“I hope lash extensions become more of a trend, like getting your nails done,” says Rinta Juwana, owner of LashLove NYC. “Ten or twenty years ago, a manicure was a luxury. Now it’s something people do all the time.”
She saw enough demand at her Affina Nail & Spa on Fulton Street (which has a sister salon on Church Street) to open LashLove NYC, a boutique salon dedicated to eyelash extensions. Where Affina has one bed for the treatment, LashLove NYC has five.
On your first visit, you receive a consultation about what you’re looking for and what works best for your face. You choose lashes based on length, thickness, curl, and material; there are synthetic and real options, including silk and mink. The lashes are then individually attached with glue—a new set takes around 75 minutes, with touch-ups recommended every one-to-three weeks. As Juwana points out, there are practical benefits to go along with the aesthetic ones: “Lash extensions make your daily makeup ritual easier because there’s no longer any need for mascara or curling.”
P.S. For more on Juwana, read this Q&A she did with Anojja Shah back in 2011.
LashLove NYC is at 130 Church (between Warren and Murray), 212-349-5274, lashlovenyc.com.
Recent New Kid on the Block / First Impressions articles:
• Vin Sur Vingt
• Thomas Hayes Studio + Cipra
• The Flea Theater
• Onda Beauty
• Five & Dime
• Tribeca Veterinary Wellness
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
• Harry & Ida’s Luncheonette
• Sweaty Betty
• Serafina
LashLove owner said 10-20 years ago, “a manicure was a luxury”. Maybe in the 1970’s. The owner must be a millenial! Are you kidding me? Just like today, it was not much of a luxury to get your nails done in the late 80s/early 90s. Everyone got their nails done even back then. I lived in Kips Bay/Murray Hill in the early 90s and there were nail salons every 2-3 blocks. As a recent college grad making peanuts in 1990, I was still able to get my nails done on a regular basis and didn’t think it was a luxury…more like a necessity.
That 2011 Q&A is a good read. Now more than ever I find stories about recent immigrants’ experiences are important to read and share.