Page 36 - The Law of Lashes Ultimate Lash Ebook

THE STRUCTURE OF AN EYELASH

Each eyelash is made up of:

1. Cortex

2. Medulla
- (the innermost part)

3. Cuticles
- (‘scale-like’ cells forming the outer layer)

The coarser-textured cortex encases the medulla to ensure its strength and
stability. Cortex is the most voluminous part of the lash. Pigmentation of lashes
or hair results from melanin deposits in the cortex – the more deposits, the
darker the hair. Blonde eyelashes are lashes without pigment deposits.

Cuticle
The cuticle is made of multiple dead cell layers and it forms the outer part of
the hair and protects its inner structures due to its high penetration resistance,
maintaining the hair’s hydration. They overlap, forming scales like fish scales or
roof tiles.

These scales are affected by the different products we use in professional
treatments:

1. Alkaline lash shampoos and saline water gently open cuticles
2. Easy Lift, Adhesive Superdry, regular primers and perming lotion fully open
cuticles
3. Fixing lotion gently closes cuticles (not all the way)
4. Shine Repair fully closes cuticles (99-99.9%)

There is a difference between Caucasian and Asian lash cuticular layers – on
average Asian women have 8.0 +/- 1.2 and Caucasian females 6.5 +/- 1.1 layers
of lash cuticles.

Lashes and eyebrows are just like hair in the sense that the more cuticles are
closed, the healthier they look. This is because cuticles themselves are see-
through – the color you see comes from the cortex’s melanin deposits. Think of
cuticles as a row of glass panels behind one another. If there is distance
between the glass panels, you will not see through them that well, but the view
becomes very clear when you push these panels tightly together. It’s the same
with cuticles – the tighter the cuticles are closed, the better you can see the
melanin inside = lashes and brows look darker and shinier.