As a lash technician myself, I’ve seen my fair share of terrible lash jobs that required immediate removal to preserve the health of my clients natural lashes (video tutorial below).

I’ve also seen the results of DIY removals gone wrong.

So, in this article, I wanted to share my step-by-step process to remove your lash extensions safely at home.

I’ll also share a video tutorial explaining how it’s done professionally at my salon.

How to Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home

Many DIY guides out there use ineffective products or even dangerous methods that can ruin your natural lashes.

In my experience, you can get the job done safely by following these 4 easy steps:

1. Wash your face.
2. Steam your face.
3. Apply oil and wait.
4. Gently remove the extensions.

I’ve described each step in greater detail below.

If you prefer to watch instead of reading, Dr. Rupa Wong, an ophthalmologist, removes her own extensions with this method.

Step 1: Wash Your Face

First, you need to wash your face to remove any makeup or oils.

Make sure you use a gentle cleanser and pay special attention to the eye area.

We need all that mascara and eyeliner off.

Once you’re finished, simply rinse with lukewarm water and use a lint-free towel to pat your face dry.

Step 2: Steam Your Face

Next, you want to steam your face for about 10-15 minutes.

This step will help soften the lash adhesive that’s used to attach the extensions to your natural eyelashes.

So, the best way to go about this is to use a kettle to bring the water to a boil.

Then, pour the hot water into a large bowl.

You could just put your face over the bowl, but I found it a lot more effective to drape a towel over my head and hold my face about 12 inches away from the water.

It sort of creates a little tent or a mini steam room.

Step 3: Apply Oil and Wait

Do you remember your lash stylist telling you to never use oil-based makeup remover?

Oils are notorious for breaking down the lash glue and causing poor extension retention.

So, you can get a small bowl and fill it with coconut oil.

Why coconut oil?

Because it’s able to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively than other oils and break down the adhesive properties of the glue. (More on that below).

Warm up your oil for about 10 seconds in the microwave.

Then, soak a lint-free cotton pad in the warm oil and place it on your lashes.

You want to “sandwich” your eyelashes with the pad so that it comes into contact with all of them.

I generally hold that position for about 5 minutes per eye.

There’s no need to rub the oil or make harsh motions.

We only want to apply the oil gently so that it makes contact with all the extensions.

Quick Tip: I prefer not to use Q-tips because the cotton fibers can get caught in the extensions, and you might pull out your natural lashes in the process.

Step 4: Gently Remove the Extensions

Use your fingertips or a lint-free cotton pad to carefully wipe down from the base to the tip of your lashes.

You should start seeing a few extensions coming off.

If you feel any resistance, stop your motion immediately.

That means the adhesive is not weakened enough.

If you pull too hard, you risk plucking out your own natural lashes.

In such cases, you need to re-apply more oil and wait again for it to work.

If again it doesn’t work, then you’ll have no other choice but to have your extensions removed by a professional.

Which Oil to Use?

In my experience, coconut oil reigns supreme as the safest and most effective option for DIY eyelash extension removal.

I’ve tried a few other alternatives and never had success.

I’ll discuss why that is below.

Coconut Oil: This oil is high in saturated fats, especially medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) such as lauric acid.

These MCFAs are quite remarkable.

They have a smaller molecular structure when compared to other oils on this list, which allows them to penetrate the lash adhesive and slowly break it down.

Olive Oil: It’s rich in monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid¹ and good for your skin, but unfortunately, it’s not very effective for removing lash extensions.

That’s because the molecules are larger than those in coconut oil. It can’t penetrate the lash glue quite as well.

Also, I found it was more greasy and just generally not very pleasant on my eyes.

Castor Oil: I love castor oil on my skin in general. It has a high percentage of ricinoleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid.²

But again, it can be quite thick and sticky which makes it harder to apply smoothly to your extensions.

But more importantly, I didn’t find it worked at all.

Mineral Oil: There’s some rationale for using mineral oil to get your extensions off.

However, it’s a petroleum byproduct and can clog pores.

It also doesn’t have any of the nourishing properties that coconut oil has.

So, I don’t see any added benefits to use this one instead.

Vaseline: I’ve seen a few people use this on social media.

I’m not a fan.

Vaseline is another petroleum byproduct, and like mineral oil, it can clog pores.

It’s also incredibly hard to work with – super heavy and greasy.

Baby Oil: Baby oil is typically mineral oil mixed with fragrance.

As such, I don’t see the benefits of using it over a 100% natural option like coconut oil.

Also, I found that it left a greasy residue that was hard to remove.

Professional Lash Removers: This is was I use (and all lash techs too) to remove extensions in a salon setting.

They should NEVER be used for a DIY job.

This product is dangerous if it comes into contact with your eyes.

That’s why you have your eyes closed at all times when your lash artist does your lashes.

What Could Go Wrong?

My goal here is not to scare you from removing your own extensions.

I just want to make sure you’re prepared for every eventuality.

1- Damaging Natural Lashes

The biggest mistake I’ve seen is to pull or rub on your extensions too hard.

You might think the coconut oil had enough time to loosen the glue, and you give it a little extra tug.

Then what happens?

Sadly, the natural lash will come out too.

You end up with sparse lashes that will take a few months to recover.

Natural Oils are Not Strong Enough

Natural oils are not a quick fix to remove your extensions.

You’ll need to be patient.

But because of the long time it takes, you might be tempted to speed up the process by rubbing harder.

Again, this can cause damage to your natural eyelashes.

3- Excess Oil on the Skin

Excessive amounts of oil applied to your lash line can clog your pores.

Of course, you’ll wash it off once you’re finished, but the residue left behind can cause breakouts.

In the worst cases, you might get a small infection like a stye.

How to Remove Eyelash Extensions Professionally

As a lash tech, this is how I remove extensions.

I’ve recorded this video to explain the entire process step-by-step.

I’ve also explained the steps below.

1. Use a gel-based remover or cream-based remover. The gel remover is typically clear with a high viscosity. It’s used for spot removal of a few extensions. The cream remover is typically more viscous and used to completely remove your extensions. I personally prefer to work with cream-based ones.
2. Apply the remover as close to the lash line as possible without touching the skin (that would cause irritation). Place a paper towel under the lashes to keep the eye pads clean.
3. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Use a lint-free applicator to gently remove the extensions by pushing the extension against the paper towel.
5. Wipe down the natural lashes to remove any product left behind.

Extensions, Be Gone

Remember, your lashes deserve nothing less than a graceful exit!

If you decide to remove your extensions yourself, please proceed with caution and don’t pull on them.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I’ll write back. 🙂

– Asako

Want to visit our salons? Book an appointment with our Montreal or Toronto locations or e-mail us: contact@divinelashes.ca.
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Need lash supplies? Visit our shop here.

Related Readings on Divine Lashes:

– 10 Reasons Why Your Lash Extensions Hurt & How to Fix It

– Classic vs Volume vs Hybrid Lashes Compared [Ultimate Guide]

– Do Lash Extensions Damage Your Lashes? 5 Worst Mistakes

References

1. Nocella, C., Cammisotto, V., Fianchini, L., D’Amico, A., Novo, M., Castellani, V., Stefanini, L., Violi, F., & Carnevale, R. (2018). Extra virgin olive oil and cardiovascular diseases: Benefits for human health. Review Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets, 18(1), 4-13. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530317666171114121533
2. Beth Sissons (2019). What to know about castor oil for eyelashes? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325541 (Accessed on 1-6-2021)