Humidity can play a big role in the outcome of your eyelash extension application. If the humidity is too high, the lash adhesive will take longer to set and be more prone to lift. Conversely, the glue will set too quickly and won’t bond properly to the natural lash if the humidity is too low.
Using glue in the dry season or regions might be somewhat different from utilizing it in humid climates. Professional eyelash extensions artists should be mindful of the conditions in their area and consider them when choosing an adhesive. Not all adhesives are created equal, and some work better than others in different situations.
You have to consider how humidity affects lash extension glue to get the best outcomes for your clients, no matter where you are working.
What Impact Does Humidity Have on Eyelash Extension Glue?
All lash extension glues contain cyanoacrylate, which is a quick-drying liquid adhesive. When cyanoacrylate comes into contact with water vapor (humidity), it begins to cure or set. The humidity rate in the air will determine how quickly the glue sets. Humidity serves as an “activator” for lash extension glue’s adhesion.
What Impact Does Humidity Have on Lash Glue Drying Time?
The higher the humidity, the longer it will take for the adhesive to set. For example, it can take an hour or more for the glue to cure in hot, humid weather. However, the adhesive can be set within minutes in dry, low-humidity climates. All lash extension glues are intended to dry at the appropriate rate in the room humidity range of 45 to 60 percent.
What’s the Ideal Humidity Level for Eyelash Extension Glue?
The ideal humidity level for lash extension adhesive is 45 to 60 percent. We know that not every part of the world is within this humidity range. Still, it would be best if you did all possible to maintain your room humidity at 45-60% as feasible. This range will provide the correct activation time and prevent the adhesive from setting too quickly or too slowly.
In High Humidity, What Happens to Lash Extension Glue?
Suppose the humidity in the room is higher than 60 percent. In that case, the cyanoacrylate in your glue will be “overly activated” by too much moisture in the air, causing the lash adhesives to cure and harden faster.
If the humidity in the room is excessively high above 70 percent, the over-activated cyanoacrylate will stop working, leaving poor adhesion.
In high humidity, there are a few more serious concerns:
Dispensed Glue Will Dry Up Too Quickly
A drop of glue dispensed in an ideal humidity range of 45 to 60% can remain fresh for 20 to 30 minutes. However, that same drop will start to dry up within 5 minutes in high humidity. This is caused due to the high levels of water vapor in the air. Once the adhesive starts to dry, it will become more difficult to work with and could lead to clumpy lashes.
In high humidity, you may need to re-dip your tweezers more often if you’re working with a fresh tube of glue.
Ineffective Attachment
Poor adhesion is also a common problem in high humidity. When the adhesive is overly activated, it can cause the glue to become brittle and too thick. This will prevent it from bonding properly to the natural lash and lead to fallout.
How to Reduce Room Humidity Levels
The essential thing to do if your salon is in a humid environment is to reduce the humidity of your lash room as near as feasible to 45-60 percent.
Below steps are some methods you can use to reduce the humidity in your room:
- Use a dehumidifier: Dehumidifiers function similarly to air conditioners. They drag the moisture out of the air, which reduces humidity levels. It can remove extra water from the air and return it to an ideal relative humidity level.
- Use a hygrometer: A hygrometer is an essential tool for every lash artist. This device measures the humidity levels in your room. This will help you see what adjustments you need to make to reach an ideal humidity level.
- Use moist absorbers: If you can’t afford a dehumidifier, consider purchasing several wet absorbers and placing them around your work area. These are small, porous bags that you fill with water. As the water evaporates, it will absorb humidity from the air.
- Ventilate often: Another way to reduce humidity levels is to open the windows and doors in your work area. Fresh air will help to lower the moisture levels in the room.
The Best Eyelash Extensions Glues for High Humidity
If you can’t get your humidity below 45-60%, consider which of your lash extension glues is best for high humidity.
As humidity increases, the drying process for eyelash extension glues proceeds faster. In high humidity, any glue will dry out more quickly. So, it is essential to select an adhesive with a longer setting time and less brittle.
In Low Humidity, What Happens to Lash Extension Glue?
If the air isn’t humid enough, everything will come to a halt. If the room humidity is lower than 60 percent, your glue’s cyanoacrylate won’t have enough water vapor to cure.
Cyanoacrylate only starts to dry when it encounters water vapor. There is not enough water in the air in low humidity to start the drying process. This will result in a longer activation time and a more rigid adhesive. The glue for lash extensions will stay wet.
If the humidity is low, there are a few critical issues to consider:
Lash Stickies
Lash sticky is a phrase that refers to the aggravating condition of adjacent lash extensions sticking to one another. Even if you did perfect isolation initially, it would clump if the lash glue didn’t dry thoroughly when releasing the surrounding lashes. This stickiness will persist and get worse over time. Eventually, the whole lash extension will lift and come off. Additionally, due to lash stickies, your client’s natural lashes may be lost when lashes are glued together.
Lashes Do Not Stick
Lashes not sticking is another common issue in low humidity. If the adhesive isn’t activated enough, it will be too weak to hold the lash extension in place. In this case, the extensions will fall off within a few hours or days.
Glue Allergies Are More Likely to Develop
When the glue does not cure, your customer is exposed to cyanoacrylate for a more extended period. Longer exposure to this chemical can lead to allergies.
How to Increase Room Humidity
If you are in a high humidity environment and want to ensure the quality of your lash extensions, there are some things you can do to increase the room’s humidity level.
- Bring in a humidifier: A humidifier is an electronic device that increases the humidity levels in a room. Adding water vapor to the air will help reduce the adverse effects of high humidity.
- Use a water spray: A water spray is another way to increase the humidity in a room. You can purchase a small, personal spray bottle and mist the air with water. This will help add more moisture to the environment and make it easier for your adhesive to cure.
- Use a lash extension primer: A lash primer is a product that helps to eliminate extra oil from natural lashes, resulting in a magnetic attachment sort of result. It will assist you in increasing your attachment in a low humidity environment.
- Use extension base: The drying time of your glue can be shortened by using an extension base. It’s like a lash primer, except you use it on extension lashes rather than natural lashes. By using a primer and base, you ensure that the glue has a better chance of attaching to the extension lash.
Best Eyelash Extension Glues for Low Humidity
Although humidifiers and water sprays may assist you in achieving the correct humidity levels, getting the ideal humidity levels might be challenging.
As low humidity environments are known to cause problems with lash extension glues, it is essential to use a quality adhesive that has been specifically designed for these conditions.
Is It also Important to Consider the Temperature?
Humidity is vital in lash extension glue adhesion, but controlling room temperature is also essential.
Temperature affects the rate of evaporation. When the temperature rises, the evaporation rate is faster and more adhesive will be lost to the air. Conversely, when the temperature is lower, the evaporation rate is slower and less glue will be lost.
Therefore, you should also take room temperature into account when trying to achieve the correct humidity levels.
Final Verdict
By following the tips in this guide, you can increase the likelihood of your eyelash extensions staying in place, regardless of the humidity level. However, it is essential to remember that each situation is unique, and you may need to experiment with different methods to find what works best for you.
