Your lash lift gave you the ultimate lash curl. And you’re not going to let anything spoil it! There are a few aftercare rules you must follow for lasting results, and the most important one involves something you probably do twice a day without thinking: making your face fresh and clean.

It’s now time to think about face-washing as we answer the crucial Q: Can I wash my face after a lash lift?

Avoid washing your face for 24 hours after a lash lift. The results take a day to set, and lashes shouldn’t be exposed to water, heat, steam, or cleansing products during this time, as these elements can relax the lift. A day after your lash lift, you can wash your face without ruining the results.

Whenever clients ask me what they should do after a lash lift to keep their lashes looking fancy for as long as possible, I tell them there’s one major thing they shouldn’t do: get their lashes wet.

I’ll explain why this is such a big no-no and let you know when it’s safe to start splashing your face freely again after having a lash lift. 

Let’s get started!

Is it Bad to Wash My Face After a Lash Lift? 

Washing your lashes in the 24 hours after a lash lift is the biggest mistake you can make – so get into cat mode and avoid water like it’s poison! 

Alert: This also means no swimming or showering for a day after your lash lift.

Really? It’s just water. How much harm can it do? 

Woah! H2O is a lash lift’s mortal enemy during its first 24 hours. Water works against the solution that lifts lashes, so getting lashes wet before a day’s up can flatten your lift or make it less impressive. 

Tip: You can cleanse your face with facial cleansing wipes or a cotton pad moistened with cleanser soon after your lash lift, but be careful not to use the wipe or pad on your eye area. 

After the first 24 hours, ditch your water phobia and go back to washing your face – with a few tweaks to your usual routine (more on this in a second). 

If you’re now water-wary, know that not only can you wash your face 24 hours after a lash lift, but you should. Keeping your lashes clean is an aftercare essential after the first day.

Consider this: throughout the day, dust, dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells build up on your lashes. Suppose you don’t wash off all this muck – what will happen? You’ll encourage a lash mite invasion! 

Lash mites are teeny parasites (so small you can’t see them) that live on our lashes, feasting on the dirt and oil that collects on them. It’s normal to have a few mites on our lashes. It can even be good, as the mites help keep our lashes clean. 

But when the oil-and-dirt lash buffet is too generous, the mites multiply (eek!) and start causing trouble like eye irritation and lash loss. So we must wash our lashes on the reg to control the build-up and mites.

How to Wash Your Face 24 Hours After a Lash Lift

Don’t be afraid to wash your face after the first 24 hours. By this time, your lift and curl have set properly, and water is no longer a threat. 

You say you’ve had a lash lift & tint and don’t want to wash out your color? Don’t worry; your tint is safe, too! Your lash tech added pigment (color) to your hair shaft and sealed it in, so your lashes will stay dark and defined until they grow out. 

I’ll sum up what you need to know about washing your face after a lash lift into 2 rules:

• Rule #1: Use a mild, oil-free cleanser
• Rule #2: Wash your lashes gently

Rule #1: Use a Mild, Oil-Free Cleanser

Oil-based or harsh cleansers can lessen your lift, so go oil-free and mild.

My fave lash-friendly cleansers are shampoo formulated for lashes and oil-free micellar water. If you’re feeling creative, you can DIY a lash cleanser using 3 ingredients: oil-free baby shampoo, baking soda, and distilled water. 

Watch how simple this shampoo is to make (thanks for the demo, Jai Lashes!)

Rule #2: Wash Your Lashes Gently 

Cleanse your whole face with light, circular movements. Be especially delicate around your eye area. If you yank or scrub, you could pull out a few lashes⁴ or weaken your lift (besides encouraging wrinkles and crinkles!). 

Easy does it! Apply cleanser to a cotton pad, lightly swipe the pad over your lid and brow, softly press the pad against your closed eye, and gently wipe from lash root to tip. 

Tip: Protect your lashes and make your life easier by avoiding waterproof mascara and other long-lasting makeup – they’re just too much of a mission to remove. Plus, waterproof mascara ingredients can mess with your lift. 

When your lashes are dry, brush them with a spoolie or clean mascara wand to spruce them up after their wash and remove any leftover specs of muck. 

Complete your daily lash care routine by applying nourishing oil (like coconut or castor oils) or a good lash serum. You can keep the DIY energy going by whipping up a lash serum at home!

Washing Your Face After Lash Lift – Key Takeaways 

Skip your face-washing for 24 hours after your lash lift, then return to your usual cleansing ways. But be gentle and use only mild, oil-free cleansers. Finish your grooming by sweeping a spoolie brush through your lashes, then make them strong and glossy with a slick of nourishing oil or lash serum. You now have the 411 on washing your face after a lash lift!

You can do more to keep your lashes lifted for longer – find out my top 9 simple rules for lashes with lasting lift.

– Asako