Flared. Fluttery. Fanned-out. That’s how I want my lash extensions to look! Clumpy lashes are totally unacceptable, not just because of how they look, but also because of how they can impact your lashes.

If you’ve noticed that your lash extensions seem clumpy or stuck together, this post is for you. I’ll explain how to keep lash extensions from clumping and help you identify what the underlying causes might be (hint: it might be your stylist!).

Let’s dive in!

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How to Keep Lash Extensions From Clumping

1- Clean Them Often

Let’s start with the basics. A lot of lash extension issues can crop up from lack of cleaning, so make sure you’re washing your lashes on a daily basis. Otherwise, oil and debris buildup may cause your extensions to stick together.

Your stylist should have given you complete aftercare instructions, but if you still have questions, check out my guide on how to clean eyelash extensions at home correctly.

2- Use the Correct Cleanser

While you’re at it, make sure you’re using the correct cleanser. I highly recommend choosing a dedicated lash shampoo, but face wash, micellar water, or baby shampoo can also work. Just make sure to avoid any cleansers that contain oil or alcohol, since they can weaken the adhesive.

I’ve written an article detailing my favorite eyelash extension cleansers, so feel free to give it a look.

3- Use a Brush to Clean Them

I highly recommend using a dedicated lash extension cleaning brush or a fluffy, ultra-soft eyeshadow brush when you clean. Using your fingers will not give you a comprehensive clean, and cotton pads can pull on your lashes or leave a residue behind.

4- Comb Them

Of course, the easiest way to unclump eyelash extensions quickly and ensure they look fluffy and full is by combing them. Make sure your lashes are totally dry and comb them through a few times with a clean spoolie. Note that this will only work if they’re just temporarily stuck together or tangled.

You can read my post on how to brush eyelash extensions to learn more about this process.

5- Sleep Carefully

Sleeping on your stomach or pulling your covers over your face can disrupt your lash extensions. More often than not, poor sleeping habits lead to lashes getting pulled off or bent out of shape, but clumping can also be an issue.

Make sure to sleep on your back and avoid pulling the covers past your chest. You can even buy special pillows to help you with your sleep posture, or you can try wearing a domed eye mask that’ll protect your lashes.

To learn more, read my article on everything you need to know about sleeping with lash extensions.

6- Consider if Your Stylist Is Doing Everything Right

If you’re certain that you’re doing everything right, lash clumping might not be your fault. Give your lashes a close look, and make sure there are no “stickies”.

If it does turn out that the problem lies with your lash technician, you may want to let them know or try a new stylist. Depending on the severity of the clumpiness, you may also need to have your lash extensions removed and totally redone.

Why Are My Lash Extensions Clumping Together?

There are many reasons why your lash extensions might be clumping together. Unfortunately, the main one I encounter is poor application technique from the technician.

Regardless of what kind of style of lashes you’re having done, your technician needs to isolate each one of your natural lashes perfectly before attaching any extension lashes to it. Clumping (we also call these “stickies”) occurs when the isolation is sub-par, and one extension ends up attached to more than one natural eyelash.

This kind of clumping doesn’t just look bad, but it can also be painful and damaging. I discuss this in detail in my post on whether eyelash extensions cause damage.

That said, if clumping only becomes an issue in the days or weeks after you’ve had your extensions done, there might be a problem with your aftercare. Temporary clumping can happen because of oil buildup or lack of brushing. Thankfully, it can be easy to fix following my suggestions above.

Are Eyelash Extensions Supposed to Be Clumpy?

Nope.

With some styles, like hybrid and volume extensions, we glue multiple extension lashes to one natural lash, which I guess could be described as clumpy by some. In fact, these are called “volume fans” and are totally what we are going for.

Remember, multiple extensions for one natural eyelash is completely O.K. The problem arises when one or more extensions are attached to more than one natural lash (not perfectly isolated).