Beauty salons go to great lengths over eyelash extensions

GREENWICH, Conn. --Here's beauty news that may have you tossing your eyelash curlers and heavy-duty lengthening mascaras.

Eyelash extensions, semi-permanent lashes that make those full sets of false eyelashes seem so fake, are the latest beauty enhancement offered in upscale salons.

The process of gluing individual lashes and blending them in with the natural lash line started in Asia and migrated to Hollywood.

As with so many red carpet trends, the beauty industry took notice and makeup artists began learning the time-consuming craft.

Getting lash extensions can be a bit tedious, but one makeup artist skilled in the application process says their appeal will make others stare.

"They really can make your eyes look amazing," says Tamara Efron, makeup artist at the Warren Tricomi salon in Greenwich. "I have clients tell me all the time that people ask them what they did, because they look so good, but I think best part is you can go to sleep with them on and wake up without raccoon eyes."

Since Warren Tricomi began offering the service several months ago, the applications have been popular with everyone from brides-to-be to stay-at-home moms and women with a heavy schedule of holiday parties.

"They are great for a special occasion, like a wedding, where you are going to have lots of events," says Sandra Warren, manager of the Greenwich salon. "But they are also popular with people who have sparse lashes or just don't like the results they get from mascara."

Efron explained the application process costs about $100 and takes a little less than an hour.

Efron starts with clean lashes, before applying more than 30 separate, black lashes to each eye. She says dark lashes work best on most clients. The extensions last about 2 1/2 weeks before they must be serviced or removed.

Samantha Bucci, a client at the salon, says the process was painless and worthwhile.

"I think they look great," she said.

While Efron initially thought clients would try extensions for special occasions only, she's been surprised by the number of women wearing them regularly, repeating the process again and again.

"Actually, the biggest appeal is with women who don't like to wear a lot of makeup but love how these make their eyes look," she says. "You can swim with them, workout, wear contacts, and wake up in the morning looking great."

Efron, who has worked with major magazines on photo shoots, says the lashes are actually the "sneaky little secret," of the beauty trade.

"A lot of times in mascara adds, when the models' lashes look so amazing, these are what they are wearing," she says. "That's why they look so great."