I can, for the first time in my life, bat my eyelashes. Finally. That’s because I now have eyelashes, 45 new ones, in fact, on each eye, thanks to Lauren Kurtz, the founder of Good Gosh Beauty. As I continue on my tour of non-alcoholic bars across the city (first the wax bar, then the ponytail bar and now the eyelash bar), I have to admit this is my favourite new spot.
Located on College Street near Dovercourt, it’s definitely a destination upkeep spot. Which is fine because to get natural-looking eyelashes made out of premium synthetic mink, for the first time, takes almost two hours.
“Who doesn’t want to enhance their eyes?” asks Kurtz when asked why the trend of eyelash extensions, which started in Korea and now can be seen on every celebrity in every tabloid, is so popular. Kurtz (who looks remarkably like Alexis Bledel from Gilmour Girls) says she does between five and seven eyelash extensions a week, which isn’t a lot, but is understandable considering the focus it takes to apply the extensions with the special “bonding agent” (otherwise known as glue) and create a look of naturally longer, fuller eyelashes.
I have to ask “Are you ambidextrous?” as she tells me how she applies the eyelashes — with one tweezer in one hand, separating my natural eyelashes, and with another set of tweezers in the other hand, to glue the fake ones on.
“No, but I have really steady hands.” As well, she definitely has patience. (As one would need to, to apply up to 75 eyelashes on each eye, which is one reason she only does one of these appointments a day.)
Everything about Kurtz and her lash bar is cute, from the pink painted walls to the vintage posters with sayings like “Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder.” What’s especially cute is Kurtz’s menu. Those wanting thicker and longer eyelashes can choose from the MacGraw (30 eyelashes on each eye), the Audrey (45), the Bardot (60) or the Kardashian (75). Kurtz will help you choose which best suits your features. We choose the Audrey for me, since I want my eyelashes to be noticeable but don’t want questions like “What did you do to your face?!”
Kurtz says eyelash extensions are not for everybody. “If you can believe it, there are some women who really like the routine of putting on mascara, so it’s not for them. But even though mascara may only take two minutes to put on in the morning, you’ll be so surprised at how liberating it is to wake up and just be ready to go.”
Kurtz opened Good Gosh Beauty last year and only focuses on eyelash extensions and permanent makeup. She studied permanent cosmetics and has worked for some of the most well-known plastic surgeons in Toronto, doing permanent cosmetics before branching out on her own.
The eyelash extensions last anywhere from four to six weeks before falling out, depending on your natural eyelash growth cycle, which is generally 60 to 90 days. Most people come in about three days before a big event or vacation. Not only do the extensions come in different lengths, but different curls as well.
I’m worried about the falling out part, wondering if I’ll have big gaps in my eyelashes. She explains that during the falling out phase, most women simply apply mascara (which you don’t need to — actually aren’t supposed to — apply on these extensions) or book another appointment for fill-ins.
“This is why I’m booked well into the next few weeks. People book their next appointments when they come in because they know their cycle or they know they have a big event.”
After just over an hour of relaxation (yes, it is relaxing: you’re lying down, your eyes are taped lightly shut, and Kurtz’s voice is gentle), my eyelashes are ready to bat.
I can’t believe what I see in the mirror. My eyes look bigger and I actually have lashes! I tell Kurtz I’m thrilled with the results and can’t help but ask if anyone has not liked them.
“It hasn’t happened yet,” she chirps. “But I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
The after-care is pretty simple. No water or steam on or around the eye area for 24 hours. (In her brochure, she adds, “Do not watch Beaches, Love Story or Life Is Beautiful”). She also gives me a pair of goggles (in case I want to shower), a special non-oil-based eye cleanser and an eyelash comb. But, pretty much, when I get up, I’m ready to go. For the first visit, it’s $150 for the Audrey, and fill-ins will be anywhere from $30 to $60 a visit.
When I get home, my fiancé says, “I can’t believe the difference. It’s incredible.” He says this for the next few days, giving me a serious complex about what I looked like before. But, this batting-your-eyelash thing works serious wonders in a relationship, definitely worth the time and cost. It’s one bar I’ll be sure to frequent regularly.
Post City Magazines’ columnist Rebecca Eckler is the author of Knocked Up, Wiped!, and her latest books, How to Raise a Boyfriend and The Lucky Sperm Club.