Lashing Out

THERE HAVE BEEN many times over the past decade when I have looked lovingly – and enviously – at my son’s thick, long eyelashes and sighed. He didn’t get them from me. Perhaps mine were longer and thicker when I was younger, but they are not now. So when the lovely Elizabeth (Libby) DeVaux from Asante Day Spa offered to treat me with eyelash extensions, she didn’t have to ask twice!

Libby has been running her busy beauty practice in Coolum for almost 20 years, and in that time she’s seen the popularity in eyelash extensions increase, and the quality of the lashes improve.

On the day I visited I was being treated to the Russian volume eyelash extensions. The eyelashes are actually tiny little fans of fine synthetic hairs, which create extra length and volume, without the weight of some other synthetic or silk lashes. They are light and soft, and are carefully glued onto natural lashes and not the skin, so they don’t irritate your eyes. The lashes then drop off as the natural lashes fall away.

As she delivered me into the safe hands of Zande, who would be expertly adding volume to my lashes, Libby told me with proper care I could expect to get a good three to four weeks out of my new lashes. I was ready to go.

After I made myself at home in the treatment room, Zande and Libby inspected my natural lashes – they told me that while they weren’t long, there were a lot of them. But the problem was they were straight, and it’s the curl as well as the length that make lashes stand out.

Zande began by popping some protective pads under my eyes. With my eyes closed I had to rely on my photographer Krista for information. Krista snapped away as Zande’s steady hands carefully and precisely glued each tiny fan onto my natural lashes. Krista told me the process was fascinating, and was like watching delicate surgery. I was nervous about having such precise instruments so close to my eyes, but I soon relaxed – with delicate and deft movements Zande added one lash after another and I could see how some people actually fall asleep having their lash extensions done.

Libby told me that the lashes come in different lengths, thicknesses, and curl for different effects, and because the lashes are individually glued, the team at Asante can customise each treatment depending on the look the client wants.

Less than an hour after reclining on the bed I was sitting up to the beaming faces of Krista, Libby and Zande. After Libby handed me a mirror, I was beaming too. I looked fab! I didn’t have a scrap of makeup on but I felt ready to face the world – I had full, luscious, natural-looking lashes. Blinking was a treat! I have never worn false eyelashes or had extensions before and I imagined they would be heavy, but by the time I left the salon and drove out of Coolum, I could not feel the extra weight on my eyes.

Back at the office, the team was full of praise. The lashes were striking but very natural, which is just the look I was going for!

Words Jemma Pearson

Photos Krista Eppelstun