There are many reasons to love autumn. Starting a new season is always exciting — new trends, new habits, new challenges, new weather… But the change of season also brings changes,
such as lash shedding. Lashes are constantly falling out and being replaced by new ones at the same time. A single lash normally takes months to complete its growth cycle, but in autumn and winter that cycle can change and lashes may shed more frequently. So,
if your clients come to their fill appointments complaining that their lashes are falling out, don't panic! Here are some guidelines to help you handle this situation.
Lash growth phases
At first glance, lashes always seem to be the same length, but that's not actually the case — they go through
three growth stages before falling out and starting the cycle again. The cycle of a single lash lasts between 60 and 90 days.
Anagen phase
The first is the growth phase, known as the anagen phase, which corresponds to a period that can last up to 6 weeks, during which the lash grows within the hair follicle until it reaches its maximum length — which is why it's not recommended to apply extensions during this phase.
Catagen phase
This is followed by the regression phase, or catagen phase, characterized by the contraction of the hair follicle; growth stops during this phase, once the lash has reached its maximum length. This stage can last between two and three weeks and is the best time to make the most of lash care.
Telogen phase
Finally, the telogen phase, or shedding phase. This is a natural process within the lash life cycle: once the lash falls out, the follicle starts from scratch and begins the anagen phase again.
Why do more lashes fall out in autumn?
The lash cycle doesn't actually change in autumn — it's always the same. What happens is that during summer, intense heat and sun exposure
can cause some lashes to enter the resting phase, stopping growth and causing them to fall out over the following months. In addition, heat dries out the skin, which prevents the hair follicles (located just below the skin) from getting the hydration they need for the lashes to grow normally. Fragile lashes are more likely to fall out prematurely. Additionally, humidity changes that occur during the autumn months can also affect the lash growth cycle.
How to prepare for these changes
The most important thing is to inform our clients about this. Ideally, we should get ahead of it and, at the first appointments of the season,
tell our clients that some people experience more noticeable lash shedding during the autumn and winter months, and that this is completely normal. If any of our clients have already mentioned this to us, or if we notice greater-than-usual shedding at fill appointments, it would be a good idea to encourage them to book fills every 2 weeks instead of every 3-4 weeks during these months. Another thing that can help is using products that promote extension retention. Of course, this won't stop your clients' natural lashes from shedding, but it will ensure that any extensions that fall out still have the natural lash attached, rather than giving the impression that the extensions themselves are disappearing. For
long-lasting hold during the dry autumn months, at Seena Owell we always recommend using the
eyelash extension adhesives Elite (for classic one-to-one extensions) and
Ultimate (for Russian volume). Both have strong bonding power, 9/10 and 10/10 respectively, and dry quickly. Additionally, at Seena Owell we always recommend good lash maintenance with strengthening products such as
Evoeye Eyelash Formula, which helps achieve fuller, longer lashes naturally. Its advanced formula increases lash length and thickness in just four weeks. We hope you find these tips useful and put them into practice; if you think this could be helpful, don't hesitate to comment and share.
