What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "lash shedding"? If you've never heard the term before, you'd probably not know what to think. Thankfully, you wouldn't have to wear that look of confusion anymore after today's article. So without further ado, let's get right down to it!
What Is Lash Shedding?
Lash shedding is when your eyelashes drop faster than usual during certain conditions. And it just so happens that springtime is one of those occasions where you tend to lose more eyelashes than before.
Should you be worried about spring lash shedding? We honestly don't think you should! The body goes through many changes at different times of the year. And the eyelashes have their natural cycle to follow. Did you know that you even lose as many as six lashes daily? But there's no cause for alarm.
Your eyelashes falling out is a regular part of your body's hair growth routine. You should expect to lose as much as 20% of your eyelashes over two weeks. But just like everything else in nature, there is always a balance. It would interest you to know that your eyelashes have a standard timeframe of between sixty and ninety days to replace any existing eyelashes. And this is considered perfectly normal. If you had no idea about that fact before, well, now you do.
So it's easy to see how your losing lashes should not give you too much cause for concern, even if it looks like they fall out at an astronomical rate. However, it would interest you to know a few things about spring lash shedding so you can be better prepared for it when it happens.
Why Does Lash Shedding Happen?
Although we experience lash fallout all year round, during Spring, the rate at which our lashes fall off increases. And the reason for this is not as far-fetched as you might think.
Springtime causes our body metabolism to change in preparation for much warmer weather conditions. One of such changes is that our bodies produce more oil to help keep our skin - and hair follicles - stay hydrated. When your body feels drier than usual from insufficient humidity, the hair follicles on your skin - including your lashes - become brittle. At this point, it doesn't take much for them to fall off.
As soon as Springtime comes around, our eyelashes may experience a resting phase where they don't grow as much as they used to because of the increase in temperature. It is much easier for them to fall off in this phase. And any lash extension fixed during this period doesn't last as long as it usually would. So when your regular clients come rushing in to complain about their falling lashes, it's not going to be challenging to explain why they're experiencing lash shedding!
What Can Make My Lashes Shed?
Spring lash shedding occurs because of the effects of hormonal changes on your hair's normal growth cycle. These hormonal changes include:
1. Reduced Production of Melatonin
It is a well-known fact that melatonin favorably induces new hair growth. During the winter period, your body's melatonin production is high. This increased melatonin production makes up for the insufficient sunlight typically experienced during Winter. As a result, your eyelashes tend to grow very fast because of your body's increased melatonin production.
Springtime brings a different story entirely. Your body produces less melatonin as more sunlight is available during Spring than in Winter. This means that your eyelashes don't grow as fast as they used to because of the reduced melatonin production. And when they fall off, they take a much longer time to grow back.
2. Fluctuating Testosterone Levels
Yes, women have testosterone. The only difference is that testosterone is not as much in women as in men. Your body produces three different types of testosterone, but the one that matters where lash shedding is concerned is DHT (dihydrotestosterone). You can find DHT at different levels in your skin, prostate, and - wait for it - your hair follicles! DHT is the hormone that is responsible for alopecia - or genetic baldness).
Nevertheless, it isn't how much DHT your body has that causes hereditary baldness but your body's hair follicles' sensitivity to DHT levels. It would interest you to note that during Spring, you experience changes in the sensitivity and levels of DHT in your body system that can trigger lash shedding.
What Can I Do To Prepare For Spring Lash Shedding?
The sooner you realize that spring lash shedding is a perfectly normal experience, the easier it is to prepare yourself for it. It is much harder for lash extensions to stay on when your eyelashes keep falling out, but here are some tips to help you weather the storm.
4. Clean Your Lashes Regularly
Even though you can do nothing to prevent spring lash shedding, it is essential to clean your lashes as often as possible. Springtime comes with a lot of "interesting" conditions. Allergies are more rampant during Spring, which can cause a buildup on your lashes. When you consider the fact that your body has ramped up its oil production, then such a build-up can lead to more stress on your lashes. Make sure to brush your lashes daily and clean them with a safe lash extension cleanser.
5. Be Aware Of What To Expect
As a lash technician, it is equally vital to educate your clients on what to expect for their lashes during Spring. Every woman is different, so while some persons may experience heavy lash shedding during Spring, others might get away with just some slight shedding. However, you should expect them to get worried when they start noticing their lash extensions - and lashes - falling out. When this happens, it will help if you reassure them that whatever they're experiencing is temporary.
If you've scheduled a Spring lash refill appointment with us before now, and you notice your lashes shedding too often, you might have to book an earlier appointment so we can address the issue.
Not to worry. We are just a call away here!
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