In my experience as a lash artist, educating my clients on eyelash extensions Do’s and Don’ts is an important part of my job. Knowing what to avoid when wearing lash extensions goes a long way toward ensuring that your lashes stay healthy and beautiful for as long as possible.
My clients who respect these rules experience excellent retention of their extensions and come back for lash refills less frequently.
You pay good money for your lashes so let’s do our best to keep them as long as possible.
Alright, let’s get started!
Eyelash Extensions Do’s
1- Do Go To A Certified Lash Artist
One of the first things to ensure when getting a lash treatment is to make sure you consult a certified professional. Lash technicians have been trained to apply lash extensions securely with the health of your natural lashes in mind.
To prevent infection, your technician will use sterile tools on you, and after the process is finished; it must be rinsed with disinfectant so it’s not an option to get these extensions done by yourself.
Each state in the U.S. will have its own requirements before someone is allowed to apply eyelash extensions but most states require a licensed technician. If you want to know your state’s regulations, I’ve compiled a handy table here.
If you have concerns about the technician’s credentials, ask to see their certification and registration. Most salons will gladly oblige to show you the certificate.
2- Do Ask For An Allergy Test
Some clients may experience an allergic reaction to eyelash extensions. Your stylist can perform a patch test before the actual appointment to determine if you are allergic or not.
If you experience any discomfort when wearing eyelash extensions, make sure you contact your technician right away.
In most cases, it is usually an allergic reaction to the adhesives used in the process. Your technician can give you some possible options, but most of the time you may need to remove the extensions.
The curing period for lash adhesive is four hours nowadays although it was over 24 hours not too long ago. Lash adhesives have improved significantly over the years.
You mustn’t let extensions get wet or heated up during this interval. Once the glue is cured, you can get it as wet as you want.
3- Do Clean Your Lashes Regularly
Our eyes blink to remove the secretions of the eye but it’s quite unnoticeable during the day. When you don’t blink during sleep, this mucus can pile up and create rheum or eye gunk.[2]
If you don’t clean your eyelashes properly after waking up, the gunk can crust up and block your lash follicles and their oil passages. It can prevent natural lashes from growing and eventually lead to lash mites.
That’s why you should wash your eyelashes with a safe cleanser after working out, swimming, bathing, and cleaning every day.
Fun Fact: You can use micellar water to clean your lash extensions safely!
4- Do Brush Your Eyelashes
It’s common for lash extensions to tangle or mess up after a long or windy day. That’s why you must always keep a spoolie or mascara wand with you. Doing so prevents natural lashes from growing in the wrong direction as well as preventing stress on your lashes.
5- Do Sleep On A Silk Pillowcase
Do you know cotton is known to grab onto your hair and twist it from the roots?[3] It can absorb the oils and leave your lashes dry and brittle which makes them susceptible to breaking easily.
The best way to resolve this problem is by avoiding abrasive materials and getting a pillowcase made with friction-free material like silk.
Check out our full guide on how to sleep with eyelash extensions right here!
6- Do Let Your Lashes Air Dry
There are three ways you can dry your lash extensions:
1- Air-dry
2- Blow dryer but avoid holding it too close to your natural lashes as this may damage your extensions. Moreover, you should use a cool air setting and low air pressure.
3- Tap very gently with a towel at the bottom of your lash line.
7- Do Protect Your Lashes From Heat
Another thing that wears down the retention of your lash extensions is heat. Excess sunlight exposure can dry your lashes and break them or cause them to fall out.[4]
You should avoid going out in extreme heat or wear sunglasses to prevent lash extensions from heating up when doing so.
One thing popular with most of my clientele is polarized glasses and I agree they are good at keeping your lashes cool on a scorching day.
8- Do Understand Lash Treatment Isn’t Quick
An initial eyelash appointment will last 90 to 120 minutes for a full set as each and every lash needs to be isolated from the others. For quality results, you need to give yourself enough time.
Refills take 30 to 60 minutes for classic lashes.
10- Do Ask Questions To Your Lash Tech
If anything is irritating you with the new lash extensions, don’t hesitate to consult the lash tech who did the treatment. On a general note, it’s good to know how long your extensions will last and what you need to do for aftercare from your lash tech too.
Eyelash Extensions Don’ts
1- Don’t Wear Eye Makeup To The Appointment
When you go to the salon with your eye makeup on, the lash tech will ask you to remove it before the appointment can start. You will lose some time that was allocated for your appointment.
Walking into the salon without any makeup so that the lash artist can cleanse and prime your lashes easily is the best way to go.
2- Don’t Sleep On Your Stomach
Sleeping etiquette while wearing lash extensions is a critical factor that decides the longevity of your lash extensions. Instead of sleeping on your stomach that squishes your lashes, sleep on your back. Read more on how to sleep with your lash extensions here.
3- Don’t Go For Hot Treatments
As we already know heat is detrimental to lash extensions, it’s good to avoid hot treatments like steam baths, hot tubs, saunas, or even artificial tanning when wearing extensions. That being said, short intervals of steam and sauna aren’t a threat but prolonged exposure is.
4- Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes harshly with your hands isn’t good for eyelash extensions as you can accidentally pull them out during the process. Avoid using your hands or towels to rub the eyes when wearing lash extensions.
5- Don’t Use Abrasive Materials To Clean Lashes
Anything abrasive like cotton pads or wipes isn’t good to clean eyelashes when wearing fake eyelashes. Instead, find lint-free makeup remover pads to do the job.
6- Don’t Let Hair Products Seep Onto Lashes
When you’re bathing, take care to use oil-free products. Alternatively, make sure hair oil, shampoos, and conditioners don’t roll down onto your lashes during the bath.
7- Don’t Use A Lash Curler
As eyelash extensions come with preset curls in grades such as J, L, B, C, D, M, U, etcetera, you don’t need to re-curl synthetic eyelash extensions.
However, if you’re wearing mink or other natural lash fibers, fake lashes most probably will lose the preset curl after getting wet. Take a look at our detailed article on how to curl eyelash extensions to know more about it.
8- Don’t Get Cheap Lash Extensions
Cheap eyelash extension services should raise a red flag in your mind. These cheap services usually use low-quality adhesives and low-quality lashes.
Just like any other service, quality has a price. The eye area is especially sensitive and this is why you should never compromise on quality.
For instance, I once received a client from another salon that had cluster lashes applied to her lashes! Cluster lashes refer to several eyelash extensions that are glued together by the manufacturer.
They are cheaper than extensions and are also popular as pre-made or pro-made lashes.
Because these already have glue on, the total glue at the root the lash tech has to apply onto extensions goes overboard and ends up weighing down on your natural eyelashes. This can easily ruin your natural lashes.
Make sure you pay the right amount (not too much, not too little) to get quality extensions that will avoid damaging your natural lashes.
If you want to know how much you should pay for your eyelash extensions, you can read our comprehensive case study here.
9- Don’t Use Facial Products With Oil In Them
Oil-based products are a big no-no for eyelash extension wearers because oil can disintegrate lash glue. Moreover, oil is difficult to clean up and the same might require you to rub around your eyelashes harshly to get it all out.
10- Don’t Use Eye Products With Conflicting Ingredients
Many chemicals like oil damage the bond created by lash glue too. You should watch out for common cosmetic ingredients like PEG (Polyethylene Glycol), Hexylene Glycol, Butylene, and Propylene Glycol to be on the safe side.[5]
11- Don’t Get Lash Extensions If You Have Certain Diseases
People of all ages can get eyelash extensions but those with certain medical conditions like Alopecia Areata, Eyelid Dermatitis, Trichotillomania, and Blepharitis mustn’t.[6]
Even if you have a wound or broken skin around your eyelashes, wait for the lash treatment until you’re healed.
12- Don’t Pull Out Lash Extensions On Your Own
Lash extensions are applied with the use of glue that contains the same acting ingredient as superglue (cyanoacrylate).
Pro Tip: Check out my article on lash adhesives for a complete list of ingredients typically found in lash glues.
That’s why you shouldn’t attempt to remove it on your own. Always go back to your lash tech to get it done. If you’re interested, here’s an article on removing eyelash extensions at home to read more.
13- Don’t Swim In Saltwater For A Long Time
Salt is another thing that breaks down lash glue. Hence, don’t soak in saltwater such as swimming in the ocean for prolonged hours.
If you need to, wearing goggles that don’t squish your lashes are recommended for added protection when in contact with saltwater.
14- Don’t Let Be Careless When Showering
You need to make sure to avoid hot or cold water from falling on your eyelash extensions at high pressure while showering with eyelash extensions. That’s because high-pressure water can break down the lash glue irreparably.
15- Don’t Get A Treatment On Your Extensions
Lash extensions are designed to make your natural lashes appear fluffy, lifted, or as good as the style you choose. Moreover, they don’t fare well with chemical treatments like a lash lift or perm.
That’s why you mustn’t get these treatments while wearing extensions. If you must, get a lash lift or perm before getting eyelash extensions.
16- Don’t Cut Your Lash Extensions
Sometimes the new lash extensions style you got might look great at the salon but not at your dressing table. In such a case, don’t go ahead and repair it on your own.
Cutting or shaping them on your own is very risky for your eyes. Instead, go to the same lash salon you went for treatment so that your tech can adjust the lengths per your requests.
17- Don’t Open Your Eyes During The Appointment
Once the lash tech has placed gel pads under your lower brows, it’s not advisable to open your eyes until you’re advised during application.
That’s because opening your eyes mid-treatment can cause the lash glue to leech into sensitive parts of your eye and cause red eyes or a chemical burn.
18- Don’t Wait Too Long For A Refill Appointment
While it’s true that last extensions are a costly commitment, it’s not a good choice to delay the refill appointment. You might want to extend a couple of weeks but by then all your extensions may have fallen out and you might need a full set again.
Here’s an article citing how many times clients go for a refill based on over a thousand clients we have had.
19- Don’t Use Waterproof Makeup Products
Makeup products like waterproof mascara or eyeliners often turn out to be a hassle when removed. Moreover, you will end up having to use harsh removers or pads to scrub them all out at the end of the day.
Find out more about wearing mascara or wearing eyeliner with eyelash extensions.
What Happens When You Don’t Follow the Do’s and Don’ts
The most frequent consequence of not following the do’s and don’ts is premature extension shedding or loss. This means that your extensions will not last as long, and you will need to get them filled out sooner.
In addition, if you do not take proper care of your lashes, there could be more serious consequences such as:
- Natural eyelash damage
- Irritated and red eyes
- Inflamed eyelids
- Bacterial eye infections
While this is a possibility, it is highly unlikely if you properly take care of your lashes. This could happen to a client who, for example, doesn’t cleanse their lashes regularly.
Having said that, a professional lash artist would not allow any of these things to happen and will make sure to teach you the proper ways to care for your lashes. I know I certainly wouldn’t let that happen to my clients!
The Bottom Line
19 rules on “what not to do with eyelash extensions” might seem like a lot of information to take in, but if you remember just a few points your lashes will stay healthy and beautiful for a long time.
I would say that the most important points are related to hygiene in order to avoid any complications.
Other than that, each tip you’re able to add to your daily routine will gradually extend the life of your extensions.
You don’t have to do it all in one go!
If there’s anything you’re uncertain of, don’t hesitate to me in the comments below. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
– Asako 🙂
References
- South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation. Eyelash Extensions, Electric File and Microdermabrasion Education. Retrieved from https://dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology/education_electric_file.aspx (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
- Zawn Villines (2018). What causes eye boogers? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320812#_noHeaderPrefixedContent (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
- Haley Nahman (2017). I Tried Sleeping on a Silk Pillowcase to Fix My Hair. Retrieved from https://repeller.com/silk-pillowcase-hair/ (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
- Dr. Andreoli (2018). 6 Reasons Why Your Eyelashes Are Falling Out, According to an Opthamologist. Retrieved from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g2338/eyelashes-falling-out/ (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
- Alyssa Kolsky Hertzig (2011). What No One Ever Tells You About Getting Lash Extensions. Retrieved from https://www.allure.com/story/what-no-one-ever-tells-you-abo (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
- Corey Whelan (2019). Eyelash Extensions: What Are the Pros and Cons? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/eyelash-extensions-pros-and-cons (Accessed on 5 July 2021)
Hey there I just received my first eyelash extensions. The are beautiful ,but I believe the woman used to much glue will the excess glue come out after a few cleanings or am I out of luck until removal.????
Hi Haley,
What makes you think the lash tech used too much glue? If you see clumps of natural lashes glued together (poor isolation), it might be best to get your extensions removed to avoid damaging your natural lashes.
Is it ok to continue to get lash refills with no break? I have had my lashes done for over year. I’m afraid it will eventually ruin my real lashes?
Absolutely! When the extensions are applied properly and respect the natural lashes, there is no problem wearing eyelash extensions long-term. Several of my clients have been coming for years without taking any break.
I also wana add a tip that is don;’t forget to brush your lashes. Brushing both your extensions and natural lashes regularly will keep them looking full and beautiful while also clearing our any debris or bacteria.
Hey Hina,
This is very true. Brushing your lashes is key for good retention. Thank you!