Senegal & eyelash extensions: why here, why Dakar
Eyelash extensions have no Senegalese history to tell. Their success comes down to three practical reasons.
First, the heat. For much of the year, eye make-up melts with perspiration and needs touching up all day. Lashes lengthened once and for all settle the matter: you step out of the shower ready and spend the afternoon outdoors without checking your reflection.
Then, ceremonies. Weddings, naming ceremonies, Korité, Tabaski: preparations start days in advance, with hair, henna, an outfit tailored for the occasion and make-up. Lashes fit into that routine because they last through a long day of celebration, emotions included.
And finally, Dakar. The capital is where beauty salons and technicians trained in both classic one-by-one and volume application are concentrated. That is where this category’s sessions are, amid the city’s whole range of wellness services: a lash appointment slots easily into the same day as an appointment for hairdressing & braids or facial treatments.
The climate cuts both ways, though: it makes extensions useful, but the humidity of the rainy season (hivernage), the dust of the harmattan, salt and sun also put them to the test. Aftercare is what makes the difference between lashes that last and lashes that fall out within ten days.
Formats: classic, volume, infill
- Classic set (one-by-one): one extension bonded to each natural lash. Your lashes look longer without changing character; this is the format for a first time or a subtle everyday effect.
- Volume set: several ultra-fine extensions gathered into a small fan on a single lash. A denser, more defined look, often chosen for a ceremony or a photo shoot.
- Infill: the maintenance session that fills the gaps left by lashes that have fallen, every three to four weeks.
- Restyling: the length, curl or shape of an existing set is reworked.
- Removal: the extensions are taken off with a suitable product, without pulling on your lashes.
Where to get eyelash extensions in Senegal
- Dakar: the only city where the category currently offers a session, in a salon, lasting an hour per format. Heading off to the Petite Côte afterwards? Have your set done before you go: it will last until your first infill.
When to book
Extensions can be applied all year round; what matters are your own dates. For a wedding or a celebration, have them done two to four days beforehand: the glue has time to set, and any irritation shows up before the big day. The days leading up to Korité and Tabaski are the busiest; these festivals follow the lunar calendar and move forward by about eleven days each year, so book early.
The rainy season, July to October, brings humid heat and perspiration: daily brushing becomes essential. The harmattan, mainly from December to February, carries a fine dust that makes you want to rub your eyes, which is precisely what to avoid.
Good to know & budget
The appointment. Arrive without eye make-up and mention any sensitivity to adhesives when you book. For a first time or sensitive eyes, ask for a patch test on a few lashes a day or two before. During the session, you lie down with your eyes closed: it does not hurt, and stinging or burning is not normal, so say so straight away.
The first 24 to 48 hours. No water on your lashes, no steam, no hammam, no sport that makes you sweat: the glue is still curing. The beach can wait until the day after tomorrow.
Day to day. Do not rub your eyes, brush your lashes every morning with a small clean brush, try to sleep on your back, avoid oily make-up removers and creams around the eyes, and forget mascara. Each extension falls out with the lash it is attached to: losing a few every day is normal.
Heat and sea. After a swim, rinse your face with fresh water to remove salt and sand, pat dry, let your lashes air-dry and then brush them. A hat and sunglasses protect your eyes and lashes alike.
Precautions. Extensions are a cosmetic treatment, not eye care. The glue can cause a reaction, and poorly maintained lashes trap dust and bacteria. Redness, a swollen eyelid, watery eyes or itching that persists: have the extensions removed and see a doctor. If you have inflamed eyelids or are losing lashes, get medical advice before having a set applied. And never pull them out yourself.
Booking and payment. The price of each session is shown on its listing: it is the price of the service, per person, depending on the format. You pay 20% to secure your booking (the booking fee), and the balance is paid on site, on the day of your appointment. No additional official fees. If you live in Senegal, you get the resident rate: up to 30% off (the exact rate is shown on each listing).
Who is it for?
For anyone who no longer wants to redo their eye make-up every morning, for brides-to-be, for a photo shoot. Less so for very sensitive eyes.
Residents, Senegalese or expatriates settled in Dakar, will find a regular maintenance appointment here: one full set, then an infill every three to four weeks, at the resident rate. Visitors can have their lashes done at the start of their stay and keep them until they fly home, beach included, as long as they respect the first 48 hours. For a big day, see also make-up or the whole wellness & relaxation section.
In 1916, on the set of Intolerance, the director D. W. Griffith wanted the actress Seena Owen to have eyes “twice as big”. His wigmaker made her lashes from human hair, fixed with spirit gum. One morning, as her co-star Lillian Gish recounts in her memoirs, Seena Owen arrived at the studio with her eyes so swollen they were almost shut. Adhesives have changed and lashes are now applied one by one, but the lesson still holds: before the silver-screen look, do a patch test.
Frequently asked questions
How long do extensions last?
Each extension falls out with the natural lash it is attached to. To keep your lashes looking neat, plan an infill every three to four weeks.
Can I go to the beach with eyelash extensions?
Yes, but not within 24 to 48 hours of having them applied. After that, rinse with fresh water after swimming, pat dry and brush once they are dry.
Do extensions damage natural lashes?
Not if they are properly applied and removed with a suitable product. Damage mainly comes from extensions pulled off by hand and from rubbing your eyes.
How does payment work?
You pay 20% to secure your booking (the booking fee), and the balance is paid on site, on the day of your appointment. No additional official fees; residents get the resident rate: up to 30% off (the exact rate is shown on each listing).
