Lash Extension Technicians and Permanent Make-up artists have different lighting needs than facialists or medical practitioners who do injections. While some lighting may cross over, others can actually compromise your work.
What kind of lighting is best for your services?
We want to avoid fluorescent lights altogether and look for LED lights that can mimic bright, natural light. Adjustability in both brightness and space are also important. You should be able to pull the light closer or further away from a client depending on the situation, especially for PMU work, and turning the light’s brightness down for ultra-sensitive clients is also a must.
Where? If you need an easy, portable light for house calls for just lash extensions, Glamcour is best. I love the little travel bag and you can easily buy a floor stand for your lash studio, so you only have to pack up the cord, the top and the remote. It’s easy to carry and set up and even has a media center where you can place your phone to record your work. Just don’t forget the power cord! I left it at a client’s house once which could have really tripped me up if it was my only light source but fortunately, I had the Eye Light back at the studio, which brings me to this amazing gadget.
Having been a professional make-up artist before I started doing lash extensions and permanent make-up, I learned quickly to have the best tools available at all times. Everything needs to be portable and something you can carry yourself. That means a chair for your client, a small table for your product, your make-up kit, a belt kit, extension cords and of course a good light source. When thousands of dollars are on the line, directors expect you to be self-sufficient and prepared. Not having one thing could mean not coming back. So, the light source most of us use on set is the Key Light 2.0. You can buy a kit complete with power cords, stands and carrying bags or you can buy the items separately. For PMU work, the Eyelight panel is my favorite. It is beautiful, bright and gives off light up to five feet. It is the sophisticated big sister of a glamcour light but doesn’t leave the glare. When doing PMU work, every microscopic dot counts so a glare can really jam you up. While slightly more costly than the Glamcour, I feel like this light is a must have if your services extend beyond lash extensions. This is a light that can also be used for gorgeous photos and YouTube tutorials. It is my favorite by far.
Okay. So, what if you’re an aesthitician who needs a light for facials, lashes and PMU? Well, if you don’t need the portability and you will have your clients coming to the studio, my favorite is the Omega 7 by the Daylight Co. The bulb is a halo one that lasts for years and the light is bright, cool and natural without any heat. It has a built in magnifier to use for facials and you can attach it to a spa cart or purchase a weighted stand for it. This light gives a very soft reflection which is great for all services but isn’t as convenient to move around.
Ring lights have their purpose. They are great for after shots if you have the space to set up for clients to do that but don’t use them in your treatment room. They are top heavy, especially when angling over your treatment area and that puts your client at risk. Of course, you can use a sandbag at the bottom but that isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing in a beautifully decorated room. Some of them also produce a great amount of heat when they are on for more than 15 minutes, so in my professional opinion, ring lights should be used and kept in the photo area only.
There are so many great lights coming out and technology allows for us to control our environment in a way we couldn’t before. Great lighting can make a huge difference in your service so don’t settle for anything less than you deserve!
