Proper Aftercare For Lash Extensions

You had a relaxing appointment. You look amazing! Heck, you may have even had a nice little power nap. So, what now? 

The basics:

-Don't get your lashes wet for 24 hours unless your lash artist has said otherwise-

   Your lash artist will tell you if it's okay to get your lashes wet. In some cases they may have used a bonder that instantly cures the adhesive. If not, your lash adhesive is slowly drying from the outside in. "Flash curing" can happen if the lashes get wet before they're done fully drying. This can compromise the lash extensions fully bonding to your natural lashes. In some cases, it can turn the adhesive white in patches and make it brittle. Best to avoid it. 

-Don't touch your lashes- 

   Avoid touching your lashes with your hands. You can gently brush them if necessary. Oils from your hands can weaken the adhesive and any pulling or picking can pull out your natural lashes and damage your extensions. If you have a twisty fan or grown out lash, contact your lash artist to see if you can come by for a quick fix. 

-Avoid sleeping on your face-

   Sleeping on your face, even the side of your face, puts unnecessary stress on your lash extensions and can lead to premature shedding. There are convex sleeping masks available that cup your eyes to prevent your lashes from rubbing against your pillow and shedding as you sleep. When selecting one, make sure it has sturdy, deep cups. I carry these for my clients and they have saved the lashes of my side-sleepers. Wearing your hair up and out of your face when sleeping will also help keep your lash extensions looking fresh and staying on longer by keeping your hair oils and products off of your lashes. 

Lash brush and Turkish cotton towels

-Wash your lashes every day, once a day-

   With a soft bristled eyeshadow brush or lash cleansing brush (not a spoolie/mascara wand) and a lash cleanser, wash your lash extensions once a day. This cleanser from Alchemist is formulated to be gentle to your eyes and thoroughly remove debris, with the added bonus of soothing puffiness and irritation. Apply cleanser to a wet eye area. Use the fluffy side of the brush to wash the entire eye area from cheekbone to brows. Move the brush gently back and forth (not up and down) across your lash line. Rinse thoroughly with room temperature water using a cupped hand. Do not let water flow directly over your lashes in the shower or from the tap. Pat your lashes dry with a lint free towel. The best lash towels I've  found are inexpensive Turkish cotton hand towels (also called a peshtemal) like the picture above. They dry quickly and will not stick to lash extensions or leave lint behind. The traditional ones shown above are preferred, as some of the fancier looking ones are not as tightly woven. Do not use cotton swabs or puffs on lash extensions. The fibers can stick to your lashes and become bothersome. You can gently dry lashes with a fan or a blow-dryer on the cool setting. Only brush lashes with the wand/spoolie when they are close to completely dry. Washing your lashes daily will keep your lashes on longer by removing your skin's natural oils and eye secretions. Cleansing daily will also ensure that your eyes stay healthy. Dirty lash extensions can cause eye infections, demodex mite infestations, and blepharitis. Not pretty. If your lash extensions are applied properly, gentle cleansing daily will not remove them. If your lashes are shedding (more than 3-5 a day) talk to your lash artist. I give a free fill if any irregular shedding happens within 72 hours of a fill or a full set. 

-Never attempt to remove your own lash extensions-

   A quick search will pull up all sorts of at-home methods for removing lash extensions. I'm here to tell you, they won't work and if they do, they won't work fast. Oils weaken the adhesive, but it takes quite a few days (sometimes weeks) to weaken it to the point of the extension falling off. When a product is making lash extensions shed it's usually apparent at about day 6. Straight castor oil, for example, won't actually remove lash extensions. What it will do is make them look greasy and then make any fill after that simply slide off. The only safe and effective way to remove lash extensions is by a professional. Lash extension removal, when done correctly, is quick and safe. Lash remover can irritate and damage the eyes if used incorrectly. If you don't want to return to your lash artist for a removal, call around to other lash artists in your area. They're usually happy to squeeze in a quick removal! Please note, I will not continue to lash any client who has attempted to remove their own lash extensions at home. 

-What to do if your lashes are painful or irritating-

   If your lashes are painful or irritating they may have been improperly applied (here's a guide that covers what improperly applied lash extensions look like) or you may be having an allergic reaction (allergy guide link). If you have sudden redness or swelling, reach out to your lash artist and seek the help of a medical professional. Any swelling, redness, or eye irritation means your extensions are doing damage to your eyes and/or natural lashes. Don't just wait for it to go away or subside. Lash adhesive allergies are for life. They never go away, only get worse. Lashes applied directly to the skin can trigger an adhesive allergy. Not to mention, it's really uncomfortable and potentially damaging to the eyes and natural eyelashes. Lash extensions should not be painful. You may notice that they're there, but they should definitely not be uncomfortable. I mean, if they were uncomfortable,  do you think so many people would have them? The good news is, there are sensitive and UV adhesives out there that may work for you. After an allergic reaction a patch test with sensitive adhesive can be performed with clearance from your doctor. 

-Use lash extension safe makeup and skincare-

   Makeup and moisturizer applied around the eyes must be lash extension safe or you will lose your lashes faster and need more fills. This is a link to my post about lash safe skincare products and a list of recommendations. Powder eyeshadow can be used as long as you look at the ingredients to make sure it doesn't contain oils, paraffin, or glycols. Here's a link to a list of lash extension safe eye makeup. Eyeliner and undereye concealer may be worn as long as it's on my list above, but feel free to reach out and I can let you know if your preferred products can be used. Lash extension safe mascara may be applied to lower lashes if necessary, but be mindful to let it dry to avoid transfer to lash extensions and cleanse your lashes in the evening to thoroughly remove it before bed. Lower lashes can also be tinted to match extensions. I have a client that I'll do lower lash extensions on to balance her volume upper-lashes. There are definitely options. It's also important to remember that skincare applied to the whole face can eventually travel to your lash extensions. The skin is covered with tiny vellus hairs. They are incredibly efficient a moving the oils and products around our skin where they can protect and lubricate it. Investing in lash extension safe skincare products can save a lot of time, money, and hassle in the long run. Alchemist Skincare has a line of lash safe skincare products to protect your investment. 

If you have any questions about lash aftercare reach out to your lash artist (which may be me if I sent you this link after your appointment!). You can even leave a comment below and I'll reply with any insight and guidance I have. 

Take the best care of your lashes. It's not only to keep them beautiful, but to protect the health of your eyes. ❤

 

    

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