If you regularly check in here at the Divine Lashes blog (hello again, lash lover!), you’ll know I often warn about things that can make a lash lift fall flat. I want you to know hidden threats and mistakes to avoid so you can enjoy lifted lashes for longer.

A vital question to ask if you’re serious about lash lift aftercare is: Can you get your lashes wet after a lash lift?

Stop your lashes getting wet for the first 24 hours after your lash lift, as moisture can prevent lashes’ newly lifted, curled shape from setting properly. Protect your lashes from anything that could make them wet, such as water, sweat, tears, and steam. You can wet your lashes after the first day.

Wetting your lashes too soon after a lash lift is such a big no-no that I’m devoting this whole post to the topic. As water and other moisture sources are around us all the time, I can imagine you’ve got lots of questions.

Let’s get straight to the what, when, and why of lash lifts and wetness.

Can You Wet Your Lashes After a Lash Lift?

It’s safe to get your lashes wet a day after your lash lift. However, make it your top lash priority to keep them dry till 24 hours are up.

“Why?” you ask…

There’s a simple explanation. Your lashes look ready to rock right after your procedure, but the results haven’t set properly.

During your session, your lash tech applied a setting solution to your lashes, and it takes the solution those golden 24 hours to lock in the lift and curl. During the hours the solution is busy doing its thing, moisture can work against it and stop your results from setting as you’d hoped.

Need-to-know! Some lash lift solutions take 48 hours to set, so ask your lash tech how long you should wait before getting your lashes wet.

Hands up if you’ve ever gotten the perfect blow-out – and then got caught in a thundershower. Your bouncy, smooth tresses probably turned into a limp or frizzy mess. Well, that’s what happens to your lashes when you get them wet too soon after a lash lift: their lift drops or they become unruly.

How badly your lash lift gets spoiled depends on how soon after the procedure your lashes get wet and how wet they get. So keep them as dry as possible for the first day after your lash lift.

7 Most Common Water Threats to Your Lash Lift

Danger! You’ll likely face these 7 moisture threats as you venture into the big wide world after your lash lift (some are obvious, and others sneaky!):

• Threat #1: Washing your face
• Threat #2: Showering
• Threat #3: Swimming
• Threat #4: Crying
• Threat #5: Watery eyes
• Threat #6: Sweating
• Threat #7: Steam

Let’s look into all 7 threats.

Threat #1: Washing Your Face

You’ll probably miss this most during your waterless 24 hours: splashing your face at the end of the day.

Make this sacrifice more bearable by washing your face thoroughly before your procedure and going makeup-free after. You’ll need to skip at least eye makeup for 24 hours after your lift to protect your results, but it’ll help if you avoid all makeup during this time.

Survival tip! You can carefully cleanse your face with an oil-free facial wipe or cotton pad moistened with a rinse-free cleanser – but stay away from your lashes.

After 24 hours… Splash away! Just ensure you use only oil-free, mild cleansers on your lashes (think: lash shampoo, oil-free micellar water, or a DIY mixture of oil-free baby shampoo, distilled water, and baking soda), and wash your eye area extra gently.

Threat #2: Showering

Steam, heat, and water make showering a triple no-no while lash lift results are setting.

Wash from head to toe before your procedure, so you stay feeling (and smelling) fresh in the shower-free hours after.

Survival tip! Wash your body using a basinful of lukewarm water and a towel, or have a shallow, lukewarm bath with the door open if you need to freshen up during the 24 hours after your lash lift.

After 24 hours… Shower whenever you wish. But try not to get the bathroom too hot and steamy. Very hot, humid environments can flatten lashes too soon (plus, super-hot water isn’t kind to your skin).

Threat #3: Swimming

Swimming is a no-go for the first 24 hours if you want to keep your lashes lifted.

Survival tip! Plan your summer social calendar to ensure that you have your lash lift at least a day or 2 before your pool party or beach chillout.

After 24 hours… Dive in! Whether swimming in a pool, lake, or sea is your vibe, it’s all good! Chlorine and saltwater won’t wreck your results (though chlorine can dry out lashes, so apply a little nourishing oil to them before jumping into the pool, or wear stylish goggles!).

Threat #4: Crying

This is the trickiest threat to avoid, but don’t cry your eyes out right after your lash lift if you can help it. 

Survival tip! Avoid everything likely to make you burst into tears (infuriating people, happily-ever-after romcoms, or adorable baby animal videos – you know your triggers!).

After 24 hours… It’s safe to release your tears after the first day. A good sob session now and then can be incredibly healing, but if you’re uber emotional and cry most days, gently cleanse your lashes with a mild, oil-free cleanser afterward to wash away the oil in your tears so it doesn’t build up on your lashes.

Threat #5: Watery Eyes

Watery eyes are another moisture threat that’s difficult to avoid. Control what you can by sidestepping anything you know makes your eyes water like crazy.

Survival tip! Design your post-lash-lift day to minimize your chance of experiencing a laughing or coughing fit, overpowering tastes, eyestrain, allergens, bright lights, smog, and other watery-eye triggers.

After 24 hours… Don’t stress about the occasional episode of watery eyes. However, if watery eyes are a daily problem, visit an eye doctor to uncover the cause and treatment¹.

Threat #6: Sweating

Do what you can to avoid breaking a sweat for a day after your lash lift. Or soak up every droplet on your face before it can reach your precious lashes!

Survival tip! Don’t work out right after your lash lift. Save your hot yoga class, spin-a-thon, or 10k run for a few days after your lash lift. And stick to airconditioned spaces or shady spots if the weather’s scorching.

After 24 hours… Sweating is allowed again! But think twice about doing daily epic sweat sessions in heated rooms, as intense heat can weaken your lift and curl. Hot yoga rooms have temperatures as high as 108°F – so this is one workout to limit to protect your lash lift.²

Threat #7: Steam

Steamy spaces can leave you soaked, making them a lash lift danger zone before results have set.

Survival tip! Schedule your relaxing sauna or steam room session for a few days after your lash lift.

After 24 hours… You can unwind in your fave steamy environment, but make this an occasional treat to keep your lashes lifted for longer. Like heated exercise classes, saunas and steam rooms get hot, hot, hot (steam rooms are usually about 110°F, and saunas can be a fiery 195°F!), and extreme heat isn’t a lash lift’s friend.³

Key Takeaways

I hope I haven’t scared you off wetting your lashes ever again. It’s only a big deal that your lashes stay dry for 24 hours after your lash lift.

After that, you must start washing your lashes again – it’s an aftercare essential. And you’re free to shower, swim, sweat, cry and steam, too! Your lift and curl will be locked in and water-safe.

– Asako

References

1. Ann Pietrangelo – Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, OD (2019). Why Are My Eyes Watering? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/watery-eyes (Accessed on 6 July 2022)
2. Ann Pizer – reviewed by Sara Clark, Yoga Instructor (2020). Temperatures of Hot Yoga Studios. Retrieved from https://www.verywellfit.com/how-hot-is-hot-yoga-3566955 (Accessed on 12 August 2022)
3. Corey Whelan – medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT (2019). How and Why to Use a Sauna. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-use-a-sauna#how-to (Accessed 0n 12 August 2022)