Almost all of my first-time client’s ask me about how to shower with their lash extensions.

It makes sense.

You want to make sure you’re doing everything right to keep them as long as possible.👍

And intuitively, you might think water is your enemy (it’s quite the opposite — you’ll see in a moment).

So, in this article, I’ll share my 8 must-know tips and bust a few myths along the way.

8 Tips to Take Care of Your Lash Extensions in the Shower

1. Let the Adhesive Cure

Your extensions are attached onto your natural eyelashes using a medical-grade adhesive.

And once the adhesive cures, your extensions are waterproof.

Shower away!

But, but, but…

You need to wait 4 hours after your lash extension appointment before showering.

This period is required for the adhesive to completely cure.

If you jump in the shower too soon, the bond will be weak and you’ll unfortunately experience poor retention.

2. No Rubbing or Scrubbing

If you like to rub your eyes or use a washcloth when washing your face, I have sad news for you.

Friction is your worst enemy now.

This means you can’t rub or scrub around the eye area.

You risk tugging on your lashes, which could easily pull them out.

3. Watch Out for the Jets

Some showers have pretty strong jets.

Be mindful of these.

The force of water beaming straight to your face will cause friction and stress for your lashes.

So, how are you supposed to wash your hair, then?

I like to turn my back to the water and let it flow down from the top of my head.

This way, your lashes are safe.😇

To wash your face, simply cup water in your hands and gently wet your face.

4. Say No to Steamy Showers

I know, I know.

Nothing beats relaxing in a hot shower.

But, guess what?

Steam and humidity don’t pair well with your lash extensions.

Over time, it will weaken the bond of the adhesive, causing your extensions to fall out faster.

5. Scrutinize Your Shower Products

A lot of soaps and facial cleansers contain some form of oil.

Oil-based products are the kryptonite of your extensions.

They are effective solvents that will break down the adhesive with repeated exposure.

It’s not always easy to decipher an ingredient list, so if you have any questions, you can ask me in the comment section at the end — I’ll be happy to help.

If you want to be on the safe side, make sure to use products that are explicitly labeled “oil-free”.

6. Cleanse Your Lashes

Simply rinsing the lashes with water is not enough to remove the oil and dirt that accumulated onto your lash line.

You need to cleanse them.

So how do we do that?

Apply a little bit of lash shampoo to a makeup brush and start lathering it up on the eyes.

Use vertical motions (from the bottom of the lashes to the tip) to make the shampoo foam.

Once finished, simply make a cup with your hands to collect water and gently rinse your lashes.

Instead of cleansing their lashes in the shower, some of my clients prefer to do it in the sink once their shower is finished.

That way, they can gently splash water to the face and avoid the pressure from jets.

7. Keep It Dry

It’s important to dry your lashes once you’re finished with your shower.

That way, humidity won’t linger around.

There are 3 main ways to do it:

1. Use a lint-free towel: Gently pat your lashes until the excess moisture is gone. I usually like to use a microfiber cloth because it’s safe for your lashes (lint-free) and won’t cause friction.
2. Use an air fan: You can use a small handheld fan. It will gently circulate the air and dry your extensions without messing them up.
3. Use a hairdryer: Using a hairdryer is OK but you need to be careful with the temperature and speed settings. Make sure you set the hairdryer on a cool-air setting with a low fan speed.

I personally prefer the lint-free towel because it’s the quickest and there is no risk of damaging my extensions.

8. Goggle-Free Zone

There’s an elephant in the room that we can’t ignore: shower goggles!

I have seen a lot of bad advice over the years, and wearing goggles in the shower is definitely one of them.

For example, an article from Gamour.com states that you should shower with goggles to keep your lash extensions intact!¹

This is terrible advice…

It’s a myth that you can’t get your extensions wet.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite!

You must cleanse your lashes daily to promote better extension retention.

I once had a client who was wearing goggles in the shower because she thought she needed to protect them.

Disaster struck.

She sadly developed a lash mites infestation. 🙁 You can read her full story here.

The only exception is if you must take your shower within the first 4 hours after your lash appointment, while the adhesive is not completely cured yet.

Then, yes, you could wear goggles.

Or just wait a little longer.

Why We Care

Sometimes, good intentions don’t equal good results.

Sadly, this was the case for my lash mite client.😢

That’s why, I find it so important to share these tips so that you can enjoy your extensions for weeks and avoid problems down the road.

— Asako

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Additional readings:

References

1. Glamour (2012). 3 Must-Dos When it Comes to Caring For Eyelash Extensions (And Check Out My Fancy New Ones!). Retrieved from https://www.glamour.com/story/3-must-dos-when-it-comes-to-ca (Accessed on 3-3-2021)