Tried & Tested – Mink Eyelash Extensions from Hyde Grooming

Have you got a beauty product you won’t set foot outside the door without, even if the rest of your face is clean? For many of us, that ‘if I can only have one’ product is mascara. Fluttering lashes have long been seen as one of the most feminine and lovely of features, but unfortunately for us it seems to be menfolk who get the naturally sweeping type, and most of us rely on the next wonder mascara for a helping hand. There is of course another way: faking it with falsies. While we’ve all been victim to the five euro chemist version peeling off mid nightclub dance-off, leaving you with what looks like a fat spider climbing down your cheek, advances in beauty technology mean you now have longer lasting and more natural looking options to choose from. Hyde Grooming, conveniently located just off Dublin’s Grafton Street, offer eyelash extensions to clients. These lashes are more hygienic than mink; an ultra-soft hair that’s synthetic and applied using an ultra-soft glue that’s kinder on the natural lash To have a full set applied takes an hour and thirty minutes or so. I headed in there on a recent rainy Saturday to have mine applied. There’s no point pretending that a treatment like this is a blissfully relaxing spa appointment, but all you have to do is lie back and chill out for a while (eyes closed, so you don’t have many other options!) and let the lovely Sarah work her magic. It’s time-consuming because the lashes are applied individually, which in turn creates the lovely, natural finish. You can discuss what you want from your look with your therapist in advance, so if you want a more muted look or all out glamour is up to you. I opted for somewhere in between the two, and basically asked to look as though I was wearing a really, really good mascara. Less than two hours later I was ready to go, with lovely long lashes that were still a million miles from drag queen territory. Before and after, quite a dramatic difference! Now, over a week later, I haven’t noticed a single lost lash. I use a little brow brush to gently guide the upwards every morning, and I’m careful not to use oil based cleansers on the area, but otherwise they take no more care than my own lashes. The beauty of having these babies on is that you look groomed at all times, even when you don’t have another scrap of makeup on. In fact, a good fake tan is the only other beauty product I can think of that gives your look such a dramatic boost when working alone. The real test is when people tell you that you look great, but they can’t really tell why. I’ve also been asked three times in the past week what mascara I’m using… proof that there’s no ‘fake’ look with these falsies. I can expect my lashes to last for up to four weeks before needing a refill. It’s been barely a week, and I’ve already decided that I’ll be going back for mine when that time is up. Consider this fair warning, they’re addictive quite addictive! This treatment costs €70, with refills ranging from €38 to €58 depending on the required amount and the time involved. For more, call Hyde Grooming on 0851307591/ 0857878339 or visit the website here.