Must-Haves for Beginner Lash Artists
Beginner lash artists, look no further! Starting your lash journey is a fun, exciting time, but can also be a head-scratcher at moments.
You might ask yourself:
“Where do I start?”
“How do I know what I need?”
“What supplies are must-haves?”
We got your back! Today we are going over all the beginner must-haves that will help you become the lash artist we know you can be!
Lashes for Beginners
As a beginner, you will most likely be starting with Classic lashing. We recommend our regular classic lashes and flat lashes.
Flat Lashes are a newer concept in the lashing industry. While they are similar to classic lashes, they feature a flattened base with a slightly concave side to better wrap around a client’s natural lash. This makes them super lightweight and natural-looking when applied. We recommend grabbing these in 0.15!
Classic Lashes are called classic for a reason - just one extension applied on one lash gives a lengthened, natural effect for clients wanting a timeless look. They are dark and light weight, every lash artist’s dream! We recommend them in a diameter of 0.18 or 0.15.
As a beginner, you may have not yet learned how to make fans by hand or may be early on in your journey to master them. While you are developing this skill we highly recommend using our ProMade Lashes to help you achieve Hybrid and Volume sets without the pressure of learning handmade volume fans. Our ProMade Lashes come in a wide variety of curls and lengths, including colored options. Check out our collection here!
Bonus tip: Did you know our PLA Fusion Adhesive is specially formulated to work with ProMade lashes? Using these together will make your lashing journey even easier!
Tweezers for Beginners
Tweezers might just seem like any other tool, but a lash artist’s tweezer can be their best friend if chosen correctly. Here are a few different tweezers we recommend for beginner lash artists. All of the PLA tweezers below are made from high-quality, durable Japanese stainless steel and come with an engraved ruler on the end. And you can choose without fear because all of our tweezers are hand tested by our own team!
The P1 Tweezer is our 45° angle, 14cm volume tweezer. But don’t let the word “volume” be a deterrent; this tweezer is very diverse and is often used by artists to do anything from picking up ProMades to isolating lashes perfectly! For this reason, we highly recommend this versatile tweezer for beginners. It also has a very tight grip, so picking up lashes is a breeze.
The P2 Tweezer is our classic isolating tweezer. It is 14cm in length and has a thin tip that allows you to achieve flawless separation. And when you have perfect isolation, your extension placement is sure to be just as good!
The P6 Tweezer is our ultimate volume tweezer and a PLA favorite! It is 12cm in length, has a curved tip and is great for isolation purposes or volume techniques. If you are a beginner learning to make fans by hand we highly recommend giving this tweezer a try - our lashes are known to fan with ease using the P6!
Bonus: You can grab our mini magnetic tweezer case and choose THREE pairs to keep inside. This is a great chance to grab the three tweezers above and have a cute case to store them in! Feel free to reach out to us anytime for questions so we can help you find the perfect tweezer just for you.
Adhesive for Beginners
If thinking about all the different adhesives makes you feel stuck, you’re not alone! To keep it easy, we recommend Fusion and Onyx for beginners. Like all the other PLA adhesives, both are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and latex-free. Let’s walk through all the nitty gritty on each one, including how to store adhesive, ideal room conditions, and other fast facts.
Onyx
PLA Onyx is a great adhesive for newer lash techs! Onyx has a 2-3 second dry time in average humidity, so it’s perfect for those who need a little more time for application. Let’s break down some information for this adhesive.
Room Conditions Needed
- Optimal temperature is 68-74° Fahrenheit
- If your room humidity is 50% or lower, the adhesive has a 2 second cure time
- If your room humidity is 50-70%, the adhesive has a 1 second cure time
- If your room humidity is 70%+, we recommend using a dehumidifier
- The higher the humidity, the faster the glue cures
Storage Tips
- Store in a cool, dark area such as in an airtight container with silica gel
- Keep away from UV light
- Unopened adhesive is good for 6 months
- Opened adhesive has a shelf life of 4-6 weeks
Fast Facts
- Available in a 5mL bottle
- Viscosity: Thin
- Strength: 3-5 weeks
- Color: Black
- Pre-punctured bottle
Fusion
Fusion is PLA’s first adhesive made specifically for lashing with ProMades! Fusion is specially designed to help with easy application and maximum retention. This is a great addition to your lash setup if you are a beginner, working with ProMades, or working with a higher humidity range.
Room Conditions Needed
- Optimal temperature is 68-74° Fahrenheit
- If your room humidity is below 50%, the adhesive has a 2 second cure time
- If your room humidity is 50-75%, the adhesive has a 1 second cure time
- If your room humidity is 75%+, please use a dehumidifier in your lash room
- Note that if your humidity is higher, the faster the glue cures
Storage Tips
- Store in a cool, dark area such as in an airtight container with silica gel
- Keep away from UV light
- Unopened adhesive is good for 6 months
- Opened adhesive has a shelf life of 4-6 weeks
Fast Facts
- Available in a 5mL bottle
- Viscosity: Medium
- Strength: 3-5 weeks
- Color: Black
- Pre-punctured bottle
Did you know PLA has an adhesive quiz? You can go to our website, and under the adhesive tab, take a short quiz to be paired with your perfect adhesive.
Accessories and Extras for Beginners
- Cream Remover - No matter where you are in your lash journey, you will definitely be doing lash removals. We highly recommend using a cream remover as it is more gentle on the eye than other removers can be. And because it is not as thin as a gel, clients are more comfortable with this remover! Our remover is available in two different sizes.
- Spoolies - We love to brush and fluff our clients new lashes, so be sure to grab some of our disposable mascara wands, also called spoolies. These are great to have on hand on your lash cart during your service and to give out to clients at the end of their appointment!
- Tweezer Stand/Magnetic Case - As you start out and begin collecting tweezers, you must have a place to store them. It is important to keep them covered and protected from dust and particles in the air. We recommend grabbing one of our Marble Tweezer Stands or a Magnetic Case. The Tweezer Stand is great for a lash cart and holds eight pairs of tweezers for easy daily access. The Magnetic Case holds up to six pairs of tweezers and are a great way to keep your tweezers safe from falling out.
- Primer - Primer is a great way to start your lash routine. Our primer, Glue Support, balances the pH of the natural lashes without over-drying them, which provides an optimal surface for your adhesive. You can use this by swiping on a small amount before starting to maximize your retention.
- Antibacterial Cleanser - Clean lashes are happy lashes! We are proud to offer our antibacterial cleanser to keep lashes healthy and safe. Our cleanser is gentle on the eye and can serve as a makeup remover as well. It is also a great item to grab and give out to clients in their aftercare kits to promote better retention.
- Disposable Lip Wands/Microfiber Brushes - Our final recommendation today is our disposable lip wands and microfiber brushes. These two items have a plethora of uses, such as cleaning, applying primer, applying removal product, and more. With all of these abilities, it’s always a good idea to have a pack of each on hand.
PLA Quick Tips for Beginners
- If you are a beginner working with ProMades, we suggest lashing with the ProMade from the side or from underneath for a better ‘wrap.’
- To maximize retention, use our Glue Support as a primer to help balance the natural pH of your clients lashes.
- DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF. Too many artists obsess over what others are doing or how quickly they are progressing. Asking questions like “How long does it take you?” or “Are you offering more than classics already?” probably won’t help you much. We see these questions all too often and our best advice is do not compare yourself. As long as you are lashing properly, you are doing just fine :)
- Take your time! Lashing is a work of art! Don’t rush your lash journey.
Happy Lashing, Kings and Queens