What Is Shock Polymerization? There Are Secrets Behind

Have you ever observed the lash glue on your client eyelashes turning frost white when their eyes become watery during the service or when you missed them with the water before they were fully dry? Having a deep comprehension of the causes of shock polymerization, as well as how to fix shock polymerization can help professionals to handle the situations effectively.

Preventing shock polymerization reduces the likelihood of any discomfort or irritation for your clients, as clumped or misshapen extensions can cause discomfort and potential harm to the natural eyelashes. This, in turn, ensures the delivery of long-lasting, and high-quality eyelash extensions. Follow through, promising lash artists!

What Is It Meant By Shock Polymerization?

The phenomenon of shock polymerization is also known as blooming. Scientifically, it relates to efflorescence, a term derived from the French word meaning to bloom. When the eyelash glue, particularly the ingredient cyanoacrylate, is exposed to excessive moisture before itself dries completely, it undergoes a fast curing process which results in a white, hard, and brittle texture. This accelerated curing is detrimental to all retention.

Eyelash extension glue contains a concentrated amount of cyanoacrylate which reacts to the moisture in the air and solidifies accordingly. It is vital to consider the humidity levels of your surroundings, as well as your application speed, to ensure that the glue might cure within an optimal timeframe for convenience.

Shock polymerization happens when the lash glue comes into touch with fluids while still wet and quickly dries. This process leads to the glue taking on a crystalline look which resembles white sugar. It might also happen if your lash glue comes into immediate contact with liquids. The color of the glue changes from its usual carbon black to white, before becoming brittle in its texture.

While shock polymerization is not entirely dangerous, it is surely undesirable when it occurs on clients’ lashes. Lash glue which undergoes shock polymerization develops a visible white residue, contrasting against the eyelash extensions, and is unappealing. Moreover, this type of adhesive becomes brittle and prone to crumbling, further compromising the overall quality of the lash application.

Causes And Results Of Shock Polymerization Lashes

Excess moisture is the main reason for shock polymerization. This is usually attributed to the client’s excessive eye watering during a lash extension treatment. Another occurrence of this shock polymerization happens during lash set removals which are often unexpected. In such cases, lash glue remover reactivates the adhesive, and if not completely removed, residue is left behind.

Facing issues that result from shock polymerization of eyelash extension glues is a common occurrence. Such potential results can be any among the things listed below:

• Time Constraints: When shock polymerization unexpectedly happens, there’s limited time available to precisely position the eyelash extensions. Rushing may lead to uneven or misaligned lashes, resulting in a lash line that is far from your desired perfect look of eyelashes.
• Unintended Bonding: The sneaky nature of shock polymerization can cause lashes to stick together when eyelash tweezers slip during application. This results in unwanted bonding between individual lashes if immediate action is not taken.
• Challenging Clean-up: If your lash glue hardens too quickly, it may inadvertently get on the lash tweezers, hands, or even the natural lashes. Cleaning up this sticky mess can be time-consuming and will impact the final outcome of the eyelash extensions.
• Limited Working Space: Shock polymerization lashes necessitates working in smaller sections during the application process to allow for sufficient time to position and adjust the lash extensions before the glue solidifies. This significantly slows down your overall process which requires much more time and attention to detail.

When a lash artist proceeds to clean the eyelashes using protein removing pads, cleanser or primer during the removal process, it might unexpectedly trigger shock polymerization of any remaining lash glue. Hence, it is important to thoroughly clean all components during all your lash removal procedures.

Tips To Avoid Shock Polymerization Lashes

While a certain level of moisture is necessary in the air for your lash glue to dry properly with the appropriate humidity, it is essential to always verify the optimal humidity requirements for the chosen lash glue.

1. Adequate storage and handling of eyelash extension glue

Shock polymerization can be avoided in large part, by handling and storing lash glue for lash extensions properly. Adhesives must be kept away from heat sources and in cold, dry areas. High humidity can hasten the glue curing process, thus maintaining proper humidity levels in the work area for lash extensions is also crucial. The shelf life of the lash will be extended by using silica gel packs, or humidity-controlled storage containers.

2. Selecting the appropriate adhesive for lash extensions

To prevent shock polymerization, using the proper professional lash adhesive is essential. It is advised to choose lash extension-specific glue having a lesser propensity for quick curing. Take the time to go over and comprehend the producer’ specifications and usage guidelines before buying lash extension glue. Shock polymerization risk may be decreased by adhering to the suggested application directions and storage conditions.

>> Explore our expert-recommended list of lash adhesives. Dive into the choices endorsed by professionals for impeccable eyelash extensions: The Best Lash Glue Of 2024 – A Guide To Choose

3. Minding your control of the lash extension environment

The key to avoiding shock polymerization is to keep the areas where eyelash extensions are applied under control. Consistent humidity and temperature conditions in the workplace have to be a goal for professionals. Using the proper techniques and equipment, temperature and humidity levels should be regularly monitored and adjusted. It can also help to dissipate heat accumulation and guarantee a comfortable working environment if there is ventilation and air circulation.

4. Due diligence in all of your eyelash application techniques

For shock polymerization to be avoided, appropriate application methods should be used. To ensure that the glue only meets the extension base and stays away from the skin, it is crucial to apply the adhesive to the lash extensions precisely and sparingly. An excessive amount of curing, and clumping will result from the use of adhesive. Also by properly separating natural lashes from the glue during application, the possibility of shock polymerization is reduced.

5. Always practice on dry lashes to fix shock polymerization

Before commencing the extension application, ensure that the eyelashes are completely dry following the pretreatment phases. This precautionary measure effectively helps avoid shock polymerization upon contact. To optimize the result, spend some time for the pretreatment to dry before mapping the lashes onto the eyepatches.

To minimize the occurrence of shock polymerization in the outer corners, where clients’ eyes tend to water, try starting the application process from the outer corners of the lashes. As the treatment progresses clients can experience watery eyes due to factors such as bright lights, extended eye closure, or exposure to glue fumes.

By addressing the outer corners first, the lash glue in that region can have more time to cure before tears emerge. Regularly check for any signs of water and gently blot their lashes with tissue to maintain dryness throughout the extension process.

6. Take action with exercise caution with booster treatment

If using a booster on volume lash strips it’s crucial to exercise restraint in the amount applied to the lashes. Additionally, allow the booster to dry before dipping it into the adhesive. Similar to the pretreatment step, complete this process before mapping the lash extensions to avoid introducing liquid directly onto or into the glue, causing shock polymerization lashes.

You should also appropriately maintain distance when using a nano mister. If utilizing a nano mister, although it is recommended to opt for alternatives like Superbonde), ensure it is held, at least, one foot away from your lashes. This allows for a gentle increase in humidity around the lashes, rather than direct water droplets.

7. Protect your eyelash glue bottle’s nozzle from moisture

If white residue appears on the glue nozzle instead of the eyelashes, there are two factors to bear in mind. Firstly, ensure that the nozzle does not come into contact with any moisture as much as possible. Always wipe it with a completely dry or lint-free cloth and securely replace the lid. Store the glue in an airtight container along with silica gel pouches/ dry rice to absorb any moisture.

Secondly, be aware that the quality of the glue might be compromised if the nozzle has been exposed to moisture. If your dispensed glue appears stringy, it is not recommended for client use as it will likely impact retention. However, it can still be utilized for fan/placement practice purposes with low levels of potential shock polymerization lashes.

How To Fix Shock Polymerization From Lash Extensions

To fix accidentally applying remover to unaffected lashes during shock polymerization, a tape method can be used. You can start by cutting a strip of tape and positioning it between those eyelashes experiencing shock polymerization, making sure that the sticky side does face the lashes without any shock.

Then, gently pull the unaffected lashes to the side, securing the ends of the tape while letting the middle portion of the tape rest against and hold those lashes aside. Finally, apply a small amount of remover onto the white glue residue, using a microfiber brush. To avoid confusion,

feel free to follow our guide below on how to fix shock polymerization:

Step 1: Remove affected extensions

 Identify areas where shock polymerization has occurred. Look for clumping, unevenness, or discomfort caused by the glue. Gently remove the lash extensions that have been impacted by shock polymerization. Also, use tweezers, or a lash remover, specifically designed for this process. Remember not to damage the client’s natural lashes in every way.

Step 2: Gently cleanse the eyelashes

Thoroughly cleanse the natural lashes using a lash cleanser or lash shampoo. This may help remove any residue from shock polymerization and offers a clean base for reapplications. Be sure to apply a lash conditioner, or serum to nourish and hydrate the natural lashes. This can restore their health, especially if any damage occurred during the removal process.

Read more: How to Clean Lash Extensions Properly

Step 3: Just wait for natural shedding

If the shock polymerization has caused significant discomfort or damage, it’ll be necessary to wait for the natural shedding cycle of the lashes. This lets the new, unaffected lashes grow in before proceeding with further lash extension application.

Step 4: Now, reapply lash extensions

Once the lashes are recovered or new growth occurs, reapply the eyelash extension using a new batch of glue. It is ideal to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any right application techniques as well as the best curing time.

Step 5: Start monitoring and maintaining

Regularly monitor the lash extensions for every sign of shock polymerization or other issues. Maintain proper lash hygiene and follow aftercare instructions to ensure the longevity as well as safety of all the extensions.

By following our steps, you can effectively fix shock polymerization to minimize its impact on the comfort of eyelash extensions. It is important to prioritize the health and well-being of the natural lashes throughout the process. Is everything clear enough, gifted artists?

Conclusion

The primary catalyst for shock polymerization lashes is your adhesive exposure to excessive heat and moisture expediting the curing process. Elements from elevated room temperature, humidity, to improper storage practices all do contribute to shock polymerization.

After all there’s barely any immediate solution for addressing shock polymerization. The lash affected by the white residue must be carefully removed. The banana peeling is not effective in this case, as the visible white residue caused by shock polymerization is always prominent and tends to spread. To resolve this issue, the use of a glue remover is necessary.

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