Lashing in hot weather!
The temperature outside is starting to get very hot again in the UK! Although temperatures will remain lower than the record-breaking highs of 40.3C seen last month, this latest hot spell is expected to last much longer. The high-pressure building across the UK could lead to temperatures of 35C - and the heatwave is expected to peak on Friday or Saturday.
Whilst this is great news for everyone, it's bad news for lash artists, as hot weather can often affect adhesive performance!
Unfortunately, we have had some lash technicians struggling with their lash adhesive and lash retention recently, and whilst there are loads of variables that can affect this, the change in temperature definitely has a huge part in this.
So, how can you tackle lashing in hot weather and keep your adhesive performing as it should?
Here are some of our top tips:
Storage:
Your adhesive must be stored in conditions dictated by your supplier. We suggest storing your adhesives in a cool dark place where temperature fluctuations are unlikely to occur.
Why not invest in our Airtight Container, and store your adhesive in a cool dark place, out of direct sunlight. Our Airtight Container prolongs the lifespan of the adhesive as it controls the amount of humidity entering its environment. Consider how you are storing your adhesive overnight. Avoid leaving it in a conservatory space or the boot of your car where the temperature is likely to change!
Unopened adhesives can be stored in a fridge but only between temperatures of 2C - 10C. However, once these are opened these will then need to be moved into an airtight container or a cool dark place.
Humidity:
Your adhesive must be used in optimal conditions. Our adhesives work great between 40-60% humidity (always check the product description and supplier guidelines). If your humidity changes rapidly throughout the day the adhesive may cure quicker or slower than you expect. This can catch you off guard and have an effect on retention.
Temperature
As the weather gets warmer, and the heat increases, adhesives will behave very differently. If you are struggling to achieve a stable room temperature of 18-24 degrees Celsius then you will need to adjust the amount of adhesive you are using.
Shake Your Adhesive
The warmer weather makes the adhesive ingredients harder to mix. So you really need to vigorously shake your adhesive before use. Otherwise, by the time you reach the second half of the bottle, it’ll be no good. If you don't shake your adhesive, the ingredients inside will not mix properly. If the ingredients do not mix properly, the adhesive will not work as it is supposed to. This will then mean poor retention for your client and their lashes!
Remember: Shake between 30s to 1 minute each time you use it. We have our very own adhesive shakers, if you don’t want to do this by hand!
The LashBase Handheld Shaker
The LashBase Shaker
You can even choose a slower drying adhesive to counteract the issue. Due to a lot of lash artists working in very different conditions, we do not have a ‘one-size fits all’ for adhesives to use in the upcoming heatwave. This time of year is possibly the toughest, so keep at it. Use every tactic you can… air con, hydrometers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, use proper ventilation, use proper storage and use the correct amount of adhesive. Prepare as much as you can and experiment where possible!
We hope this blog has been helpful, as always if you have any questions please feel free to drop us a DM on Instagram @LashBase_UK and we will do our best to help!
