We Tried High Lash Society MNL—Here's What Happened!
Get your phone storage ready, you’ll be taking lots of pics!
Let me start off by saying I’m big on eyelash extensions—I get them done, I advocate them, I encourage getting them. My immediate response to anyone that asks me if they’re worth it is yes. Now, that’s not to say I’m one of those that can’t live without them or get a touch-up every two weeks (the usually recommended time period to get touch-ups). I’d very much like to have them all the time but I’ll be the first one to admit: they can get quite expensive!
But I won’t lie: I get it for the sole purpose that it makes me feel pretty and happy. And I think that should be enough reason to get it if you can! And also maybe because I’m just really lazy. Let me explain. I love beauty and fashion as much as the next gal, and getting ready is therapeutic to me, but I also love to sleep in. So on days where I just want to look my most presentable in the shortest amount of time, which is most days, the lashes really help. I’m telling you half the job is done when you have those extensions, people immediately think you spent hours getting ready when in reality, you only spent 5 to 10 minutes on your face.
Okay, back to the point of this article. When I discovered that some woman, nay, goddess was out there doing colored lash extensions with butterfly and heart accents on people, I had to try it for myself. So one Sunday afternoon, I made my way from Makati to High Lash Society Manila in Mendiola just to experience the fairy lashes I saw on beauty content creators and certified cool girls Baby Oliv, Pat Cortez, and Toni Sia.
Its location inside Mendiola building can be a bit confusing so you can try to notify Jel, the owner and lash artist, before your appointment so you don’t end up like me going back and forth a footbridge in 4-inch boots for no reason. When you get there, Jel will give you a silk robe and mask to get you all prepped for the last extension. The process usually takes her one and a half hours to two hours to complete, depending on the design you’re going to get. Speaking of designs, she has a ton for you to choose from. But don’t worry, she will help you find the perfect match for your eyes. Then she’ll ask you if you want to add accents a.k.a. the fun part—cue the colored lashes and the bling. Most of my days still include doing errands like going to the grocery and just writing so for a brief moment, I did hesitate if maybe these were a little too extra for every day but they weren’t so intimidating when she showed them to me.
On to the actual process. When I tell you this girl knows her stuff, she really knows her stuff. Jel is also a big lash nut that’s why she learned how to do the art through a home service training during the pandemic and that’s how she started her career as a lash artist, and eventually opened her own business. So she makes you sit on this really comfortable, really enormous chair which she hopes will make you sleep, takes a before shot of your eyelashes, complete with a macro lens shot (which she will later turn into a TikTok video!), then she starts. She applies essential oil on your temples to make you even more relaxed and she carefully applies each strand on your lashes. Before you can say lash extensions, you’re already pretty much done. She then shows you the new you.
My final verdict? Try it. It’s fun, makes you want to try more creative beauty looks, the artistry is worth the money (Jel is the only artist in her salon right now, that’s why she’s always booked), and from the one week I’ve had these on, I’ve found that they’re a good conversation starter. So not only do you look pretty, you’ll have more friends just by literally batting your eyelashes. It’s definitely not for the weak of heart but it is worth the try!
Book your appointment here.
