Bonding glue is often used to hold false eyelashes in place but is bonding glue good for eyelashes? Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.
Bonding glue is not good for eyelashes. It can contain chemicals such as formaldehyde which can cause irritation to eyelashes and eyes.
Some people can use bonding glue on their eyelashes without noticing any negative effects.
Other people, however, experience issues ranging from a burning sensation to problems removing the lashes.
What Is Bonding Glue?
Hair bonding glue is glue that is created specifically for the purpose of bonding hair extensions to your natural hair.
The exact chemical composition of hair bonding glue depends on the manufacturer.
It is, however, standard for hair bonding glue to contain both latex and ammonium hydroxide.
It may also contain formaldehyde.
Why Bonding Glue Is Used On Eyelashes
Hair bonding glue is used on eyelashes because it is stronger than proper eyelash adhesive.
This means that it can hold false eyelashes in place for much longer.
Using hair bonding glue can therefore be far more convenient than using eyelash adhesive. It eliminates the need to keep touching up your eyebrow adhesive.
It also means that your eyelashes will need to be refilled less frequently.
Why Bonding Glue Is Bad For Eyelashes
In general, lash glue can be bad for your eyes if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if you don’t follow the instructions correctly.
Hair bonding glue contains much stronger chemicals and should therefore not be used on lashes.
The hair on your eyelashes is much finer than the hair on your head. This means that it needs to be treated more gently.
The hair on your head can often tolerate much stronger chemicals than your eyelash hair.
This does not mean that these chemicals are good for the hair on your head. It just means that the amount of damage they do is within acceptable boundaries.
For example, chemical dyes often dry your head hair. This can, however, usually be managed with conditioner.
Hair bonding glue can also potentially damage your eyes.
In particular, ammonia can make your eyes sting. There is also the risk of getting hair bonding glue on the eye itself.
Should You Use Bonding Glue On Eyelashes?
The safest approach is to avoid using hair bonding glue on eyelashes.
Use proper eyelash adhesive instead. If you absolutely must try hair bonding glue on eyelashes be sure to do a patch test first.
If that is clear, proceed very carefully.
Have glue remover, a clean cloth, and plenty of water on hand.
If any hair bonding glue gets in your eyes, clean it off immediately and thoroughly. If you experience any reaction, seek medical attention.
If you have your eyelashes done at a salon, it’s advisable to check what they use to stick on eyelashes.
Lower-priced salons may use hair bonding glue. If they do, you may want to consider going elsewhere.
If you do decide to proceed, make sure the salon does a patch test. If they do not advise one, request it.
3 Alternative Ingredients That Are Good For Eyelashes
False eyelashes are great but they’re not the only way to get stunning lashes.
Here are some alternative ingredients that are good for eyelashes:
Mascara
In terms of eyelash health, your best option is natural mascara. As the name suggests, this is made with few to no chemical ingredients.
Natural mascara will typically be a mixture of beeswax and natural colorings (e.g. activated charcoal, cocoa powder, and/or henna).
Some natural mascaras may have extra ingredients to condition your lashes even more.
Mascara is fairly quick and easy to apply.
In fact, the spoolie applicator itself will often add volume to the lashes. If you make a mistake, you can generally deal with it by using some makeup remover.
Eyelash curlers
Eyelash curlers use no chemicals at all. You can heat them before you use them but this is optional.
If you’re going to use an eye curler, it’s definitely recommended to invest in a good one.
It’s also important to take the time to learn how to use it properly. This can take a little practice.
Once you have the knack, however, you can get stunning lashes without any makeup.
Alternatively, you can add a coating of mascara or beeswax to make them look even more dramatic.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a totally natural ingredient. As its name suggests, it’s what bees use to build their honeycombs.
Beeswax creates a gentle but protective waterproof coating on eyelashes. This has the bonus of making them look fuller and longer.