Lash Adhesive 101: Choosing the Best Lash Glue and Maximising Retention
As a lash technician, your lash adhesive is the foundation of every successful set you create. The right lash glue can mean the difference between clients returning every 2-3 weeks for fills and disappointed customers experiencing premature lash loss. Understanding lash adhesive chemistry, storage, and application techniques is essential for building a thriving lash business.
Understanding Lash Adhesive Chemistry
Every lash adhesive is formulated with cyanoacrylate as its primary bonding agent. This fast-curing compound creates an incredibly strong bond between the extension and natural lash. However, not all lash adhesive formulations are created equal. The specific type of cyanoacrylate used, along with additional ingredients like carbon black, polymers, and stabilisers, determines the adhesive’s drying time, retention, and flexibility.
When selecting a lash adhesive, consider the viscosity. Thicker adhesives provide more working time but may create a heavier bond, while thinner formulations dry faster but require more precise application. The professional line at iamlashpro.com offers various viscosities and drying times to match different skill levels and application speeds—from the lightning-fast BLINK at 0.5 seconds to the beginner-friendly CLASSIC at 1-2 seconds.
Matching Lash Adhesive to Your Skill Level
One of the most critical decisions you’ll make is choosing a lash adhesive that matches your current skill level and working speed. This isn’t about ego—it’s about delivering the best possible results for your clients.
For Beginners and Intermediate Artists
If you’re still developing speed and precision, opt for an adhesive with extended working time. Our CLASSIC Eyelash Extension Glue features a 1-2 second drying time, making it perfect for beginners and intermediate artists. This moderate cure time allows you to perfect placement without racing against the clock. With its medium/thin consistency and strong, semi-flexible bond, CLASSIC delivers reliable retention while you build confidence and speed.
The forgiving nature of a slower-drying lash adhesive means fewer mistakes, less stress during application, and ultimately better results. As you gain experience and your isolation and placement become second nature, you can transition to faster formulations.
For Advanced and Experienced Artists
Once you’ve mastered your technique and work with consistent speed, faster-drying adhesives become advantageous. The TOUCH Eyelash Extension Glue offers a ~1 second drying time with exceptional retention of up to 8 weeks. Its medium consistency allows easy handling while providing the speed advanced artists need to work efficiently.
For intermediate to experienced lash artists seeking versatility, the ADDICT Eyelash Extension Glue provides a drying time of 0.5-1 second with a medium/thin consistency that offers excellent control. Its semi-flexible bond and ability to work in a wider humidity range (30-65%) makes it adaptable to various working conditions.
For Elite, Lightning-Fast Artists
If you’re an elite lash artist with exceptionally fast hands and years of experience, BLINK Eyelash Extension Glue is engineered specifically for you. With an ultra-fast 0.5 second dry time and watery, low-viscosity texture, BLINK allows for seamless placement with instant grip. This lash adhesive delivers unmatched retention of up to 9 weeks, making it ideal for high-performance lash work where speed and power meet precision.
Specialty Adhesives for Specific Needs
Not every client or lash set is the same, which is why having specialty lash adhesive options in your toolkit elevates your service offerings.
Clear Adhesive for Sensitive Clients and Coloured Lashes
The SHEER Clear Eyelash Extension Glue is a game-changer for specific client needs. This transparent lash adhesive is ideal for clients sensitive to carbon (the ingredient that makes adhesive black) and creates a flawless finish with colored lashes. With a fast ~1 second drying time and medium consistency, SHEER provides exceptional control while delivering up to 7 weeks of retention. The clear formula blends seamlessly, creating an invisible bond that’s perfect for natural-looking sets or creative color work.
Environmental Factors and Lash Adhesive Performance
Cyanoacrylate-based adhesives cure through polymerisation, which is triggered by humidity. Your lash adhesive performs optimally within specific temperature and humidity ranges, and understanding these parameters is crucial for consistent results.
Each iamlashpro.com adhesive is formulated for specific environmental conditions:
Working outside these parameters significantly impacts retention. Too much humidity causes shock polymerisation, where the lash adhesive cures too quickly, creating a brittle bond that easily breaks. Too little humidity results in slow curing, leaving the bond weak and prone to premature shedding.
Invest in a hygrometer and thermometer for your lash room. Many successful lash technicians keep multiple lash adhesive formulations on hand to accommodate seasonal changes. For example, you might use ADDICT during dry winter months when humidity drops, then switch to CLASSIC during humid summer conditions.
Proper Lash Adhesive Storage
Even the highest-quality lash adhesive will underperform if stored incorrectly. All I AM Lash PRO adhesives come in 5g bottles designed for optimal freshness, but proper storage is your responsibility.
Unopened bottles should be kept in a cool, dark place—never in the refrigerator, as condensation can ruin the formula. Once opened, your adhesive has a shelf life of approximately 4-6 weeks, regardless of what the bottle claims.
Store your opened lash adhesive upright in an airtight container with silica gel packets to absorb excess moisture. Burp the bottle after each use by gently squeezing to release trapped air before sealing. Replace your adhesive every 4-6 weeks, even if product remains. Old adhesive is the leading cause of poor retention, and no amount of technique can compensate for degraded glue.
Application Techniques for Maximum Retention
The way you apply your lash adhesive directly impacts retention. These techniques apply to all formulations, whether you’re using the ultra-fast BLINK or the beginner-friendly CLASSIC.
Dispense a fresh drop every 15-20 minutes during your appointment, as exposed adhesive begins curing immediately. This is especially critical with faster-drying formulations. Use only the smallest amount necessary—a common mistake is over-applying, which creates heavy, inflexible bonds that break easily.
Dip your extension into the adhesive coating only 1-2mm of the base. The low-viscosity formulas like BLINK’s watery texture require particular attention to avoid picking up too much product, while medium consistency adhesives like TOUCH and ADDICT offer more control during pickup.
More coverage doesn’t mean better retention; it actually increases the risk of stickies and creates uncomfortable, stiff lashes. The bond should form where the extension base meets the natural lash, approximately 0.5-1mm from the eyelid.
Optimising Cure Time
While your lash adhesive may have a specific drying time, full cure takes 24-48 hours. This is why aftercare instructions are crucial. Instruct clients to avoid water, steam, and oil-based products during this period.
Even with fast-drying formulations like BLINK (0.5 seconds) or TOUCH (1 second), the adhesive continues strengthening for hours after application. Light misting with a nano-mister immediately after application can improve retention by providing the humidity needed for optimal polymerisation.
Consider the cumulative humidity exposure during application. Each time you dip an extension, you’re exposing that adhesive drop to ambient moisture. This is why dispensing fresh glue regularly maintains consistent performance throughout your appointment.
Versatility Across Techniques
All I AM Lash PTO adhesives are formulated to work seamlessly with both classic and volume lash extension techniques. Whether you’re creating mega volume fans with BLINK’s watery consistency or applying classic lashes with CLASSIC’s forgiving work time, these adhesives adapt to your preferred method.
The medium/thin consistency of ADDICT and CLASSIC provides excellent control for hand-made fans, while TOUCH’s medium consistency offers the perfect balance for artists who switch between techniques throughout the day.
Troubleshooting Common Lash Adhesive Issues
Poor retention often stems from adhesive-related issues rather than application technique. If extensions are shedding within the first week, evaluate your environmental conditions first. Shock polymerisation from excessive humidity creates a white residue and brittle bonds. Conversely, slow curing from low humidity prevents proper bonding.
If you’re experiencing inconsistent retention, verify that your room conditions match your chosen adhesive’s optimal range. ADDICT’s wider humidity tolerance (30-65%) makes it more forgiving in fluctuating conditions, while TOUCH and SHEER require more precise environmental control.
Stickies occur when excess lash adhesive spreads beyond the extension base, bonding multiple natural lashes together. This is painful for clients and damages natural lashes. Use minimal adhesive and maintain precise isolation throughout application.
Sensitivity Considerations and Safe Formulations
Some clients experience sensitivity to lash adhesive fumes, which are a normal byproduct of cyanoacrylate curing. While you cannot eliminate fumes entirely, you can minimise exposure by maintaining optimal humidity (which speeds curing and reduces fume duration) and selecting appropriate formulations.
For clients sensitive to carbon, SHEER Clear Eyelash Extension Glue eliminates this potential irritant while maintaining professional performance. All iamlashpro.com adhesives are formulated with client safety in mind—waterproof, formaldehyde-free, latex-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Never advertise “hypoallergenic” adhesive, as all cyanoacrylate-based adhesives contain potential allergens. However, proper ventilation and technique minimise client discomfort while the ethical formulations ensure you’re using the safest possible products.
Testing and Quality Control
Before using a new lash adhesive on clients, conduct retention tests on yourself or a model. Apply a full set and evaluate retention at the 1, 2, and 3-week marks. With proper application and client aftercare, the iamlashpro.com line delivers exceptional results:
Keep detailed notes about each adhesive’s performance in your specific environment. What works perfectly for one technician may underperform for another due to differences in application speed, room conditions, and technique.
Building Your Adhesive Arsenal
Professional lash artists maintain multiple lash adhesive options to serve diverse client needs and adapt to changing conditions. A well-rounded toolkit might include:
- Your primary adhesive matched to your skill level and working speed
- A backup adhesive for environmental fluctuations
- SHEER Clear for sensitive clients and specialty work
- A slower formula for intricate detail work or challenging clients
This approach ensures you’re never caught without the right tool for the job, maintaining consistent quality regardless of circumstances.
Investing in Quality
Premium lash adhesive costs more upfront but delivers superior retention, reducing client complaints and increasing rebooking rates. When clients experience 4+ weeks between fills, your reputation suffers, regardless of your technical skill.
Calculate the true cost of adhesive per client rather than per bottle. A professional-grade 5g adhesive that delivers excellent retention for 30+ clients costs approximately £1-2 per client. The stability and consistent performance of quality formulations like those from iamlashpro.com means no glue separation, predictable behaviour, and satisfied clients who become loyal advocates for your business.
Continuing Education and Technique Refinement
Lash adhesive technology continues evolving, with manufacturers developing improved formulations and specialised options for various conditions. Stay current by following industry leaders, attending workshops, and testing new products as they become available.
As your skills advance, challenge yourself to progress through the adhesive lineup. Master CLASSIC, then move to ADDICT or TOUCH, and eventually to BLINK as your speed and precision reach elite levels. Each transition represents growth in your technical abilities and business potential.
Building Client Trust Through Transparency
Educate your clients about the role of lash adhesive in their extension longevity. When clients understand that retention depends partly on the curing process and their aftercare compliance, they’re more likely to follow instructions and maintain realistic expectations.
Be honest about expected retention timeframes. With proper application using quality lash adhesive, clients should return for fills every 2-4 weeks depending on their natural lash cycle. The extended retention offered by advanced formulations like BLINK (up to 9 weeks) and TOUCH (up to 8 weeks) can reduce fill frequency for clients who maintain excellent aftercare, but individual results vary.
Setting these expectations upfront prevents disappointment and establishes you as a knowledgeable professional who prioritises education and realistic outcomes.
Conclusion
Mastering lash adhesive selection and application is a journey that extends throughout your career as a lash technician. By understanding the chemistry, environmental factors, storage requirements, and application techniques that influence adhesive performance, you’ll consistently deliver the long-lasting, beautiful results that keep clients returning.
Whether you’re just starting with CLASSIC’s forgiving 1-2 second dry time, advancing to TOUCH or ADDICT’s professional performance, working with SHEER for specialty applications, or operating at elite speed with BLINK’s 0.5 second cure, having the right lash adhesive for your skill level and client needs is non-negotiable.
Invest in quality products from trusted suppliers like I AM Lash PRO, maintain optimal environmental conditions, store your adhesive properly, and never stop learning about this crucial component of your lash artistry. Your lash adhesive is more than just glue—it’s the invisible foundation that supports your artistry, builds your reputation, and ensures client satisfaction with every set you create.
Happy lashing, my darlings!
Love,
Arune ♥️