Brows & lashes: are you giving them the love they deserve?
You regularly wash, condition and care for your hair — but what about your brows and lashes? At Holly Garvey, we’re all about caring for the integrity of your natural lash and brow quality. In fact, we take you on a journey where you’ll learn how to give them the love they deserve. These babies may be tiny, but they make a mighty impact when framing our faces — and that's why we're here to help. We’re more than just a brow bar or tinting service; maybe the best way to think of us is as your brow and lash hairdressers. 😉
In this article, we’ll teach you some of the fundamentals of how to care for your eyebrows and eyelashes, particularly after having them treated. But for the best advice and care, book an appointment with one of our experienced stylists today.
EYEBROW CARE
1. Be mindful of retinoids.
Retinol, retinoids and vitamin A are excellent products that dramatically improve cellular turnover. But the downside for brows? They can strip the dye colour from your brow hair. So, each night, avoid putting this product on your brows and give the entire area a miss for a few days before and after your professional brow treatments to make them last longer.
2. Avoid over-plucking.
This will be a no-brainer for most of you, but overplucking can damage hair follicles, so over time, those little puppies may refuse to grow back the way they used to — and they may not grow back at all. So go easy and only pluck what you think is absolutely necessary.
3. Be gentle.
Treat your brows with respect by avoiding aggressive pulling, tugging or over-styling. You don't want to traumatise the skin or hair follicles underneath.
4. Apply serums
A good brow serum will help encourage hair growth to keep them thick and healthy looking. If you’re looking for a good one, we recommend MODEL ROCK Peptide Plus Brow Sculpture Gel. This little beauty will give you lasting hold and natural flexibility all day — plus, it's enriched with Biotin (vitamin V7) and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) to condition and stimulate hair growth for healthier, fuller brows. It's also formulated with hyaluronic acid for added hydration and a picture-perfect look.
TIP: be on the lookout for cosmetics that go the extra mile. For example, MODELROCK - Uptown Brows Brow Powder is a hugely popular cosmetic product for great looking brows, while also formulated with Biotin, which stimulates hair growth.
5. Remove makeup gently.
Avoid scrubbing and tugging the skin, as this can damage your skin and hair follicles.
NB: We have excellent ideas to help avoid this problem. Keep reading!
6. Moisturise.
Moisturise the skin around your brows to keep it healthy and avoid irritation.
7. Choose your brow professionals wisely.
It's essential you have a brow dye or lamination that's right for you. When you arrive at Holly Garvey, your experience will be more like visiting a hair salon than a brow bar. We'll have a thorough chat about your lifestyle, personal style and brow goals, as well as take into account your hair and skin colour. We'll also educate you on how to get the most out of your treatments. This way, you can rest assured that you're getting the best and most appropriate treatment for you.
EYELASH CARE
Taking good care of your eyelashes will help maintain their strength, length and overall lustre. But it's not only about looks — long, healthy eyelashes keep dust and debris from entering your eyes — so it pays to look after them.
1. Maintain a healthy diet rich in protein.
Your hair is primarily made up of keratin — a protein — so it makes sense that eating adequate amounts of protein helps encourage hair growth. Try to include protein-rich foods that have other healthy hair nutrients, like salmon (loads of omega 3s), eggs (Biotin and B12) and nuts (vitamin E and zinc).
As well as including those protein-rich foods, ensure you eat plenty of leafy green vegetables (particularly spinach) and colourful fruits.
2. Avoid waterproof mascara
Waterproof mascara sounds like a great idea if you're heading for the beach — but we have an even better idea for you. Instead of ‘waterproof’ mascara, go for ‘water-resistant’ mascara. It'll make all the difference.
Why so?
Waterproof mascara is thick and flaky and requires considerable rubbing to remove it. And that's not a good thing. Besides, it's almost impossible to remove all of the product, no matter what you use — which is not good for your lashes.
Instead, we recommend water-resistant mascara, such as MODEL ROCK Tube Tech Tubular Mascara. This highly innovative product wraps each lash in tiny tubes, delivering length, volume and definition. It's also smudge-proof, flake-proof, clump-free and, best of all — it won't come off in water.
You can swim to Rottnest wearing this fab formula and not come out with panda eyes. Truly ruly.
When it's time for removal, simply wash your face in warm water. The heat from the water will instantly dissolve the formula. It's magic stuff and incredibly affordable at only $29. Take a look here >
3. Go easy on eyelash curlers
Regular or rough use of eyelash curlers can break or damage your lashes, so try to use them gently and sparingly. If you feel you need extra curl, book a lash lift instead. Our dyeing and lifting solutions will permanently lift and curl your lashes, giving you that gorgeous, open-eyed look without any effort. You'll literally wake up with makeup — and BONUS — even more time to spare each morning. With proper care, it will last for the duration of your lash cycle, which can be around 3 months.
4. Check your mascara expiry date.
Typically, you should replace your mascara every 3 to 4 months to prevent bacterial contamination and to ensure that your mascara is working optimally.
5. Always remove your mascara before bed.
Mascara contains ingredients that give the illusion of thicker or longer lashes — a look we all love. But the downside is that it will stiffen them somewhat, so if you hit your pillow in the evenings without carefully removing all traces, you might snap some of your lashes. You might also rub or scratch your eyes during your sleep, causing stress to your lashes and cornea.
6. Use environmentally friendly makeup removers.
Be kind to the environment and your skin by switching to reusable makeup removers such as SANTE - Makeup Remover Pads (3 Pack) by Enyo.
7. Use an eyelash serum.
A good serum can do wonders for your lashes' length, thickness and health. We highly recommend MODELROCK Peptide Lash Growth Serum. Formulated with nutrient-rich ingredients, including Biotin – which is excellent for hair growth, it gives you a nourishing and protective solution for your lashes while enhancing your overall appearance in just four weeks.
After removing your eye makeup with an oil-free cleanser, simply apply the serum along the lash line. A little bit goes a long way, so it should last a while —use it consistently, and you'll see fantastic results.
We also recommend YUMI Keratin Restore Mascara, a restorative and fortifying treatment based on keratin. It's guaranteed to give excellent results in only three weeks. It will reinforce, protect and nourish your lashes — you'll notice they'll become surprisingly longer and thicker. This formula can be applied twice daily, as a primer and on clean lashes in the evening.
8. Wear a hat and sunnies.
Look after your brow and lash treatments as you would your skin. When venturing outdoors, wear a hat and sunnies to keep the UV rays away from your treated areas. Regular sun exposure to your lashes or brows will penetrate the hairs and fade the dye more quickly.
9. Be mindful of salt and chlorine.
Now, there's no need to stop enjoying your plunge in the pool or splash in the ocean, but keep in mind that chlorine and salt may affect the colour of your brows and lashes, causing you to lose the tint more quickly.
If you’d like more info on our treatments , book an appointment here, or call our friendly reception team on 0403 506 456.