Courtney Akai Lash Boutique

Oh the things I will do for my readers in the name of beauty blogging! Friday morning I got partial eyelash extensions and a LashDip at the Courtney Akai Lash boutique. Normally the thought of anybody going near my precious, fragile little eyelashes would sending me running for the hills. But hey, it's in the name of research, right? As it turns out, it was totally worth the expiriment.I've seen people with eyelash extensions before, but I was shocked at how natural looking it actually was. In about an hour I had full, long, dark eyelashes that will require no maintenance for approximately 4-6 weeks. Though the length was due, in large part, to the extensions, the thickness and color are definitely due to the LashDip. LashDip was developed in Chicago by Gina Mondragon and Jessica Harley for women, like myself, who have to use a ton of mascara to achieve a full or dark look. I have pretty decent eyelashes, but they are the palest of blonde. I basically can't leave the house without mascara on or I look like an albino. But LashDip solves that problem. It's basically like a semi-permanent mascara that you don't have to re-apply or remove. The LashDip and lash extensions last through a full growth cycle of your natural eyelashes, which is typically 6 weeks.

Ok, I don't usually like to post such extreme close-ups of my face, especially when I'm sans makeup and sporting some serious under-eye baggage, but I wanted you to see how natural these eyelash extensions and LashDip look. Notice that the top lash line is dark and long, but the bottom lashes (my real lashes without the extensions or the dip) and super-blonde and sparse.

I absolutely love my new lashes (thank you Courtney!), and they have yet to irritate my eyes or damage my contacts in any way. But like any other beauty treatment, this comes at a price. A full set of eyelash extensions will cost you $400. A half-set (which I got) is $200, or you could get just your bottom lashes done for $140. The LashDip is also $200. It seems like a lot to pay unless you think about it in terms of what we have done to our hair. I've had Brazilian Blowouts done on my hair that last 6 weeks and cost $350. So LashDip for $200, or Brazilian Blowout for $350? They both last 6 weeks and they both make your life easier. Given that my first experience has been so pleasant thus far, I'd definitely recommend the Courtney Akai Lash Boutique to any first-timers out there. She certainly eased a lot of my fears, and I've been on the receiving end of quite a few compliments these past couple of days. She is also not a pushy salesperson, which I respect. She recommended several different options for me, including Revitalash, and even some good mascaras that she approves of. I don't trust that many people getting so close to my eyeballs, but I would certainly recommend Courtney to a friend.

For more info on the Courtney Akai Lash Boutique, please visit CourtneyAkai.com.