So, you’ve spent time and money at a salon to get the perfect eyelash extensions. You devoted a couple hours of your day to getting long, luxurious, deeply colored lashes that make your eyes pop. You can flirtatiously flutter those babies at handsome hunks or butterfly kiss your honey. With proper care, your new lashes can last for up to four to six weeks before you’ll need to revisit the salon for an infill of replacement lashes. Here are some steps you can take to lengthen the life of your extensions.
Let Them Cure
Your eyelash extensions have been attached to your natural lashes using an adhesive. This adhesive needs at least 24 hours to fully cure before it becomes waterproof, though 48 hours is best. During the first 24 hours, avoid taking a shower, washing your face, and stay out of humid environments. That means no trips to the sauna, no soaks in a jacuzzi, and no swimming. If it’s a hot, humid summer day, try to stay inside in the air conditioning. After the first 24 hours, they are cured and waterproof, but you may want to try to avoid swimming frequently, because this will cause you to want to rub your eyes from water exposure.
Use Oil-Free Cleansers
You will need to clean your lash extensions a few times a week to get rid of dead skin build-up that can make your eyelids itchy. Use a foam cleanser that is made for lash extensions. If you are in a pinch, small amounts of non-conditioning baby shampoo can be substituted. If you have oily skin, you’ll want to try and control this with blotting papers and by using oil-reducing products. Your eye and face makeup, makeup removers, and facial cleansers should also be oil-free products.
Don’t Touch Them or Use Mascara
Rubbing, touching, playing with, and picking at your lashes will simply make them fall out faster. These actions can also damage your natural lashes. We also recommend that you don’t use mascara or eyeliner, especially waterproof or oil-based versions.
What to Expect
It’s completely normal to lose 1-4 eyelash extensions per day. When your natural lash is ready to fall out, it will come out with the lash extension attached and be replaced with a new, budding lash. Some days you might not lose any, others you will lose several. Your lash growth is uniquely individual. You may replace and grow lashes faster than others, or you may find this happens more quickly during some months than others.
If your eyelids are red, swollen, or very itchy during the days after you get the eyelash extensions, this can be due to an allergic reaction. It’s rare and unavoidable, but can be treated. Excessive shedding can also occur in the first few days. This is an uncommon reaction, and you should contact the salon to troubleshoot any issues that might be occurring. Never try to remove lash extensions on your own, as you can damage your natural eyelash growth.
We hope these tips help make your new eyelash extensions last longer and help you attract the attention you desire!