, with additional cleansing after swimming, heavy sweating, or wearing makeup, following the product instructions. It’s a great option to have Lash Shampoo and lash brushes available to retail to your clients, so they have what they need to take care of their lashes. For more summer aftercare advice, take a look at our Guide to Eyelash Extensions Aftercare: Summer Edition.

If you’ve already got your pretreatment routine down to a T, then congrats! That’s definitely something to be proud of as some Lash Techs skip pretreatment entirely. If you’re still finding that summer is wreaking havoc on your retention, check out our must-have lash accessories for summer. Happy lashing!