It can be difficult to properly apply lash extensions if you consistently find that your lash adhesive is drying too fast. Luckily, there are a few easy fixes you can make to your process, your workroom, or even to your adhesive itself to help you slow down the drying process. One of the easiest fixes: try a different lash adhesive. For example, with our Platinum Bond adhesive, drying times are designed to be a little slower than usual. We’ll go over different adhesives in more detail later, but if you don’t want to make the switch, there are a few other options to try out.

Related: Lash & Learn: Adhesive Drying Too Slowly

Tips to Slow Down Lash Adhesive Dry Time

Parafilm Is Your Friend

When applying any NovaLash lash adhesive, using a square of parafilm—the stretchable, moldable waterproof film used in scientific labs—to cradle your initial drip of adhesive rather than just the vinyl surface of your glove can help prevent fast drying. This is because parafilm’s waterproof qualities help the droplet of adhesive keep its dome shape, reducing the exposed surface area. The less the adhesive’s surface area is exposed during application, the more likely your adhesive will dry more slowly, buying you some time between individual lashes. Parafilm also does not cause a chemical reaction with the adhesive that could cause premature drying.

Try It Now: Purchase NovaLash Parafilm

Ammonia Is Your Enemy

If you are a lash artist who also does hair, or if your lash studio is located in a hair salon or someplace similar, you might check to see whether the hair products used in the salon contain ammonia. Even trace ammonia in the air where you’re applying your clients’ lash extensions can chemically interact with cyanoacrylate, the main ingredient in your lash adhesive.

When these two chemicals interact, it causes the cyanoacrylate to dry out very quickly. If you find that you’re applying lash extensions in an ammonia-rich environment, you might invest in more effective ventilation or have a conversation with the hairstylists you work with, and see if there is a compromise you two can come up with.

Read more: Help, My Glue Is Drying Too Fast!

Know Your Lash Adhesive

If you’re working with an adhesive you haven’t used before, it might take a few practice runs to absolutely nail your application with that particular lash adhesive. It’s important to recognize when to replenish the adhesive drop on your glove for instance. No matter which NovaLash adhesive you use, if the drop of adhesive on your glove has started to look less glossy and more matte in finish, the adhesive has started to dry. In that case, you’ll need to replenish the drop with fresh adhesive. Being familiar with how your specific adhesive behaves will help you keep an eye on its dry times.

Read more: How Much Lash Adhesive Should I Use?

It All Comes Down To Which Lash Adhesive You Use

If you’re still finding that you’re having issues with fast-drying adhesive, it might be time to consider trying out a lash adhesive designed to dry more slowly. At NovaLash, we developed our Platinum Bond adhesive specifically with new lash artists in mind. Platinum Bond adhesive still achieves the stellar retention that our other NovaLash adhesives are known for, but it dries more slowly than our lines of other adhesives. With Platinum Bond, you have a little more time to do everything, so if you’re finding that you’re constantly fighting quick-drying adhesive, you might really benefit from making the switch. After all, a masterpiece is meant to take time, right?

Read more: How to Choose a Lash Glue

There you have it! If you find that your lash adhesive is consistently drying too quickly for you, there are a few different ways you can try to fix that problem. If you invest in Platinum Bond and you are still having trouble applying your lash extensions, you might consider taking a refresher course in your technique—they’re free when you sign up for our Novalash Classic Training course!