Secrets to Long Lasting Eyelash Extensions — Aftercare Guide

6 minute read

Having your clients follow proper eyelash extension aftercare routine is crucial to keep their new set looking good and lasting a long time, as well as to keep their natural lashes nice and healthy. 

As a lash artist, you will get tons of questions from your clients about the do’s and don'ts after getting eyelash extensions.
Here, we have all the answers to those questions! 

Eyelash extensions aftercare guide:

1. Can I touch or rub my eyes?
2. How often should I cleanse my extensions?
3. Can I wear mascara or use a lash curler?
4. Can I use oil-based products?
5. Can I sleep on my face?
6. When to book a lash infill appointment

1. Can I touch or rub my eyes?

Tell your clients to try not to touch their lashes, except when they’re cleaning or brushing them. Rubbing or picking them is even worse! This is because the fingers release natural oils, which may cause strain to both the lash extensions and natural lashes. This can result in temporary or permanent damage. For this reason, advise your clients to always be gentle around their eyes.

2. How often should I cleanse my extensions?

Regularly! We can’t stress this enough.

It is common for oils and makeup residue to build up, along with the bacteria from your client’s daily activities. Even if they can’t see it, it’s still there! For this reason, it is recommended that they cleanse them gently at least every other day, using a lash shampoo or cleanser.

It is also important that your clients brush their lashes. Doing so helps to untangle and straighten the set, and keeps the lashes looking tidy. It also helps to brush any dirt and build up off the lashes. Some lash artists have lash wand packs that they sell to their clients, whereas others just include one for free in their aftercare sets.

3. Can I wear mascara or use a lash curler?

No. Mascara cannot be safely cleaned off of lash extensions. Attempting to do so may potentially pull or loosen the lashes, which cause them to be damaged or removed.

Lash curlers are big no-no’s as well! The extensions are already created with a beautiful curl, so attempting to enhance this further using a curler will weaken the adhesive, and effectively shorten the life of the extensions.

4. Can I use oil-based products?

No. Oil will break down the adhesive, which will cause the lashes to fall out prematurely. That is why most lash extension removers are made with oil!

Tell your clients to use oil-free cleansing products to gently clean their face, including the area around the eyes. However, it’s actually best not to wear eye make-up at all with lash extensions, if possible.

5. Can I sleep on my face?

Not recommended. If your client sleeps on their face, this can place severe tension on the lashes. For this very reason, those who prefer sleeping on one side often find that one eye loses more lashes than the other.

If your client struggles to stop sleeping on their face, then you may want to suggest using silk or satin pillowcases. This will help to reduce friction, and minimise the number of lashes lost.

Fun fact: You can actually tell if a client is a side sleeper by looking at their natural lashes before application. Generally, one eye will have less lashes or more baby lashes (Anagen) than the other.

6. When to book a lash infill appointment

Every 2-3 weeks.

Lash extensions will fall out naturally and gradually, as the human body is designed to shed 1-5 natural lashes every day. On average, a person can lose up to 20% of their natural lashes every two weeks, as they grow and fall out in a 60-90 day cycle.

Remind your clients that once they have lash extensions on, lash shedding might feel more obvious, as their natural lashes will now be attached to the long extensions. However, there is no need to panic about this! 

The lashes that do not shed will slowly grow out over a few weeks’ time. However, over time, this will cause the whole set to not look as tidy and full as a new set. Some of the lashes will also excessively grow out, and might turn upside down (which can end up causing irritation around the eyes). To avoid this, recommend that your clients come back every 2-3 weeks for infills. You can encourage them to book their next appointment at the end of each application session.