There is currently a lot of discussion surrounding whether or not Lash Artists should lash pregnant women. This is a tough one because there are arguments for both doing, and avoiding it, so we’ve put together a collection of pros and cons in order for you to make your own mind up! 

It is important that we know, for legal/insurance purposes, if our clients are pregnant as a number of insurance providers don’t cover lashing on pregnant women, so make sure you check with your insurer whether this is something you can do or not. But how do we know if a client is pregnant or not? This can be a very sensitive situation so it’s best to handle this as delicately as possible, we recommend that the consultation forms ask a client if they’re pregnant or breastfeeding, and to update you if this changes for future appointments, this allows them to answer discreetly and confidently while also being made aware that they must inform you for you to be able to do their lashes safely. 

What can affect expectant mothers who get their lashes done and how you lash them?

Laying flat

People who are expecting are advised not to lay flat on their back for prolonged periods of time, this is because there is a major blood vessel called the vena cava that runs down the back and to the baby. If your client is laid on their back for too long their uterus can push on that blood vessel resulting in restricting blood flow to the baby and can also make the mum feel dizzy, out of breath and generally unwell. Here are some solutions we can suggest: 

• Can you use pre-made or pro-made fans on them to speed the process up?
• Add some extra time onto the appointment so the client has time to have a break and have a stretch/walk around. 
• Can they lay on their side with their head turned, switching sides periodically

Allergies

People often ask whether pregnancy will change sensitivity to allergens, some people say if your client has had them before, they’ll be fine, others say that because the bodies are focusing on growing a baby they are more vulnerable to things that usually wouldn’t affect them. Because of this you must be patch testing your clients again when you know they’re pregnant; the solution may seem straightforward however it doesn’t come without controversy itself. 

People often argue saying that patch tests aren’t effective as you’re only testing 5-10 lashes whereas on a full set you would be doing 90-120 per eye, meaning you’re exposed to a lot more of the product. This is completely down to your own discretion and what you feel comfortable doing. 

Sensitivity to fumes

At the start of pregnancies, and often throughout, your clients senses are heightened, this may ruin their lash experience as the fumes and smells may irritate them. Getting your lashes done is supposed to be a fun and relaxing experience that makes you feel good, so it can feel disheartening for your clients when they’re uncomfortable and irritated.

It is important to note that the lash industry at the time of writing this blog is currently unregulated, meaning glues are also unregulated so we don’t know how these fumes that the clients inhale are affecting the mother and baby.

Hair loss/hair growth

When your client is pregnant, the baby will take a lot of your client’s nutrients, meaning they may face hair loss, and their eyelashes going brittle. Alternatively, the hair might thrive and the eyelashes may be thicker. However, are they losing more lashes because they’re going through the eyelash growth process quicker? Both of these will affect how you do your clients lashes and how frequently they may need infills. 

Summary:

There are lots of different factors to take into consideration, however we believe that these are the main contraindications, always team this information with your own research too as things change so often. 

We hope that this information can help you make an informed decision on whether or not you want to move forward lashing pregnant clients, we believe there is no right or wrong answer, this is all down to how you feel and what you’re comfortable with! We know how much clients LOVE getting their lashes done!