Saunas can loosen your muscles and help you relax – but do they also loosen something you want to stay in place: your long, luscious lashes!
If sauna time and extensions are your feel-good must-haves, you might be looking for a way to keep them both in your life.
In this article, I wanted to share tips to help you let off steam in the sauna without losing your lashes!
Let’s dive in!
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Can You Go Into a Sauna With Lash Extensions?
Saunas should be avoided if your wear eyelash extensions. The high heat and humidity can cause the lash glue to soften and weaken, causing the extensions to detach from your natural lashes. This would lead to poor retention and require more frequent refills.
Did you know saunas get incredibly hot – up to 195°F?1 Add steam to the heat (some saunas also get steamy), and, over time, the scorching temperatures and high humidity can soften and break down the adhesive that sticks your extensions to your natural lashes.
Talk about turning what should be a stress-busting experience into a stress-triggering one, right?
What’s more, saunas make you sweat it out – giving you not just a dewy glow but a dripping forehead! Sweat contains salt and oil, and if it gets onto your lashes, the salt and oil can build up, potentially loosening your extensions’ grip on your natural lashes.
Ok, but what about steam rooms? Are they any different?
Can You Go in a Steam Room With Eyelash Extensions?
No, you shouldn’t go in a steam room with eyelash extensions since the heat and very high humidity would be detrimental to your extensions’ retention. Both these factors weaken the lash adhesive over time.
Saunas and steam rooms are quite similar. The former uses dry heat (usually from hot stones) while the latter uses wet heat by boiling water.
Arguably you could say saunas are a little less risky for your extensions because they are not as humid, but even then, both are not a good idea.
Now, what if you just want to enjoy your occasional trip to the sauna or steam room? If it’s not a regular thing, there are a few things you can do to protect your lashes as much as possible.
How to Protect Eyelash Extensions in Sauna or Steam Room
For everyone who thinks soothing heat is worth a weaker extension hold, here are my top 4 tips for limiting the damage while you’re in the sauna or steam room:
Tip #1: Wait 48 Hours
The lash glue should be completely cured after 4 hours, but if you want to be on the safe side, wait a complete 48 hours.
Tip #2: Stick to Short, Infrequent Sessions
Limit your time in the humidity and heat and their negative effects on your extensions by indulging in sauna and steam room sessions only once in a while. Plus, keep your sessions to 5 minutes or shorter.
Tip #3: Wear Lash Extension Sealer
Protect your extensions by applying a lash extension sealer before you use the sauna or steam room.
Simply swipe on a coat of the sealer daily to protect against threats like steam and sweat, so your extensions stay put for longer. My top picks are Blink Black Diamond Sealant and BL Crystal Drop Eyelash Coating Sealant.
Tip #4: Clean Your Lashes After Your Session
Gently clean your extensions with a mild cleanser after you leave the sauna or steam room to stop salt and oil from settling down on your lashes and weakening the extension adhesive.
The Bottom Line
You can go in a sauna or steam room 48 hours after getting extensions – but make this an occasional, quick pamper sesh, clean your lashes when you’re done, and consider applying a lash extension sealer before things heat up.
With these tips in mind, most of my clients don’t experience poor retention and can enjoy the best of both worlds.
If you’re unsure or have any questions, please let me know in the comments!
– Asako 🙂
Additional Readings on DivineLashes.ca: If you want to know more about lash extensions and popular beauty treatments, check out my guides on getting a spray tan with eyelash extensions and getting a facial with lash extensions.
References
- 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 (Accessed on 26 September 2022)
In the sauna, could you use a very damp towel and hold it on your lashes so they don’t get the humidity, and then clean the straight after??
Personally, I would just leave my lashes as is and do the quick cleanse after. Remember, you might sweat and you should remove salts and oils at the end of your session.