I must admit: I'm almost reluctant to write a review because I kind of wanna keep Kinjou my little secret because they are so AWESOME!!!!!
But to thank the girls for taking care of me over the past few years, I decided to write an EPIC review for them.
After trying lash extension places around Vancouver (Wink, Noir, etc--which are actually more expensive but not better), I committed to Kinjou.
I'm one of their oldest clients as I discovered them when they first opened and have not stopped going ever since.
My dream has always been this: I want to wake up looking gorgeous everyday!
Really. Not too much to ask for, right? Thanks to Kinjou Lashes, my dream has now come true. I wake up looking gorgeous everyday (cue Disney princess music).
Seriously. After I got lash extensions, I stopped using eye make-up!
No need for eye liner, no need for mascara,... I literally don't use ANY eye make up because I don't need any!! It feels really liberating actually.
I'm an actress but even when I go to auditions I don't wear eye make up. The biggest test was when I worked on set--the lash extensions looked so good that I actually persuaded the make-up artist to not put any mascara on me and she agreed that I wouldn't need any!!
1. Lash Extensions vs. Fake Lashes:
I used to wear fake lashes, but it was a lot of trouble, wasted my time everyday, and gave me eye infections. :(
Also, even if you are a fake lash pro (I was one), you still feel it on your eye lids or lashes. With lash extensions you barely feel anything. It feels cleaner.
2. Professionalism:
I was/am very impressed by the owner Vanessa's dedication to providing the highest quality.
With other places I went to, I could feel that sometimes the lashes touch my eyelids, which would block the pores, which is bad.
Vanessa (the owner) and her girls are very meticulous about making sure that the lash extensions are attached to your lashes and do NOT touch your skin, thus allowing the pores to breathe properly.
Honestly, before going to Kinjou I didn't even think about this point, but it makes total sense!
Vanessa finds the highest quality products and often educates us about proper lash care knowledge, hygiene, etc. She cares a lot about the "health" of the lashes and makes sure that her clients are aware and well-informed about it.
3. Natural-looking
I think what I love the most about them is that the lashes look really natural. Seriously they treat it as a work of art.
I have "graduated" from 60 lashes per eye to 110 lashes per eye. I also choose curvier lashes.
In the beginning, I was worried that it would look too dramatic and would look fake for my Asian features, but wow these girls have never failed in making them look natural.
I get complimented on my lashes all the time! Friends/strangers often say, "Your lashes are so beautiful/gorgeous, etc." Then when I tell people they are extensions they are often surprised, "they look so real!"
Strangers would ask me all the time if my lashes are real (and this is usually followed by the question, "tell me where you get them done!"). Once I was dining at Hapa Izakaya and even the waitress had to stop to ask me if my lashes are real, and then had to scribble down Kinjou's name.
4. Comfort
The girls are good at what they do and it's always so comfortable. I actually fall asleep throughout the whole session 80% of the time I'm there!
I've been asked, "doesn't that waste a lot of time (to spend an hr every 2 weeks to get refills)?" My answer is--NO. It's my rejuvenation relaxation time! Because I fall asleep almost every time and I get a beauty nap.
My friends are surprised because they imagine the technician with sharp tools poking at your eyes. I get asked if it hurts or not, because I guess people imagine their eye lashes being pulled or something. But honestly, the girls are so gentle with what they do it doesn't hurt at all! There's barely any discomfort. Every time when it's time to go get my refill I usually jokingly tell my guy that, "It's my beauty nap time!" lol
5. Regarding booking & their high standard
(and regarding that one person who left a one star review because it was hard for her to get an appointment on weekends)
Yes... yes, it's hard to book. Because they are GOOD at what they do.
There are always two sides to the coin. They are difficult to book because Vanessa has high standards for technicians she hires--that should be a good thing. It's your eyes we are talking about. We want well-trained technicians.
There are actually salons that would let technicians-in-training do customers! But they would never do that here... that's why they have to expand their team slowly.
Trust me I understand the frustration when you can't get an appointment. But the result is worth the wait. :) read more