How to Choose a Rod or Shield for your client

You are a beauty professional and want to make yourself stand out with your Lash Lifts. You’ve seen Rods and Shields as your tool options, but how can you know which one to use? Does it even make a difference? Maybe you don’t even know the difference or think there is a need for the different options.

When I started Lash Lifts, I ONLY had rods as an option to do my services with! I knew no different and thought all my Lash Lifts were turning out amazing. That’s until I became an educator for Elleebana, and realized, there is value in having options of Rods and Shields for your Lash Lift services. I know had more creativity for this one service! I love the idea of Lash Lifts being customized to each and every client! My clients are not a “copy and paste” from the last client. I tailor the right tool for every client, and both they and I noticed a huge difference!

In this blog post, I’m sharing my knowledge of Rods versus Shields for a Lash Lift! You can choose which tool to use, with confidence, after applying this information to your services!

·      When to use a Rod

·      When to use a Shield

·      How to choose based on eye shapes

·      Choosing a Rod versus Shield based on lash length

·      How to set yourself apart from your competition

·      How to choose a size of Rod or Shield

If you’re ready to learn more about the differences and when to use each, I’m excited for you to read this today! Get ready to take some notes to apply at your next Lash Lift appointment!

When to use a Rod

Rods overall will give the curliest result. If you also offer Lash Extensions, you’ll be familiar with these curls that can be used in correlation to a Rod vs Shield. Rods would give a curl very similarly to a “D” curl Lash Extension. For those clients who love the most dramatic curled lash, a Rod might be your best choice!

Clients who have used a lash curler, will understand best how this tools results will look. Very similar in shape, the Rod will curl that natural lash back towards their eyelid.

I recommend NOT using a Rod on clients with very short natural lashes. If their natural lash is already short, when you curl it back, those tips are now “hidden” from their view when looking at them straight on. This will give the illusion that their natural lashes are much shorter than they already are.

When to use a Shield

On the contrary, a Shield is a more subtle lift. Referring back to our Lash Extension curls, the Shield will give an L or L+ type of curl/lift. When explaining to my clients, I always use my hands to show the differences in the curl versus a lift and point out how the Shield will give a more natural lift without curling those lash tips backwards.

For clients with shorter lashes, this is my go-to tool! I love how those with straight or downward pointing natural lashes can now see their lashes without it appearing they’ve been shortened. By lifting them upwards, not back, they will now see their lashes, AND a lot of times you’ll hear them say they even look longer! (hint: they aren’t longer, but hey, we all love an illusion especially when it comes to lashes!)

How to choose based on eye shapes

One advanced way of choosing a Rod versus a Shield is to base it off your client’s eye shape. Each eye area is different, and can be smaller, larger, more deep set, almost shaped or mono lid. Choosing which tool to use based on this information will give you the best results based on individual client’s eye shapes.

The biggest thing to look for is making sure by redirecting the natural lash, we do not cause irritation to the client. Such as, the lash poking their eye lid, or touching their brow area. Someone who has deep set or hooded eyes might not love the feeling of a super curly lash, as they will most likely feel the tips poking or tickling their eye area.

As I do my client consultations, I am simultaneously observing their eye area and eye shape. By the time the consultation is over, I know which tool I will be using, and will just choose the size of the Rod/Shield once they lay down and I can measure their lash to the tool.

Choosing a Rod versus a Shield based on lash lengths 

I briefly covered this earlier, but it is important to know that certain natural lash length will sometimes determine the tool choice, despite the eye shape.

Once a client lays down, and I see their natural lashes are very short, I already know I am using a shield. I’m talking about those shorty-short lashes that barely get on a small shield. If I were to choose a small rod, those natural lashes will curl backward and look even shorter to the client. In my professional experience, no one wants that look!

If I can see their lashes are naturally long, I get excited, knowing by using a rod, their lashes will be accentuated and a more dramatic curl will be flattering!

How to set yourself apart from your competition

This is one of the things we, as beauty professionals will always be seeking. How can we make ourselves stand out from another Lash Artist up the road, or why will a client choose me over another Lash Artist?

In my experience, clients appreciate the knowledge I have behind the options of tools available for the service. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard a client say their last Lash Lady only had the one options, or never offered any other curl options. To say they’re both surprised and happy to find out that I DO have options, is an understatement. I’ll educated them in the simplest form but allow them the knowledge that we do have choices!

Clients WANT options! In my 14 years of being in the Beauty Industry, I can promise you this! Too many options will overwhelm them, but only giving them one options is underwhelming. It’s also a great consultation point to bring up that if we don’t hit it 100% on the mark at today’s appointment, never fear, we can change it up next time. Maybe today you used a Rod, but next time they come in, they might say “last time you mentioned there’s another option. I’d like to try that today and see which I like best”. Win-Win Beauty Professional, you! You just gave your client a reason to come back in case they weren’t 100% happy with the results!

How to choose a size of Rod or Shield

The last step in preparing for your Lash Lift service is to choose what size of Rod or Shield you will use. Most brands carry everything from an extra-small to an extra-large. I have seen some additional sizing in-between as well. Get to know the brand you’re using and play around with what results each size will give.

Generally speaking, the lashes should always hit the halfway point on the tool. If it’s below the halfway point, go down a size. If its way past, and tips of the lashes are hanging off the tool, go up a size. I always teach that you’ll be applying the lifting solutions from the base of the natural lash to about 3/4ths of the way up the natural lash. We never cover the natural lash (unless a specific brand we’re using has advised it’s safe to do so). Use this rule of thumb to help guide you in choosing the correct size. If part of the lash is hanging off the tool, where you should be applying solution, you automatically know you need a smaller size to accommodate the surface area to hold the solution.

Want to learn more about Lash Lifting? Check out my classes! I offer Lash Lift classes where we go over all the theory needed to perform a Lash Lift, I do a live demo, then you get to work on a model with my supervision. Of course, a kit is always included so you’re ready to start taking clients when you get back to work!