Gel Pads Vs. Tape

Over the years eyelash extension application and products have changed and advanced. It was once common to use actual tape (scotch tape) to tape down the bottom eyelashes to keep them out of the way during application. It’s important to have the eyelashes on the top lid completely separated from the ones on the bottom or the eye may be glued shut. By using a tiny amount of Vaseline under the clients eyes, removal of the scotch tape was quite painless and comfortable. However, scotch tape is quite stiff and if not placed in the exact right spot to compliment the curve of the clients eye, the eyeball could actually be micro-lacerated.

Now there are a few different common application pads and tape for the procedure. Paper tape- also known as micropore tape is hypoallergenic, lightweight and breathable. It’s also quite easy to tear for quick use and relatively inexpensive, with way more pliability than scotch tape it’s much more flexible and comfortable. Micropore tape is very useful for taping the upper eyelid to lift the lash line for application and has proven to be non-irritating but with that being said, it is still tape.

Gel pads are generally made of aloe vera extract, vitamin C, water and glycerol. They are jelly, cooling and very comfortable. However, as your face heats up the gel, the gel can seep into the eye slightly sometimes causing irritation but that can be fixed with a minor adjustment of slightly pulling them down without letting the bottom eyelashes poke through. Also some people can have allergic reactions to the gel pads and form a minor rash so in that case you would definitely want to use some sort of tape.

Another type of tape that has surfaced recently is foam tape, it’s nice and cushiony but harder to make “strips” and can be a bit finicky to work with but because it’s thick and cushiony the edges are soft and will likely not micro-lacerate the eyeball. Our eyeballs are very sensitive and must be handled with care. Overall as a lash artist and a lash client my vote is for gel pads and if there is an allergy to gel pads, go for the foam tape.