Adhesive Troubleshooting- What you need to know

Troubleshooting Adhesives Issues

Even the most seasoned lash artist will experience irregularities in their product performance from time to time. As we mentioned in this article https://mintbeautypro.com/blogs/news/the-truth-about-lash-adhesives  it may not always be your adhesive that is the problem. If your car won’t start you don't replace the entire engine before you check the gas gauge, right? Here are some Adhesive Troubleshooting points to consider. Remember, that even a small change may be the cause of a bigger problem, start with these issues and if nothing is out of the ordinary, you should reach out to customer service for further assistance. 

The information in this blog is taken directly form the M.INT Lashes Classic Fundamentals manual and applies to the M.INT Lashes brand of adhesives. Please reach out to the seller of any products outside of our brand for furher support. 

Use your glue in a stable environment. Seasonal changes and weather conditions may affect your retention and varies depending where you are located. The best temperature for the working space is 18-25° and 30-65% humidity. If temperature and humidity are too low or high, the adhesion and viscosity will change. 

Use a dehumidifier for humid environments. Place a thermo hygrometer in your working area to control temperature and humidity. Here are some adhesive related questions you should be asking regularly:

Have the environment conditions changed inside or outside of the lash room? 

• Humidity and temperature can fluctuate depending on the time of day.  The morning will be different to the evening, for example. 
• Seasons may affect your adhesive, summer vs. winter. Where winter may be a lot dryer and can affect the adhesives drying time. 
• Weather conditions may also affect your humidity. Where rainy days mean more humidity and cold days means more dry. 

How am I storing my adhesive? Was it stored in an environment where I wasn’t controlling the temperature?

Best way to store your adhesive is in an airtight container or zip bag with a silica pack or rice in a cool, dry place. If for some reason you can’t maintain a stable environment, it is recommended to keep it in the fridge.

Is the adhesive drying too fast or too slow for me? 

If you have recently changed adhesive, then you need to understand it won’t work the same as your old adhesive. Take the time to get to know your new adhesive.

When did I buy this adhesive, and when did you open it?

If the adhesive was bought 3 months ago, then it's time to replace it. When your new adhesive arrives, label the bottle when it arrives and when you opened it to ensure freshness.

Did I shake my adhesive? 

Give your adhesive at good 10-15 second shake to mix all the ingredients together.

Am I replacing my glue dots every 15- 20 minutes? 

Depending on your humidity and temperature it is imperative to replace your glue dots when it becomes sticky or tacky.

Am I keeping my adhesive fresh?

You have to store glue in a stable environment (temperature & humidity). Please remember frequent temperature fluctuations will affect the function of the glue. The adhesion could be bad if the glue is an old one, so make sure if you are using fresh glue.

Did I burp my adhesive? Am I closing the cap tightly after each use? 

Exposing glue to oxygen could change viscosity and diminish the life of the glue. If you leave the glue without the lid for a long time or open and close it frequently, the viscosity will change. It will be thick and gummy and will lose its adhesion. You need to block oxygen as much as possible. We recommend you check if the cap is tightly closed after using and wipe off the lid as well as the nozzle. Add a small packet of silica gel to a zippered bag. This keeps glue away from oxygen and humidity, as well as direct exposure to sunlight.

Have all clients been affected or just one? 

Ever thought about the fact that it could be your clients’ fault and not yours? Or both? Sometimes it's 50% you and 50% client.  Take the time to troubleshoot and ask your client the right questions.

Did I use before-care products before applying the adhesive?

If you care about adhesion, retention, and drying time, use the glue with before-care products such as a lash wash, primer, pre-treatment, and protein remover. These products have great influence on retention.