As a teen, you’ve probably seen amazing lashes everywhere—on social media, on your friends, or maybe at a big event. The thought of waking up with perfect length and volume is exciting! But for parents, and for us as professionals here at Belris in Los Angeles, the question is always the same: Are eyelash extensions a good match for teenagers?
It is an important discussion, and style is irrelevant. It's teen lash extensions safety, maturity, and selecting a look that is really healthy for young, developing natural lashes. Before you make that first appointment, let's clear up the age restrictions, the actual dangers, and the best way to handle this treatment.
What Do Experts & Salons Say About Minimum Age for Lash Extensions?
There is no federal law in the USA that requires a minimum age for lash extensions. However, most professional salons and lash technicians, including us here at Belris, do have a strict policy for reasons of safety and liability.
Even though some businesses may accept clients as young as 14 years old if they come in with a guardian, professional standards will typically suggest waiting until the age of 16 or older.
Here's our firm policy: if you're under the age of 18, you simply flat out need parental consent.
Curious about how Hollywood celebrities approach lash health and extensions? Check out our guide on Celebrity Lash Secrets.
The Parental Consent Requirement
If you are a minor, the legal guardian or parent is involved in the process, and here's why that is important:
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Legal Requirement: A minor cannot legally sign a service or waiver form. Your parent must sign off on the process, stating they understand the process and the aftercare.
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Safety Partnership: This is more than a legal agreement. It holds both the teen and parent responsible for ensuring proper healthy lash care for teens. The parent has support for backup to ensure the teen is adhering to aftercare procedures when he/she arrives home.
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Maturity Check:Â Extensions are a promise. It is daily hygienic cleansing, sleeping clean, and not picking or pulling. Under 18 parental consent for eyelash extensions is in effect a check on maturity and responsibility.
Are They Safe? Understanding the Eyelash Extensions Risks for Teens
We'll be blunt: badly done extensions can do actual damage. Teen skin and newly grown lashes can be particularly delicate sometimes, so the risk is that much higher.
1. Allergies and Eye Reactions
The biggest problem is the glue. Even if a salon is employing "medical grade" or "hypoallergenic" adhesive, the primary ingredient—cyanoacrylate—can be even so on sensitive skin.
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What happens: You may end up with itching, swelling, redness, or a reaction that lasts days.
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The Solution: A professional salon will require a patch test prior to your application. The little, easy test ensures that there is no allergy at an early stage and avoids a stinging feeling on a later date. Never omit this step!
2. Infections and Poor Hygiene
This is usually where the greatest risk is. If you let a technician double-dip the adhesive, haven't properly cleaned where you're gluing on the lashes, or are dirtying up tools, you can get pretty nasty eye infections, like styes or conjunctivitis. Ensure that you question them about how they clean.
3. Damage to Natural Lashes
This is the long-term risk we most wish to avoid. When a technician places on you extensions that are too thick, too heavy, or too long, it can put an enormous amount of tension on your own lashes. This tension, over time, can cause breaking, loss, or even in rare cases, permanent damage to the natural lashes. This risk is compounded if a teen is a picker, a rubber, or a puller of the extensions.
f you’re wondering whether a lash serum might be a safer alternative, we’ve explained exactly how to apply lash serum and why extensions alone aren’t enough
When Extensions Might Be Okay for Teens
We think extensions are a great beauty option for teens, but generally with purpose in mind:
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Special Occasions: Extensions are perfect for special occasions, prom, school dance, or graduation. They eliminate the time spent on thick mascara and strip lashes, and gain the self-assurance of a great, hassle-free look.
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Responsible Behaviors: If the teen has already proven to be responsible—take good care of skin, a by-the-book person, and commitment to keeping everything clean—they will be much more likely to take care of extensions.
Style Recommendations for Teens: Keeping It Natural
When choosing a set, subtle is always best for your teen face and for your own lash health. This is the "less is more" rule that we use, and it is the secret to healthy lash care for teens.
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The Top Teen Lash Styles: Begin with a Classic lash set. This is the most natural because it has one extension to one natural lash. It really lengthens the eye and provides a little extra density without doing too much to the eye.
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The Look to Avoid: Avoid heavy Volume or Mega Volume sets. They might be dramatic looking, but they are too heavy for fine, young natural lashes. They must be cleaned with caution and can easily damage them. Your first set must always be light, comfortable, and easy to clean.
Responsible Guidelines for Teens and Parents
If you do proceed, keep these rules in mind. This is your agreement with your lash health:
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Aftercare is Non-Negotiable: Daily washing of your lashes with an oil-free cleanser is imperative. Clean lashes are healthy lashes. Oil removers and makeup are not permitted because they destabilize the adhesive.
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No Picking or Pulling: Never, for any reason, pull on an extension. If one is irritating you or shedding off, let it fall off by itself or have it professionally removed. Pulling will pull out your own lash.
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Verify Your Salon's Credentials: Most importantly for security, ensure the salon is certified, the technician is licensed, and they have impeccable hygiene standards. You will have choices here in LA, but don't settle on quality or price—that's when the safety risks creep in.
Thinking about booking? Learn more about our Eyelash Extensions in Los Angeles and what makes our Classic sets so teen-friendly.
Weighing Your Alternatives for Minimal Risk
If dedication or the expense of extensions is beyond your means, or a parent remains uneasy about eyelash extension risk for teens, there are wonderful, low-commitment alternatives. You can have a lash lift and tint to achieve that gorgeous curl and darkening without the use of glue.
For the safest means to beautiful, natural lashes, try a top-of-the-line serum. Our own Belris Lash & Brow Growth Serum is a teen and adult favorite.
It adapts to your body to condition and lengthen your own lashes over time, giving them a natural look with no danger of adhesive issues or damage to your lashes. It's the healthy lash care tool for teens who want to look their best the natural way.
Conclusion
Eyelash extensions for teens are fashion-forward, confidence-enhancing, and safe, if well done with maturity, adult supervision, and professional application.
Fashion should never get ahead of safety and health. If you're considering getting into that perfect, natural look for a special event, your first move should be to a consultation.
Ready to discover the ideal teen-friendly look?
Book a consultation with Belris in LA to talk about a Classic lash set.
Or, begin your natural lash journey today with our Belris Lash & Brow Growth Serum.
