How do you take care of lash extensions so they last?
Keep lash extensions completely dry for the first 24 to 48 hours, then cleanse them daily with a lash-safe foam cleanser. Avoid oil-based products and waterproof mascara, brush them each morning with a clean spoolie, and sleep on your back or a silk pillowcase. Good aftercare is the difference between a two week set and a four week set.
Keep them dry for 24 to 48 hours, wash them every day after that with a lash-safe foam, stay away from oil, and brush them each morning. That is the whole routine.
The people who get four weeks out of a set and the people who get ten days are usually doing the same service with different habits at home.
The first 48 hours
Lash adhesive cures fully in the first day or two. Water and steam during that window weaken the bond permanently.
So for the first 24 hours minimum, and 48 if you can manage it: no showers with your face in the spray, no swimming, no sauna, no hot yoga, no crying at a wedding if you can help it.
You can absolutely shower. Keep your face out of the water and wash it at the sink afterward.
Cleanse them daily. Yes, daily.
This is the instruction most people ignore, and it is the one that matters most.
Oil from your skin, dead skin cells, and makeup build up at the lash line. That buildup breaks down adhesive from underneath and feeds the mites that cause itchy, red lids. Dirty lashes shed early, every time.
Use a foaming lash cleanser made for extensions. Pump it onto a soft brush or clean fingertip, work it gently along the lash line, rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Thirty seconds.
Then brush them upward with a clean spoolie once they are dry.
What to keep away from your lashes
- Oil-based cleansers, cleansing balms, and makeup wipes. Read the ingredients on your eye cream too.
- Waterproof mascara. Removing it requires the exact scrubbing that pulls extensions off. Most clients skip mascara entirely, which is the point of extensions.
- Cotton pads and cotton balls. The fibers catch and pull.
- Eyelash curlers. They crimp and snap both the extension and your natural lash.
- Heavy face oils and rich night creams used right up to the lash line. Keep them on the cheeks and forehead.
- Steam directly in the face. Opening a hot oven or leaning over a pot of pasta counts.
How you sleep matters more than you think
Face-down sleepers lose lashes on one side and cannot figure out why. Eight hours of friction against a cotton pillowcase bends, twists, and pulls extensions.
Sleep on your back if you can. If you cannot, a silk or satin pillowcase cuts the friction significantly and is the easiest change on this whole list.
A lash sleep mask with a curved eye cavity works well for stomach sleepers who are not going to change.
Everyday things people worry about for no reason
- Rain and snow are fine after the first two days. This is Maine and life continues.
- Showering is fine. Chlorine and salt water are fine occasionally, just rinse and cleanse right after.
- Sunglasses are fine. Reading glasses are fine.
- Losing two to five lashes a day is normal. Your natural lashes shed on their own schedule and the extension goes with them.
Never remove them yourself
Pulling extensions off takes your natural lashes with them, and those take two to three months to grow back.
If you are done with extensions, book a professional removal. It takes about twenty minutes and a gel remover releases the adhesive without stress on your own lashes.
Book fills before the set falls apart
Come in every two to three weeks. At two weeks a fill is quick and inexpensive. At five weeks there is so little left that you are paying full set pricing.
If you are not sure where your set is at, text or call (207) 222-7578 and describe it, or send a photo.
Serving Lewiston, Auburn and the surrounding towns
Fills and lash care advice are available at the Lewiston studio, convenient for clients in Auburn, Sabattus, Lisbon, Greene, Turner, and Poland.
Call (207) 222-7578 or book with Bridgette.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shower with lash extensions?
Yes, after the first 24 to 48 hours. Keep your face out of the direct spray and cleanse your lashes afterward.
What is the best cleanser for lash extensions?
A foaming cleanser made specifically for lash extensions, with no oil and no glycols. Your artist can sell or recommend one at your appointment.
How many lashes should I be losing each day?
Two to five per eye per day is normal shedding. Losing clumps, or losing lashes with a chunk of adhesive attached, is worth a conversation with your artist.
Can I use retinol or acids with lash extensions?
Yes, on your face, just keep them off the lash line and eyelid. Both weaken adhesive on contact.
Will my natural lashes be damaged after extensions?
Not from properly applied extensions with good aftercare. Damage comes from poor isolation, too much weight, and pulling extensions off at home.
Questions, answered
Can I shower with lash extensions?
Yes, after the first 24 to 48 hours. Keep your face out of the direct spray and cleanse your lashes afterward.
What is the best cleanser for lash extensions?
A foaming cleanser made specifically for lash extensions, with no oil and no glycols. Your artist can sell or recommend one at your appointment.
How many lashes should I be losing each day?
Two to five per eye per day is normal shedding. Losing clumps, or losing lashes with a chunk of adhesive attached, is worth a conversation with your artist.
Can I use retinol or acids with lash extensions?
Yes, on your face, just keep them off the lash line and eyelid. Both weaken adhesive on contact.
Will my natural lashes be damaged after extensions?
Not from properly applied extensions with good aftercare. Damage comes from poor isolation, too much weight, and pulling extensions off at home.