C like pregnanC(y) in eyelash and eyebrow styling

Many eyelash and eyebrow stylists as well as cosmetologists have doubts whether pregnant women should be treated. Whether eyelash extensions during pregnancy are harmful and how pregnancy can affect the effect of the treatment and its durability. 

Below are some important factors to keep in mind when working with women in this particular period.

Eyelash extensions during pregnancy

Can you extend eyelashes during pregnancy? Whether you're a customer or a stylist yourself, you need to realise that your respiratory tract is exposed to harmful fumes of eyelash extension adhesive. To ensure respiratory protection and minimize the amount of inhaled vapour we should wear masks that protect us from this vapour. 

Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding are not tested in any form of scientific experimentation, so it is not certain how the products used for eyelash extensions affect the pregnant and foetus. However, synthetic eyelashes are not glued to the skin, so there is no direct contact with the skin. It should be remembered, however, that the fumes of glue go directly to the eyeball and nose, and from there to the bloodstream.

Moreover, it is worth remembering that if a pregnant woman has an allergic reaction, she will not be able to receive medicines to alleviate her symptoms. Therefore, it is worthwhile to additionally protect such a client from the risk of allergies, especially during this period, always using a barrier cream before application, which protects and blocks the penetration of fumes through the skin into the bloodstream.

Increased concentration of hormones in pregnant women may adversely affect the durability of application. A hormone storm may change the current cycle of your eyelashes, i.e. how fast your natural eyelashes grow and lead to a change in their structure. These changes can both worsen and improve the retention of eyelashes.

Another aspect worth remembering is the position in which the treatment is performed. Pregnant women should not lie flat, as this may increase the risk of miscarriage. The same applies to all treatments performed in a lying position. It is worth taking care of the client's comfort by offering an additional pillow under the side or legs.

As a pregnant eyelash stylist, remember to plan your day to have longer breaks between clients and also to change your sitting position. If you are performing other treatments besides eyelashes, try mixing them with each other during the day to avoid holding the same position all day long. In addition, it is important to ventilate the room we work in well.

Lifting eyelashes during pregnancy

During the eyelash lifting procedure one product comes into direct contact with the skin, which is the glue used to stick the lifting forms to the eyelid. Allergic reactions during the lifting procedure are not so common in eyelash extensions, but they are also not impossible. The most common cause of allergy during this treatment is an allergic reaction to the PPD component, which occurs in eyelash coloring dyes. If your client has ever had an unpleasant situation related to irritation after henna colouring, you can perform the eyelash lifting procedure without colouring.

Just as with eyelash extensions, there is always a risk that an allergic reaction may occur and pregnant or lactating women are unable to take antihistamines to help alleviate their allergy symptoms.

Additionally, such a client should be warned in advance that the pregnancy is known for hormonal changes that may unexpectedly affect the effect of the treatment. The effect may be invisible, its persistence unsatisfactory, but you may also be pleasantly surprised and the effect will last longer than usual.

Pregnancy and eyebrow styling

During all eyebrow styling treatments such as henna powder, coloring with paint or lamination of the eyebrows you must remember that the preparations used for the treatment will in this case have direct contact with the client's skin. This makes it easier for you to get any irritation or allergy. We would like to remind you that pregnant and breastfeeding women cannot take medicines to alleviate the symptoms of an allergic reaction. 

In addition, as in the case of eyelash styling, a hormonal storm may affect the effect of the treatment and its maintenance, which is worth informing the client.

In conclusion...

Pregnancy is not a contraindication to perform treatments in the field of eyelash and eyebrow styling, however, it is necessary to approach such a client individually and inform about the risks that the above described treatments may entail.

To sum up - it is possible for a pregnant woman to perform eyelash or eyebrow styling treatments, but because there is no evidence of their harmlessness we do not recommend doing so. In particular, we do not recommend taking new pregnant women who have never had a given treatment before. Pregnancy is not the best time for such experiments.