Can You Curl Lash Extensions? Your Safe How-To Guide

I wanted to address eyelash curlers because I’ve seen a few disasters with clients ruining their fresh new set.

So in this article, I’ll explain what actually happens when you curl your extensions, how to do it safely and what type of curler you should use.

Don’t Do This

Most synthetic eyelash extensions are made from a thermoplastic fiber called PBT and come with a preset curl from the manufacturer.

They use specialized tools and the perfect amount of heat to give the lashes their permanent curls.

In other words, you can’t and shouldn’t try to curl the actual extension!

With that said, the only reason you would want to use an eyelash curler when wearing extensions is to curl your natural lashes for them to contour the curl of your extensions.

You’re essentially bridging the gap between the natural lash and the extension.

Let’s illustrate this.

In this image, the dark lash is your natural eyelash, while the pale one is the extension.

Notice something?

The extension has a more pronounced curl than the natural lash.

In my experience, this gap is barely visible.

But some of my clients want to close it and I respect that.

As you can see in this image below, we’ve curled the natural lash so that the gap is closed.

Be careful though!

You should never use a mechanical curler for this because you risk ruining your lashes.

I’ll show you how to safely use a heated curler in a moment.

How to Curl Lash Extensions

1. Clean and wash your lashes.
2. Comb them so that they aren’t stuck together or clumped.
3. Let them dry completely on their own (because wet lashes won’t retain the curl).
4. Turn on the heated eyelash curler.
5. Once it’s warm enough (some devices will show an alert when ready), bring the lashes in contact with the heating area. Make sure not to use the heated curler at the very base of your lashes where the extension is bonded to the natural lash.
6. Gently sweep the curler from the middle to the tip of your lashes. Make sure not to stay in a single spot for too long.

In this video, Mandy from LashX shows us how she uses a heated curler for her client.

Mechanical Curler Are Not Your Friends

We want to avoid anything that would make your extensions fall out faster than they normally would.

So what’s the issue here?

First, the biggest problem is that the pressure and force applied by the mechanical curler will weaken the bond between the natural lash and the extension.

Second, and this is true whether you have extensions or not, mechanical curlers damage your natural lashes.

One of my clients even accidentally cut them off!

That was a truly horrible sight let me tell you this.

Lastly, these curlers can pull or snag on your extensions very easily.

No More Curls

In general, synthetic extensions will hold their curls nicely.

However, there are a few exceptions:

#1 Material: Lash extensions made out of real fur such as real mink or real silk, can lose their curl if they get wet.

Having said that, real fur is extremely rare.

The vast majority of lash techs use synthetic extensions made from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)

#2 Overheating: Cooking over very high heat on the stove, grill, and oven can de-curl your lash extensions or even singe them.

That’s because the synthetic lashes can loose its shape when overheated.

#3 Sleeping on your lashes: If you sleep on your stomach or your back, you risk rubbing your lashes against the pillow.

Over time, this constant friction will weaken them and you might loose a few.

Beyond the Curl

Although a heated curler will do the job here, in my experience, nothing beats the lash lift + lash extension combo.

Lash lifts hold beautifully for several weeks and are fully compatible with your extensions.

In fact, a lot of our clients started booking both services at the same time!

As always, if you have any comments, please let me know below!

— Asako