A woman is warning Kenyans about the dangers of eyelash glue and eyelash extensions after an allergic reaction caused an ulcer in her cornea this weekend.
Carol (not real name), a Nairobi resident had a new set of lashes installed by an aesthetician in a salon she found on Instagram last Friday. The establishment, located in Adams, one of the middle-class neighbourhoods in Nairobi, promises clients that their single eyelash extensions last a month. This is two weeks longer than the recommended duration for single eyelash extensions.
Carol noticed that the eyelash glue in use was one that she wasn't familiar with, and expressed her concerns. The aesthetician assured her that the glue was safe and one that the salon frequently used on all their clients. However, he warned her that the glue might cause a stinging sensation that would subside over time. Her fears abounded when the glue was squeezed out from an un-labelled bottle and cold air blow dried on the site to dry it instead of fanning or letting the glue air dry after a few minutes.
As she drove home, the stinging got worse and her vision blurred that she could hardly see when she arrived at her house. Her husband drove her to a well known private hospital where she was given an antihistamine(Piriton) intravenously, painkillers and sleep aids. Her blood pressure, which she was told was abnormally high, was also monitored.
She spent the night in the hospital and was discharged the following morning with antihistamines and a prescription for eye -drops and advised to remove the extensions that were causing the allergic reaction.
She called the salon and the aesthetician agreed to visit her house and remove the lashes. The removal process, which also involves the use of harsh chemicals, irritated her eyes further and by the time they showed up at a private ophthalmology clinic along Waiyaki Way, she could barely open her eyes due to the pain, irritation and overproduction of tears. The gritty sensation was worse her right eye. She was diagnosed with an ulcer in her cornea and prescribed medication which she was told to take for two weeks.
Allergic reactions to eyelash glue and eyelash are not uncommon and people have been known to react to the cyanoacrylates or formaldehyde used in the adhesive agents. Cyanoacrylates or formaldehyde are some of the active ingredients in nail glue used during fake nail applications.
Ruena Kiarie, who has an eyelash line, Ruena Glamour recommends that single eyelash extensions should not be installed for longer than three weeks, ''Single eyelash extensions need a high level of hygiene to maintain and the aesthetician needs to be professional and highly skilled in order to instal or remove them safely. Unfortunately, most aestheticians in the salons and spas in Nairobi do not have the proper skill set. There is also an influx of counterfeit bonding glues which can cause severe allergic reactions.''
Ruena recommends first-time users to opt for strip eyelash extensions instead of single eyelash extensions as they can be removed and cleaned daily. ''Even though strip lashes require less maintenance, one should still observe proper hygiene by never sleeping in them and washing them thoroughly to remove any excess glue.''
According to Ruena, your eye shape should determine the length of eyelashes chosen as extremely long ones may irritate the eye and the rubbing might introduce harmful bacteria into the eye. The installation process for single lash extensions or strip lashes is also painless. Any stinging or irritation is a red flag.
Here are few things to know before you have eyelash extensions
  • Only go to a reputable salon that has certified aestheticians
  • Ensure that proper hygiene is maintained at all times
  • Enquire about the adhesive and the ingredients in the adhesive
  • Ask for a patch test 24- 48 hrs before installation to determine if you are allergic to the adhesive.

About The Author

Author
Lena Anyuolo

Subscribe to our newsletters

  • Events
  • Movies
  • KenyaBuzz Kids
  • Whatsapp/Telegram

    The latest buzz and hottest trends in a bite-size daily message