Man Sues Beauty Store Over ‘Painful’ Eyelash Treatment
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Wedding jitters are one thing, but a disgruntled groom claims he endured the stuff that nuptial nightmares are made of when he went in for a prewedding eyelash tinting at New York City’s Benefit Brows-A-Go-Go — and came out with a burned cornea. Now he’s suing for $250,000.
Justin Reeves of Manhattan was cashing in a well-meaning gift when he reportedly noticed a burning sensation in his eyes that didn’t seem normal. The esthetician treating him assured him that the feeling was normal and would go away on its own — but the next morning Reeves’ eyes were red and inflamed, and he noticed a dark mark on his cornea.
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Like any groom-to-be — or any person in his right mind — he called the salon to report the disaster. It was then that, according to court documents obtained by the New York Post, the esthetician who treated him admitted she was not trained in the procedure — probably something she should have disclosed before touching his eyes!
Benefit Brow’s-A-Go-Go did not respond to requests for comment from Yahoo Beauty.
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When eyelashes are temporarily tinted, a semipermanent stain is applied to lashes with a brush to replicate mascara. The beauty treatment has gained major momentum in recent years, but it’s not without its dangers. According to WebMD, the FDA has not approved the tinting of eyelashes or even eyebrows — and as with any other beauty procedure, side effects have been known to occur.
Complications from eyelash tinting are relatively rare when compared to the sheer quantity of people receiving the treatment, so we’re not suggesting that you steer clear of the lush-lash procedure. Instead, make sure your practitioner is qualified: Ask to see an official certificate or some other sort of documentation. To play it extra-safe, ask for recommendations of qualified practitioners.
If you can, opt for salons that use vegetable- or fruit-based dies (never allow standard hair dye anywhere near your eyes) — and have your practitioner perform a “patch test” on your skin to gauge allergic reactions. Also — and this may be a no-brainer — be sure to remove your contact lenses before the procedure.
Another temporary lash-enhancing option — eyelash extensions — doesn’t use dyes at all, and the technique has been perfected in recent years, so you can achieve a look that ranges from “I was born this way” to “Every day, I’m red carpet-ready.” Extensions definitely beat glue-on lashes — especially after a night of tearing it up on the dance floor.
And then there’s always mascara.
What experiences have you had with eyelash tinting? Tell us in the comments below.
