Lash Damage &
Contraindications

Common Lash Damage & What It Needs

Cut or fried lashes

Occurs from excessive heat — smoking, steam, saunas, cooking, etc. The set needs to be re-washed, rinsed, fan-dried, and brushed with a lash wand.

Lash gapping

Occurs from unhealthy at-home lash removals, poor isolation practice, tugging or rubbing on natural lashes, and trichotillomania. Prioritize isolation. Gapping can be hidden through volume and mega-volume sets — do not lash the thin, short baby (anagen) lashes coming in.

Sparse lashes

Occur from medication, medical treatments such as chemo, unhealthy lash removal, unhealthy application (tugging/rubbing), trichotillomania (hair loss), and traction alopecia (continuous tension or pulling from the root).

Curly natural lashes

Not a contraindication. Isolate, place the lash, and hold isolation a few seconds longer.

What Is a Contraindication?

(KON-truh-IN-dih-KAY-shun) — anything, including a symptom or medical condition, that is a reason for a person to not receive a particular treatment or procedure because it may be harmful. A lash contraindication is a factor that serves as reason to withhold a service, because providing it would cause harm.

Eye & Skin Contraindications

• Conjunctivitis / pink eye — itching, swelling, stinging, discharge; can appear during or after service.
• Blepharitis — chronic inflammation of the eyes.
• Demodex (lash mites).
• Stye (hordeolum) — a bacterial infection of the sebaceous gland causing a red bump / small abscess on the eyelid.
• Lash allergies — likely to the cyanoacrylate, but possible to any product.
• Eye abrasions — can appear as a cut or bubble.
• Contact dermatitis / taping irritation — taping too high on the waterline can cause irritation, stinging, contusions, or corneal abrasions, and reactions resembling allergies.

Medical Contraindications

• Hypertension — stages 2 and 3 of high blood pressure; can include heart attacks and strokes.
• Infectious diseases — transmittable blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, syphilis.
• Epilepsy — can cause seizures during services.
• Alopecia areata / traction — unpredictable body hair loss / hair loss from repetitive tension.
• Pregnancy / back problems — a recliner may be best so the client isn't laying flat.

Additional conditions to screen for

Cataracts, cysts (chalazion), glaucoma, herpes simplex eye infections (impetigo, conjunctivitis), eye inflammation (uveitis), watery eyes, hypersensitive skin/eyes, keratitis (corneal inflammation), diabetic retinopathy, skin disease or trauma (cuts, abrasions, burns, swelling) in the immediate area, skin disorders in the general eye area (dermatitis, xanthelasma, syringoma), Bell's palsy or any condition that makes opening/closing the eyes difficult, any disorder causing shaking/twitching or erratic movements, and recent surgeries around the eyes, head, or face.

Educational reference only. Always use professional judgment and refer clients to a medical provider when appropriate.