How Long Do Eyelash Extensions Take [From a Lash Tech]

Many people want to know how long eyelash extensions take to apply before booking an appointment. It only makes sense to find out what to expect so you have time to plan your appointment and get ready.

In this article, I’ll share a handy table that shows precisely the time need to get your lashes done broken down by technique (classic, hybrid & volume) and by the type of appointment (full set & refill).

If you’re a client, it’s important to plan ahead and understand the average time commitment for getting your lash extensions done. And if you’re a lash artist, you must make sure you can lash your clients within a time frame that’s generally accepted in the industry.

Let’s dive into it!

How Long Do Eyelash Extensions Take?

How Long Lash Extensions Take	Full Set	Refill
Classic Lashes	90 to 120 minutes	30 to 60 minutes
Hybrid Lashes	90 to 150 minutes	60 to 90 minutes
Volume Lashes	120 to 180 minutes	60 to 90 minutes

I prepared this table to give you a general idea of what to expect in terms of appointment length. From my experience, two main variables will influence how long your lash appointment will take:

• The technique (classic vs hybrid vs volume)
• The type of appointment (full set vs refills)

Other factors such as experience and the health of your natural lashes will have an impact on how long your appointment will take. The more healthy your lashes are, the faster your stylist can work.

The stylist will also need to spend more time on your lashes if they are relatively new to the field of eyelash extensions.

Pro Tip: Be wary of stylists promising ridiculously quick appointment times. They might skim on the quality or cause damage and ruin your natural lashes.

Why Volume Lashes Take Longer to Apply

Volume eyelash extensions are applied by adding a fan of extensions to one natural eyelash (one-to-many). This gives the illusion of having thicker eyelashes and helps to hide gaps between natural lashes.

On the other hand, classic eyelash extensions are applied by adding extensions to each natural eyelash individually (one-to-one). This gives the illusion of longer lashes.

The main difference between these two techniques is the number of extensions used to cover your natural lashes.

Because volume lashes require the stylist to carefully create a fan with extensions before applying it to the natural lash, the application process takes longer than with classic lashes.

Volume lashes is an advanced technique and requires a lot of skill and attention to detail. Learn more about the differences between classic lashes and volume lashes in this article.

Why Full Sets Take Longer to Apply

A full set of eyelash extensions consists of 60 to 80 extensions per eye. This means that your stylist will need to repeat the exact same steps 60 to 80 times per eye!

The general steps to apply lashes are:

1. Isolate the natural lash with one hand.
2. Select the extension with the other hand.
3. Dip the extension in the lash glue.
4. Carefully apply the extension to your natural lash

The above steps are a little simplified and in reality, it’s much more complicated. For example, People can have gaps between their natural lashes, weak natural lashes, or even lash mites.

As a rule of thumb, I generally assume a retention rate of at least 50% when my client comes back for a refill.

For example, If I applied 80 extensions per eye during a full set and the client comes back in 3 weeks for a refill, at least 40 extensions per eye will still be there.

Less time is needed for the refill since I only need to apply 40 extensions per eye to reach the initial fullness the client had with the full set 3 weeks ago.

How Long Does It Take a Beginner to Do Eyelash Extensions

The appointment lengths discussed so far are for stylists that have experience in the field and can apply lash extensions with the highest level of precision.

Beginners will require more time to complete the same tasks since they are still getting used to the skills needed to apply eyelash extensions.

A new stylist will also need more time for lash consultations and ensuring that the client is happy with the lash style before applying them.

Beginners will take anywhere from 120 to 180 minutes to apply a full set of classic eyelash extensions. A refill will take 60 minutes so that the beginning stylist can apply enough extensions.

When I first started applying lash extensions, I remember how long it took. Because I had little experience, the length of my appointments was way too long.

Practice makes perfect. Once I got the hang of the art of applying eyelash extensions, I reduced my appointment lengths gradually.

Keep in mind that clients will always prefer longer appointments to maintain the quality of the service. You should never shorten your appointment just to arrive on time and offer a poor quality service.

Take the time to have perfect isolation, avoid stickies and always check your work.

Respecting Your Lash Stylist Time

I personally run an appointment-based business. Therefore, when a client books an appointment, I reserve a specific amount of time to service the client. It is very important to come on time to your appointment.

I once had a client arrive 45 minutes late for her appointment. It is very unfortunate but I had to reschedule her for another day.

I explained the reason why and she completely understood.

If I had taken her while being late, I would have had to rush the appointment so that my other clients would not be delayed as well. This would mean applying not enough lashes or compromising the quality of the application.

Both options are not acceptable for my brand and my reputation. I want to offer the best eyelash extensions possible.

I want to be proud of the work I do.

It can be frustrating to reschedule a client but you should never compromise on your quality of work.

Stay true to your brand.

Make the Most of Your Time

Your time is valuable. Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most value from the time spent at your lash salon.

1. No makeup: Make sure to come to your appointment with a clean face. Remove any makeup, lip gloss, mascara, etc. before coming to your appointment.
   
   If you come with makeup on, your lash stylist will ask you to remove it. Remember, you are paying good money for the lash service, not the makeup removal.
2. No drinking like you are in a desert: Everyone needs to go to the toilet once in a while and that’s completely understandable especially if your appointment lasts more than one hour.
   
   However, excessive toilet breaks during the appointment will just eat away your time and you will end up having fewer lashes on your eyes.
3. Be honest with your lash extension stylist: If you are allergic to any of the products used during the appointment, tell your stylist right away so that she can use allergy-free products.
4. No food: Food can get in the way of the lash service and distract the lash expert from their job.
5. No phone: Your phone should not be on during the time of your appointment. Cell phones interfere with the stylist’s and client’s concentration so keep them away from the salon.