How Long do Eyelash Extensions Last (1100 Clients Analyzed)

You’ve just got a new gorgeous set of eyelash extensions applied at your favorite salon. Of course, you would like to maintain that look for as long as possible and avoid having your eyelash extensions falling out.

But how long do eyelash extensions last?

I have analyzed 1100 of my clients this very question!

Eyelash extensions will last 2 to 4 weeks on average. It is completely normal to lose a few lashes per day as your natural lashes move through the hair growth cycle. According to our research, most people prefer to book refills every 3 weeks (60.1%) to keep a full lash line.

In this article, I’ll elaborate further on eyelash extension retention theory and the natural growth cycle of lashes.

I will also share my case study of 1100 Divine Lashes clients when it comes to lash refill habits!

So if you want to maintain your fabulous set of lashes, this post is for you!

Natural Growth Cycle of Eyelashes

First, I must explain an important concept: the natural eyelash growth cycle.

The complete cycle of eyelashes is about 90 days ± 5 days depending on the genetics of the individual. The hair starts to grow longer and thicker, reaches its maximum length, stops growing, and then sheds.

The cycle is repeated at any given time. All eyelashes are growing simultaneously with each strand in its own growth phase.

There are 3 different phases of growth. In this image, I have shown the different stages of growth:

1. Anagen – Growth Phase
2. Catagen – Transition Phase
3. Telogen – Resting Phase

Therefore, seeing some natural lash loss is all part of the normal growth cycle.

When your natural lash sheds due to its growth cycle, the lash extension falls with it and should still be attached to the natural lash. Because of this growth, it is normal for a few eyelashes to fall out almost every day!

Now that I have the basics covered, let’s go back to the question I get asked a lot.

How Long do Eyelash Extensions Last?

Eyelash extensions will last for 2 to 4 weeks. It is completely normal to lose a few lashes per day as your natural lashes move through the growth cycle.

The life span of your lashes will also depend on how well they were applied by your eyelash technician. The eyelash application must be perfect. In our eyelash extension course, I teach in detail how to apply eyelash extensions flawlessly. 

For clients, there are plenty of things you can do at home to help preserve your look.

How Often You Should Refill Your Eyelash Extensions (1100 Clients Analyzed)

At the end of the day, your lash refill schedule is a matter of preference. The more you wait, the more lashes you will have lost before your next fill.

I tried to find market data on how often people choose to refill their lash extensions but couldn’t find any research.

So I decided to do something a little crazy…

I pulled out all of our client files and analyzed them!

To be honest, I stopped compiling results after 1100 clients. Our sample size was big enough for our study to be statistically significant. Alright, so here is the results.

The majority of clients (60.1%) prefer to come every 3 weeks. 20.6% prefer to come every 2 weeks and another 16.7% prefer to come every 4 weeks. A small minority of clients (2.7%) go for a refill after 4 weeks.

How do you Care for Eyelash Extensions?

Taking care of your lashes is essential for a beautiful, long-lasting set. Follow these 3 eyelash extensions aftercare tips to keep a full lash line and beautiful lashes.

1. Keep your eyelashes clean

At Divine Lashes, we offer a lash shampoo specially formulated for cleaning your extensions. Our eyelash shampoo will rinse off any oil residue from your lashes.

Oil tends to weaken the bond of the extensions and can even be used to remove lash extensions at home.

It is important to use the lash shampoo every day especially on the day that you get your extensions done.

2. Brush your lashes

Make brushing your lash extensions part of your daily routine. Brushing your lashes when they are completely dry will clean the debris and untangle your lashes.

This may seem like a very obvious part of your routine, but you would be surprised how improper brushing can lead to poor retention.

First, make sure to use the right tool. I provide a brush to all our clients at their initial appointment. Ask us if you need a new one.

Next, brush your lashes for 5-10 seconds per eye.

It is crucial not to brush the extensions too close to the base of your lashes.

Since extensions are bonded at the base of the natural lash, brushing too close to the base might cause the extension to lift and shed prematurely.

3. Maintain regular lash refills

The best way to maintain a full lash line is to pre-schedule regular refills ideally every 2-3 weeks.

It might seem like an important financial commitment at first, but regular lash maintenance can save you money.

Pro Tip: Want to know exactly how much lash extensions cost? Read our case study here!

The more you wait between refills, the more sparse your lashes will be. At some point, your eyelash technician might not have any other choice but to propose a completely new set.

Now that we covered the top 3 things you can do at home to take care of your lashes, let’s explore the things you shouldn’t do.

What to Avoid to Keep Your Lashes Longer (8 Tips)

Here are 8 things you should avoid if you want to keep your lashes beautiful for an extended period of time.

• Avoid picking at, rubbing, playing with, or curling the extensions.
• Avoid hot and humid environments such as a swimming pool, sauna, hot yoga, steam room, facials, and very hot showers.
• Avoid intense heat such as hair dryers, ovens, barbeques, lighters, and tanning beds.
• Avoid sleeping on the lashes. Sleeping on your back is recommended.
• Avoid products that contain strong polar solvents such as glycols, PEG, parabens, and oils derived from plants (olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, Moroccan oil, etc.)
• Avoid wearing mascara with the extensions.
• Avoid using cotton products around the eyes such as cotton balls, Q-tips, and wipes. The lint from the cotton will get caught and may cause you to pull out or tug on the lashes.
• Do not use an eyelash curler on the extensions.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my guide on eyelash extension retention. And now I’d like to hear from you.

Which tip from today’s guide are you going to try first?
Are you going to try brushing your lashes regularly?
Or maybe you want to try sleeping on your back.

Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment below. and don’t forget to take a look at my case study to see how often other people come for a lash refill!

Interested in learning more about lash extensions?
Explore my related guides & tutorials:

How Much Do Eyelash Extensions Cost
How Long Do Eyelash Extensions Take to Apply
Eyelash Extensions Do’s and Don’ts
Can You Sleep With Eyelash Extensions?

– Asako 🙂