A lash extension expert with her own beauty salon shares how to get extensions done right — to open up your gaze, refine your facial features, and save precious morning time in the process.
Modern women value every minute: they build careers, raise children, travel, maintain active social lives, and pursue hobbies. In this rhythm, less and less time remains for self-care, yet looking polished, feeling confident and beautiful is still something every woman wants. That’s why lash extensions continue to hold their place at the top of beauty trends: they don’t smudge throughout the day or ruin your makeup the way mascara sometimes can, and they save time – no more daily eye makeup routine.
What’s more, while the focus used to be on dense, voluminous lashes with a “baby doll” effect, lighter, more natural techniques are gaining popularity today. “In 2023, the trend is soft volume, long fine lashes, and a look that complements the ‘no-makeup makeup’ aesthetic,” says Mutriba Bobojonova, founder of Salon Bonuvon lash extension studio in Tajikistan.
Mutriba has been doing lash extensions since 2017, and the guiding principle of her work is naturalism. By studying the features of different face types, she developed her own methodology that takes into account the anatomical characteristics of Central Asian women. She is also actively involved in mentorship — training aspiring technicians and even helping them open their own salons.
In an interview with Haute & Her, the expert discussed what aesthetic goals lash extensions can achieve and what to look for to ensure the result truly highlights your individual beauty.
— Mutriba, you’ve done lashes for more than 3,000 women! What’s the most common request from clients who come to you?
Lashes are like the finishing touch that shapes the gaze and sets the overall mood of a look as they can make a face appear softer, more expressive, fresher, or, on the contrary, more dramatic. In the past, many clients wanted bolder, fuller lashes — a glamorous style. Those requests still come in, more often from influencers and bloggers, who need their gaze to be striking and their look to photograph well.
But most women come to me for a different reason: they’re tired of spending time on mascara and eyeliner every day, they worry about their makeup smudging, and they want to look put-together without the extra effort.
— If the extension appointment takes 2–3 hours, how much time can a woman save on makeup and getting ready — over the course of a month, say?
On average, a woman spends about 30 minutes a day on makeup, and nearly half of that time goes to her eyes — that’s roughly 7 hours a month. Lash extensions cut that time dramatically: many of my clients say they can walk out the door quickly without spending extra minutes on mascara and liner.
That said, it’s crucial to account for individual facial features. Incorrectly chosen lashes can create an “evening makeup” effect and weigh the gaze down. This is especially relevant for women from Central Asia: for a long time, lash extension services here were one-size-fits-all — the same techniques applied to everyone, often working against the client’s natural look.
— Is that why you developed your own lash extension methodology tailored to the anatomical features of Central Asian women’s faces? What makes this region’s clients distinct in the context of this procedure?
Women from Central Asia tend to have a slightly elongated eye shape, with a full, mildly hooded upper lid and a dense lash line. It’s a gaze that is already deep and captivating on its own — with a striking natural expressiveness. So the last thing you want to do is overload it.
The Central Asian Eye Mapping & Adaptive Lash Styling method accounts for eye depth, brow shape, lid angle, and facial proportions. Based on these parameters, the optimal curl, length, and volume are selected so that the gaze looks open, natural, and harmonious with the client’s individual features.
— What else do you consider when choosing an extension style, beyond the anatomical features?
Honestly, even a client’s lifestyle, habits, and daily routine factor into the choice. For example, women who spend long hours at a computer or regularly wear glasses need a specific length and curl to keep their gaze looking open and defined.
For active women and athletes, I opt for lighter, more durable techniques so the lashes hold their shape under physical strain. The goal is for lashes to work with your life, not against it — to solve problems, not create new ones.
— So lashes aren’t just about aesthetics. Can extensions actually “correct” facial features?
Absolutely. Extensions can visually lift the eyelids, balance mild asymmetry, and even compensate for an irregular lash line.
Women come to Salon Bonuvon with requests like these all the time: one wants to look more awake after a stretch of poor sleep, another wants to soften sharper facial angles. I select the curl, length, and volume individually, and clients are always amazed by how much a difference lashes alone can make on things that used to bother them.
Of course, this isn’t a solution for complex aesthetic concerns — but the gaze becomes more open, fine expression lines less noticeable. So I always say: before turning to invasive procedures, try the simplest ways to bring out your beauty first. And honestly, I’m in awe of women of every age, and of how lashes can highlight and elevate their natural beauty.
— Your salon, Salon Bonuvon, has become more than just a beauty destination — it’s a space that brings women together, hosting training sessions, gatherings, and professional masterclasses. What core values did you pour into building it?
What matters most to me is respect, support, and a personalized approach. So my salon serves two important functions at once: first, it’s a place for enhancing your appearance, where every woman can relax and trust that her beauty will be highlighted, not distorted. Second, it’s a space for personal and professional growth — where students learn proprietary lash techniques, develop their skills, and build the confidence to create beauty for others.
Bringing these two things together creates a strong community of women where beauty and professionalism go hand in hand. It’s an immense privilege to watch women leave here with a renewed sense of themselves. One client, after her appointment, looked in the mirror and couldn’t hold back her emotions — for her, it wasn’t just about the way she looked; it was about an inner feeling of confidence and self-acceptance. In that moment I knew with absolute clarity that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, and that everything I’ve been building for nearly ten years truly means something.
