Key Takeaways
- Yes, you can absolutely get your lash extensions wet once the lash adhesive is fully cured, which takes about 4 hours.
- Water itself will not weaken the adhesive.
- A 24 hours waiting period used to be recommended, but with advancements in lash adhesive technology, most technicians now require a much shorter waiting period.
In fact, You MUST get your lash extensions wet.
Did you know that cleansing your lashes daily actually promotes a better retention of your extensions?
There’s a simple reason for it.
That’s because you need to remove natural oils and dirt that accumulate onto your lash line and could potentially weaken the bond between your natural lashes and the extensions.
So, if you’re curious to know more, I wanted to clear up a few common myths and misconceptions about water and extensions.
How Does Your Lash Adhesive Work?
The main active ingredient in lash adhesive is called cyanoacrylate, which is a type of acrylic resin.
When it comes into contact with water or moisture, it undergoes a chemical reaction named polymerization that causes it to cure and harden.
No moisture, no curing.
Therefore, as counter-intuitive as it sounds, you actually need moisture for the lash adhesive to set completely.
What About the Extensions Themselves?
The actual extensions are waterproof, since they are made from a synthetic material called polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).
They won’t lose their curls if they’re wet.
Nothing to worry about here.
Pro tip: I’ve written a complete guide about what lash extensions are made of here if you want to know more about this material.
Why a 4 Hours Wait Is All You Need
Several sources online will advise you to wait for 24h to 48h after your appointment before getting your lashes wet.
Let me tell you this.
That is actually a myth!!
Some even say to wait for 72 hours…
This is incredibly dated information. Either these articles have not been updated in a while or the lash tech is not using the latest adhesives and techniques.
So what about now?
Thankfully, 4 hours is all you need.
There are two reasons for this.
First, lash extension adhesives have improved their formulations over the years.
Now, lash techs can use adhesives with much shorter bonding times.
For instance, I like to use a 1-2 second adhesive like this one when I lash my clients.
Second, and this is the most important one, the ‘force curing’ method was discovered.
This is a process where your lash artist will actually apply a small amount of moisture to your extensions at the end of your appointment.
Sounds counter-intuitive right?
It turns out that moisture is crucial for the curing process and polymerization of lash glue.
Without it, nothing happens.
But, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
If too much moisture is applied, the adhesive won’t cure properly and you’ll experience very poor retention of your extensions.
That’s why your lash tech has to gauge the amount of moisture perfectly.
Get Them Wet!
I love the science behind lash extensions. 🤓
It’s amazing how far the industry has come.
Thanks to these improvements, our clients can now go for a dip or a shower shortly after their appointment.
— 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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