Lash glue is the cornerstone of great lash work. Adhesive density, type, brand, and viscosity all play a role in how well your eyelash extensions stick to the lashline, making the quality of this product crucial to the outcome of every lash application.
But knowing how to use adhesives and handling them correctly is just as important as buying a high quality product. Without proper storage and care, lash glue can become coagulated, dry out, and lose its adhesive strength.
Fortunately, there’s a simple trick every accomplished lash artist can use to prevent the above from happening. A quick shake-up before use can make all the difference!
When you shake lash glue, you allow all its chemical components to activate and intermix properly before use. Want to know more? We’re answering all of the most common questions about the importance of shaking lash glue and giving you some practical tips for achieving the best results.
Let’s shake it up!
What Chemicals Cause Lash Glue To Separate?
The best way to understand why freshly shaken lash glue is more effective than stagnant lash glue is to understand what this adhesive is made of.
Lash glue needs to be shaken because the ingredients used in adhesives naturally separate over time. Non-toxic, skin-safe adhesives like the ones in our Belo lash glue collection include a variety of chemical ingredients, such as:
- Cyanoacrylate – The glue base that crystallises and sets quickly
- Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) – Provides long-term adhesive strength
- Hydroquinone – Keeps your lash glue liquid and easy to apply until dry
- Carbon black – Adds a deluxe dark, velvety pigment to your lash glue
Each of these tried-and-tested ingredients is the star of its own show. Without the right quantity of each one in your adhesive, its quality and strength will struggle to shine.
When lash glue has been sitting on a shelf for too long, the ingredients start to separate—the dense ones, like cyanoacrylate and PMMA, settle at the bottom, and the lighter ones, like hydroquinone, float to the top.
Why Do You Need To Shake Lash Glue Before Using It?
If the inside of your lash glue bottle was a party, the unshaken ingredients are the people who don’t dance or talk to other guests. It’s boring, awkward, and, most importantly, negatively impacts the quality of the event. That’s not what we want for your lashes!
You need to shake lash glue because it activates the chemicals and brings them to life. Without a good shake, your adhesive simply won’t be as effective. Shaking is important because it:
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Allows all the ingredients of the lash glue to combine
When all the chemical layers of lash glue are separated, they can’t perform at their best. By shaking your lash glue, you allow all of those ingredients to become fully homogenous and combined, activating their chemical roles and giving you the most effective product possible.
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Extends the lifespan of eyelash extensions
Separated lash glue doesn’t bond or hold up, as well as fully combined lash glue. If you want your client’s lashes to be as durable and strong as they are gorgeous, properly activated lash glue is non-negotiable. This adds to lash longevity and increases their retention - which is exactly what every Belo babe wants!
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Results in faster curing and drying
A well-shaken bottle of lash glue will allow for a much cleaner, faster drying process. Quick curing is necessary for well-bonded lashes, and a few quick shakes will ensure they dry as quickly and neatly as possible.
The Consequences Of Not Shaking Lash Glue
If you don’t shake lash glue before using it, your application process can suffer. Not only does not shaking lash glue mean you will have to deal with a clogged glue texture, but you’ll also slow down the curing process and shorten the lifespan of your client’s lashes.
To fully understand why a little lash glue shake is so important, let’s go through the three main consequences that stagnant lash glue can cause:
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Reduced adhesive strength
The less homogenous your lash glue is, the harder it will be for it to form a tight bond. You want your lashes to be stuck on firmly—not loosely attached and waiting to fall off as soon as your client stands up. Shaken lash glue is solid lash glue!
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Wet, messy lash applications
When lash glue has been standing still for too long, watery chemicals like hydroquinone rise to the top, leaving all the adhesive compounds at the bottom.
Dipping into pure hydroquinone is not only going to result in a weak bond, but it’s also going to take much longer to dry. This can cause unwanted messiness, longer waiting times for clients, and a generally finicky lash application process. No thanks!
How To Properly Shake Your Lash Glue
Shaking lash glue is exactly as simple as it sounds. When you’re ready to start applying your lashes or lash fans, pick up your lash glue bottle firmly and shake it in a rapid left, right, left, right motion for about 10-20 seconds.
It is better to shake from side to side rather than up and down, as the latter can cause the top nozzle to become clogged. If shaking your lash glue by hand seems too laborious, you can always invest in an adhesive shaker that does the work for you.
Either way, shake it ‘til you make it!
Do Different Types Of Adhesives Require Different Shaking Methods?
Not necessarily. While there may be a variety of different lash glue types out there, most are cyanoacrylate-based and contain the same blend of ingredients, just in different ratios.
A good lash glue shake looks pretty much the same from bottle to bottle. However, adhesives with higher concentrations of PMMA or hydroquinone may need slightly longer shaking times.
Tips For Keeping Your Lash Glue Stable
Knowing how to shake lash glue is an important part of any lash artist’s cosmetic practice. But there are other ways to keep your lash glue in mint condition for better, more beautiful lashes.
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Invest in some core lash accessories
At Belo, we have a fabulous range of lash glue accessories you can use to keep your adhesives in good condition and extend their shelf life for as long as possible. Tools like the glue recovery kit, the fast-drying lash fan, and glue nozzle wipes can all help your adhesives remain stable and fresh.
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Store your lash glue properly
Another way to safeguard your lash glue is to store it in the right environment. The best way to store lash glue is to keep it well sealed, upright, and in a temperate room. Avoid storage compartments that are too warm, and never leave a bottle in the sun or without a lid on!
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Never use old or expired lash glue
An unopened bottle of lash adhesive should last up to 6 months. Once opened, its shelf life reduces to about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of adhesive you’re using.
When lash glue becomes thick, stringy, or claggy, that’s a clear sign that it’s passed its sell-by date, and its days in the beauty industry are sadly over. Keep close tabs on which bottles are fresh and which ones you’ll soon need to bid goodbye!
Shake For Success!
Like most products, there are techniques for using lash glue that help it perform at its best. In this case, it’s the simple action of a little pre-lash application shake-up!
When you shake lash glue, you allow all those compounds to wake up and work together the way they were designed to. So, take these tips with you as you embark on the journey of becoming the best Belo lash artist you can be. Good things come to those who shake!