| Xtreme Lashes™ Is Dedicated To Your
Safety |
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| Because Xtreme Lashes™ is dedicated to safety, we sell the highest
quality products only to Professionals in the Beauty and Health
industries. And, we require professional hands-on training. As a
registered nurse, the President of Xtreme Lashes™, LLC insists on nothing less! |
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| Recently, we have been receiving inquires about
formaldehyde and eyelash extension adhesives. Some inquiries are about whether
or not we carry the FDA approved adhesive. We discovered that these inquires
directly correlated with misinformation that is being published by a competing
eyelash extension company on their website and in printed advertising material. |
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| Although we respect competition, we are obligated to
respond to these inquiries since they stem from what we believe is false
advertising that harms the reputation of the eyelash industry as a whole. |
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| Unfortunately, this one company in the USA has attempted to
make a safety issue related to all “non-USA” eyelash extension adhesives -
based on formaldehyde content. They claim to have the only “formaldehyde free”
adhesive. In our opinion, this company has done a disservice to our industry
and created unnecessary safety concerns about formaldehyde exposure from
eyelash extension adhesives. |
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| This company also makes misleading claims related to FDA
recommendations. They claim that their product is “made in accordance with FDA
recommendations for formaldehyde content”. |
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| Please continue reading this document for a better
understanding about cyanoacrylate adhesives, formaldehyde and FDA
recommendations. |
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| A note on Cyanoacrylate Adhesives and Formaldehyde: |
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| First of all, Xtreme Lashes™ adhesives are made using the
same properties and ingredients found in the medical grade adhesives used by
surgeons to close wounds without stitches: suture-less wound closure. |
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| Secondly, all cyanoacrylate medical grade adhesives
do contain ultra-low quantities of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde at ultra low
levels is considered negligible – see below. |
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| Thirdly, our extensive scientific and medical research has
revealed no evidence that a completely “formaldehyde free” cyanoacrylate
adhesive exists. |
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| On September 25th, 2006, the adhesive from the company that
claims to supply “formaldehyde free” adhesive was tested by a third party
independent lab and it was found to contain 2.0 ppm (parts per million) of
formaldehyde. Even though this is a very small amount of formaldehyde, it is 5
times the formaldehyde found in our HP-A adhesive which tested at only 0.4 ppm
formaldehyde and almost 3 times the formaldehyde found in our HP-3 adhesive
which tested at only 0.7 ppm formaldehyde. |
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| These levels of formaldehyde are insignificant. We are
exposed to formaldehyde everyday! Formaldehyde is released into the air from
various consumer products such as building materials, carpets, clothing, and
home furnishings. In fact, many health and beauty products such as cosmetics,
nail polish and foam/spongy cosmetic applicators also contain formaldehyde. |
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| Many products that contain formaldehyde, as is the case
with eyelash extension adhesives, will not have formaldehyde listed on the
ingredient list because the amount is very low. |
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| The primary concern about formaldehyde is exposure via
inhalation of airborne material. To put the formaldehyde issue in perspective,
please consider the following facts. If a technician poured out a full bottle
of HP-3 adhesive with 0.7 ppm (parts per million) formaldehyde, and allowed the
contents to completely evaporate in a small (12’ X 12’) enclosed room, the
formaldehyde content in the room would rise by an extremely small 0.12 ppb
(parts per billion). If the technician poured out 10 full bottles of HP-3, the
formaldehyde content in the room would rise by only 1.2 ppb. |
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| For comparison, note that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) performed a survey of airborne formaldehyde level inside homes
around the USA (1). Formaldehyde tends to concentrate indoors, where it is
released from various consumer products such as building materials, carpet and
home furnishings. The airborne formaldehyde levels in homes across the USA
ranged from a low of 100 ppb to a high of 3,680 ppb. Thus the amount of
formaldehyde found in some homes is over 30,000 times more that the amount of
formaldehyde released to the air from vaporizing a full bottle of HP-3 adhesive
in a small enclosed room. |
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| For further comparison, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services performed a survey of the formaldehyde level in external,
ambient air in urban areas (2). The average concentrations reported in the USA
were in the range of 11 ppb to 20 ppb - outdoors. Thus, outdoor air in the USA
can have over 160 times more formaldehyde than the amount of formaldehyde
released to the air from vaporizing a full bottle of HP-3 adhesive in a small
enclosed room. |
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| The levels of environmental formaldehyde that people are
exposed to everyday dwarf the small amount of formaldehyde exposure from
lash adhesive - even in the extreme example given above where 10 bottles of
HP-3 are poured out in a small enclosed room. |
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| A note about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA): |
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| Unfortunately, the company that claims their adhesives are
formaldehyde free, also claims that their product is “made in accordance with
FDA recommendations for formaldehyde content”. This competitor further states
that “most lash adhesives … are not FDA approved”. Both of these claims are
misleading. The FDA does NOT regulate nor does it make any recommendations
concerning eyelash extension adhesives or eyelash extension systems. It is
unfortunate that this company continues to mislead the public in this way. |
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| A note about Training and Safety: |
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| Unfortunately, the same company that claims to have
formaldehyde free adhesives made according to FDA recommendations, also sells
products without requiring hands-on training. They advertise that they
provide a DVD or video to those who “cannot” attend training. If this company
is truly focused on safety, they would not only provide hands-on training, they
would require training even if it means making fewer sales. |
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| Furthermore, in order to purchase training from this
competing company, you call upon an independent “trainer” rather than the
company itself. This usually indicates no quality control over the training
workshop since each trainer is selling and conducting her workshops
independently. |
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| Xtreme Lashes™ believes it is irresponsible to sell eyelash
extension products without requiring training. Of course our company can make
more sales if we allowed those who are not willing to make the commitment to
become properly trained, but our focus is on safety and the long term health of
our industry. After all, improper application technique, which will likely
result without proper training, can result in injury. Improper application
technique IS a valid safety concern (not insignificant levels of formaldehyde
in the adhesive). |
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| And unlike other companies which require you to call the
“trainer” to order your workshop, Xtreme Lashes™ has a dedicated Corporate
Training Department that establishes and maintains quality control over its
training curriculum. Our trainers go through extensive training with ongoing
continuing education and evaluations to ensure that the latest techniques are
shared and implemented into our curriculum. |
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| Please continue reading this document for important points
related to training and safety. |
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| Comprehensive hands-on Training is essential for safe
eyelash extension application! The application process, which requires the use
of a strong bonding and long lasting adhesive and sharp tweezers near the eye
area, is very meticulous. Only under the supervision of a well trained
Certified Trainer can a student learn how to properly position their hands,
pick up the lash extension, isolate a single natural lash, and apply the lash
extension safely and beautifully. In fact, a qualified trainer is trained to
work with each individual’s specific needs to help him or her overcome
weaknesses and utilize strengths. Even proper posture and table height is
assessed. Expecting a student to learn application of eyelash extensions
utilizing a video or DVD is like expecting a student to learn how to cut hair
or perform a surgical procedure from a video or DVD. |
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| To help ensure safe, hygienic, and beautiful eyelash
extension applications, Xtreme Lashes™ REQUIRES our customers to attend our
exceptional hands-on training workshop in order to qualify to purchase our
products. Proper training is absolutely critical for safety as well as beauty.
We believe it is irresponsible to sell an eyelash extension product without
requiring professional hands-on training. Watching a Video or DVD is simply not
enough. |
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| Furthermore, Xtreme Lashes™ will only sell product to
licensed professionals in the beauty or health industries (such as
estheticians, cosmetologists, nurses, etc) or to persons with strong
credentials in the beauty industry (such as make-up artists with lengthy
experience at a reputable salon). Again, we believe it is irresponsible to sell
an eyelash extension product to persons that have no training or credentials in
the beauty or health industries. |
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| A note about Selecting an Eyelash Extension Company: |
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| Xtreme Lashes™ recommends the following to licensed
professionals who are concerned about safety and that are interested in
becoming successful eyelash extension technicians: |
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Select a company that REQUIRES comprehensive hands-on training – for you and
your client’s safety as well as the long term health of the industry. Avoid
companies that attempt to convince you that you can learn the technique of
applying eyelash extensions safely and beautifully by watching a video or a
DVD.
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Remember, a company concerned about safety will require clients to obtain
comprehensive hands-on training even if it means making less sales since some
people do not want to make the commitment to becoming professionally trained!
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Select a company that only sells products to professionals with licenses and
strong credentials in the health or beauty industries.
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Avoid companies who utilize misleading information about the non-issues of
formaldehyde content and FDA approval. These scare tactics may harm our
industry and discourage use of lash extensions altogether.
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Select a company that has an extensive inventory of eyelash extensions and
accessories with overnight and 2nd day shipping options.
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Select a company that has a Corporate Training Department that requires its
trainers to undergo continuing education and sharing of best practices to
always provide the best and latest techniques.
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Avoid companies that require you to purchase or schedule your training from an
independent trainer. This usually indicates that there is no quality control
over how the training is conducted because each trainer is acting independently
and is incented only to sell you a seat at her workshop.
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Select a company that has a corporate office with a corporate training
department, a product development team, full time customer service and business
support.
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| Consumers should avoid companies that resort to using
misleading scare tactics in order to sell products. These companies may be
compensating for their deficiencies in product quality, training and customer
service. These scare tactics are disingenuous and are a disservice to our
industry. |
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| Xtreme Lashes™ is dedicated to providing the highest
quality products, the most comprehensive hands-on training, the best customer
service and business support in the industry. We are proud to be the leader in
this industry with the most extensive inventory of products, a dedicated
training department and will continue to work diligently to further improve our
products and service to our clients. |
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| (1) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health and
Environmental Effects Profile for Formaldehyde. EPA/600/x-85/362. Environmental
Criteria and Assessment Office, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment,
Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH. 1988. |
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| (2) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR). Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde (Draft). Public Health Service,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997. |