Pregnancy is one of the most challenging but beautiful times for any woman. So naturally, during pregnancy, the health of you and your baby is paramount. But a little self-care is essential for you in this predicament.
For many women, lash extensions are popular ways to make them feel more confident and beautiful. However, you will have to go through many physical changes when pregnant, which raises the question: “Can you get lash extensions while pregnant?”
The short answer is yes. Yet, doctors don’t recommend it. In addition, you need to consider many factors before thinking about eyelash extensions.
Keep reading for more information!
Is Eyelash Glue Safe During Pregnancy?
It is possible to get lash extensions while pregnant.
It is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that can be performed on pregnant women. However, doctors would not recommend it.
One of the reasons they give is increased sensitivity during pregnancy, resulting in you being more prone to irritation with eyelash glue.
It is best to avoid harsh chemicals during pregnancy, including glues commonly used in the lash extension industry.
Up to now, not much research has been done on the effects of these glues on pregnancy. So, if you do not want to take the risk, give up on eyelash extensions appointments until you give birth.
Ingredients & Side Effects
We will help you better understand how allergic reactions from these glues can occur by explaining their ingredients.
There are many ingredients used in lash adhesives, including:
- Stabilizing agent
- Adhesive ingredient
- Coloring agent
- Thickening agent
- Other compounds for many purposes
The fact is that Cyanoacrylate is the main ingredient in this glue, commonly utilized as an instant adhesive.
It is also the acrylic resin and is liquid when contained in a bottle, and can rapidly polymerize on contact with the water. When the polymerization process happens, it produces formaldehyde.
Once the formaldehyde concentration in the air exceeds 0.1 ppm, it will cause many adverse health effects. These include:
- Watery eyes
- Nausea
- Coughing
- Skin irritation
- Burning sensation to the eyes
Finally, your trusted lash extension technician should take the necessary precautions. Also, it is essential to consult your doctor before getting eyelash extensions while pregnant.
Laying on Your Back to Get The Lash Extensions Done
You will have to lie on your back for one to three hours during the procedure.
Once you’ve reached a certain point during your pregnancy, lying on the back for long periods can put you at dangerous risks.
Always remember that after the 20-week mark of pregnancy, lying on the back for too long is your enemy. The process of eyelash extensions can take more than two hours, and it is too dangerous and uncomfortable for you at this stage.
If you are bound to have a beautiful set of long eyelashes by the end of your pregnancy, it is essential to consult with your doctor and a trusted lash technician.
You need to remember that:
- If you are less than 20 weeks pregnant, you can safely lie on your back as usual.
- If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant, you cannot safely lie on your back.
Tips to Make Getting Eyelash Extensions While Pregnant Safer
Here are some helpful methods to reduce the risk for pregnant women with lash extensions.
1. Find the Right Salon
Once you’ve decided to revamp your lashes, you need to start with finding a trusted lash salon. You will need to have complete information about the salon of your choice and contact them to ask if they perform services with pregnant women. It will save your time and trips.
It makes sense for the salon to warn you of potential risks in advance, even though you may already know them after reading this article. It shows that the salon you choose is very responsible for its customers.
2. Utilize Sensitive Lash Glues
Choosing the suitable glue for this process is essential.
There are tons of products out there with various properties. So, the choice will depend on personal preferences.
You can consider lash glues with a more sensitive and gentle formula that still applies to eyelash extensions well without causing risks for you during pregnancy.
Sensitive glue typically will offer shorter retention compared to stronger ones. It means if the eyelash stylist uses sensitive glues for you, it is necessary to refill more frequently to maintain the lashes.
The glue quality you choose is also essential. Cheaper products are more likely to induce skin irritation, and they can even expose users to more allergic reactions.
Of course, we all want the lash stylist to use good-quality and safe glue for us.
3. Have Good Ventilation
During pregnancy, many women have a higher than normal sensitivity to odors.
That’s why pregnant women become more aware of chemicals or other such things. So, you need to make sure your lash salon is ventilated.
The lack of ventilation in the salon can make you unable to stand the smell of glue in the process of eyelash extensions. So, if you feel you are not getting enough air circulation, you need to complain about it to your lash technician.
4. Remove Your Eyelashes if You Face an Allergic Reaction
If you experience an allergic reaction after your eyelash extension is complete, it is recommended that you remove the extension as soon as possible. If you have a severe allergic reaction, you must get medical help right away.
On the other hand, if you’ve had an allergic reaction before, there’s a good chance you will have it again. In this case, it’s best to forget about lash extensions.
5. Patch Test
If you are a new client, you should have them tested.
Allergic reactions to lash extensions are generally uncommon. However, you should do the patch test if you are a beginner in the world of lash extensions. This effort will tell you if you react to the glue used in the lash extensions.
This step is essential for you even if you haven’t had any problems before.
In most cases, you’re unlikely to have an allergic reaction during pregnancy as long as you have no history of allergies. Yet, it is necessary to do the patch test and apply for eyelash extensions.
So what does a patch test mean?
It refers to a safe and painless procedure. Lash technicians will place a few eyelash extensions on the outer corner of your eye to check for your reaction to a small dose of formaldehyde.
Within the following one to two days after performing a patch test, it is best to check for any symptoms of redness or irritation in this area.
Otherwise, you can start your treatment without distressing about any risks during and after your lash extensions.
6. Position for the Process
Enlargement is a time-consuming process, and the lash artist will often require you to lie on your back for more than an hour, even up to three hours.
The fact is that it is a position that is not recommended for you during pregnancy, especially when you are more than 20 weeks pregnant.
We recommend that you lie on your side with your head straight while eyelash extensions as it will not affect this procedure. This position will be beneficial for both you and the lash technician.
You can ask the technique to place the pillow behind your spine, between your legs, or under your leg. Thanks to that, you will receive relaxation during the procedure.
7. Take of Short Breaks
You often feel uncomfortable and restless during pregnancy. The cause may be due to the weight of the fetus. So, you will probably need to rest between treatments, and your lash technician needs to know it too.
You’ll need to add small breaks to your lash extensions so you can relax or use the toilet. Taking a short break will help keep your procedure smooth.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy is a particular period in a woman’s life that leads to many changes in her body. While your and your baby’s health should come first, you should also take the time to take care of your appearance because there’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel beautiful all the time.
Nowadays, no general studies show that synthetic lash extensions are dangerous to you during pregnancy. Yet, you should still consult the doctor before doing so. This is because the hormonal imbalance in every pregnant woman is different. Therefore, the doctor can tell you what is suitable for you.
Additionally, it would be best to talk to the lash technician before your appointment to make sure they allocate sufficient time for the appointment.
Thank you for reading. Please share this article with other pregnant women!
