Lash Care: Unlock the Secret to Gorgeous, Healthy and Long-LastingLash Extensions with These Cleaning Tips
- Frederico Da Cruz
- Mar 18
- 6 min read
Lash extensions are a beauty staple for many, offering the convenience of fuller, longer lashes without the need for mascara. While they provide a stunning look, proper care is essential to maintaining their longevity and ensuring they remain as flawless as the day they were applied. One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of lash extension maintenance is cleaning.
It might seem like your lash extensions are a low-maintenance option, but without regular cleaning, they can become dirty, weighed down, and prone to premature fallout. Environmental factors, makeup, and everyday skincare products like eye creams, foundation, and facial sprays can contribute to the buildup of oils and debris on your lash extensions. This can compromise their appearance, cause irritation, and even lead to infections if left unchecked. Here's a detailed look at why cleaning your lash extensions is crucial and how to do it properly.
Why You Should Clean Your Lash Extensions Regularly
Preventing Product Buildup
When you wear lash extensions, they are glued to your natural lashes using a strong adhesive. While this keeps the extensions in place, they are still susceptible to dirt, oil, and makeup residue. Every time you apply makeup or skincare products around your eyes—whether it's face powder, foundation, eye creams, or facial sprays—some of these products can settle on your lashes, making them look heavy, sticky, or clumpy. Over time, this buildup will weigh down your lashes, leaving them looking dull and lackluster.
Tip: Products like hairspray, makeup, and face oils can especially contribute to the buildup of unwanted residue on your extensions. If not cleaned off regularly, this can interfere with the adhesive holding your lash extensions in place, causing them to fall out sooner than expected.
Reducing the Risk of Infection and Irritation
Your eyes are a sensitive area, and not cleaning your lash extensions properly can lead to bacteria and oil buildup around your lash line. This can cause clogged pores, irritation, and even lead to conditions like blepharitis or eyelash folliculitis (infections of the eyelash follicles). If you're prone to eye infections, it’s even more important to ensure that your lash extensions are cleaned regularly to avoid potential issues.
The more oil and dirt that accumulate, the more likely you are to experience irritation or infection. Proper cleaning not only protects the extensions but also ensures your eyes stay healthy.
Promoting Lash Health
Cleaning your lash extensions doesn't just protect the extensions themselves—it also helps maintain the health of your natural lashes. When dirt and oils clog the follicles of your natural lashes, it can lead to lash thinning, breakage, or even cause lashes to fall out prematurely. By regularly cleaning your lashes, you ensure your natural lashes stay healthy and able to support your extensions for a longer period.
Moreover, the act of gently cleaning your lashes can also help keep them from being weighed down, so they stay light and fluffy for a more voluminous look.
Maintaining a Fresh and Fluffy Look
The primary reason most people get lash extensions is to achieve a beautiful, fresh, and voluminous look. But without proper cleaning, your extensions can become clumpy, lose their natural curl, and look messy. Regular cleaning not only helps prevent this but also restores that crisp, fresh-from-the-salon look that makes lash extensions so desirable.
Think of it as a facial for your lashes: cleaning helps remove debris and refreshes their look, ensuring they stay pristine.
How Often Should You Clean Your Lash Extensions?
To achieve the best results, it’s important to establish a regular cleaning routine. Ideally, you should clean your lashes at least every second day. However, the best practice is to clean your lashes daily.
Cleaning them every day ensures that any makeup, oils, or environmental residue is removed before it can cause buildup. Regular cleaning also prevents potential irritation and maintains the quality of the extensions.
The Proper Technique for Cleaning Lash Extensions
Cleaning lash extensions requires a gentle, thoughtful approach to avoid damaging the extensions or natural lashes. Here’s how to clean your lash extensions the right way:
Choose the Right Cleanser
You should always use a cleanser specifically formulated for lash extensions. These cleansers are gentle, oil-free, and designed to clean your lashes without breaking down the adhesive. Avoid using regular facial cleansers or soap, as many of them contain oils that can dissolve the lash adhesive, causing the extensions to loosen or fall out.
If you’re in a pinch, you can also use a mild baby shampoo that’s free of oils and fragrances.
Avoid Oil-Based Products
One of the biggest mistakes people make when caring for lash extensions is using oil-based products near the eyes. Oil-based makeup removers, moisturizers, and even some eye creams can cause the adhesive to break down, shortening the lifespan of your lash extensions.
When selecting skincare or makeup products, always make sure they’re oil-free, especially around your eyes. Even oils like coconut oil, while popular for their moisturizing properties, can severely damage your lash extensions if used too close to them.
Use a Lash Brush or Spoolie
To clean your lashes effectively, use a clean spoolie brush or a lash brush to gently comb through your extensions. Apply a small amount of the lash cleanser to the brush and carefully work through the lashes, starting from the base near the eyelid and working your way to the tips of the extensions. Be sure to avoid scrubbing or pulling on the extensions, as this can cause them to become loose.
Rinse Thoroughly and Dry Gently
Once you’ve cleaned the lashes, it’s time to rinse away the cleanser. Use lukewarm water to rinse, and avoid hot water or steam, as this can weaken the adhesive. After rinsing, gently pat your lashes dry with a soft, lint-free towel. Never rub your lashes—doing so can cause them to tangle or damage the extensions.
Dry With a Fan or Air-Dry
To avoid moisture buildup, you can use a small fan to gently dry your lashes. Alternatively, allow them to air-dry completely. If you don’t dry them properly, water droplets may collect at the base of your lashes, causing the adhesive to weaken or encouraging bacteria growth.
Brush Through After Drying
Once your lashes are dry, use your spoolie brush to gently comb through them again. This helps to realign the extensions and prevent them from becoming tangled. It also gives them that fluffy, natural appearance that makes lash extensions so desirable.
Understanding the Lash Cycle and Shedding
Your natural lashes go through a growth cycle, which is why they shed over time, whether you have extensions or not. The cycle has three main phases:
Growth Phase (Anagen): This is when your lash is actively growing, lasting about 30 to 45 days. During this phase, the lash is getting longer and stronger.
Resting Phase (Telogen): This phase lasts about 100 days. The lash is resting and not growing, and eventually, it naturally falls out to make room for a new lash.
Transitional Phase (Catagen): This is the shortest phase, where the lash stops growing and prepares to shed. It only lasts 2 to 3 weeks.
On average, you shed about 1 to 5 lashes a day as part of this natural process. However, shedding can be more noticeable during certain times of the year, like spring and autumn, which are known as shedding seasons. During these times, your body’s natural shedding rate may increase, leading to more noticeable lash loss. But don’t worry—this is normal!
When your natural lash sheds, any lash extension attached to it will also fall out. This is simply because the extension is attached to your natural lash, so when that lash completes its cycle, the extension goes with it. The shedding of natural lashes doesn’t mean your extensions are causing damage. It’s just part of your lash growth cycle.
Additional Tips for Lash Extension Care
Avoid Rubbing or Touching Your Eyes: Try not to touch your eyes too much throughout the day, as oils from your hands can transfer to your lashes, causing buildup. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes, which can tug at the extensions and cause them to fall out prematurely.
Be Cautious with Facial Sprays: Many facial sprays, like setting sprays or hydrating mists, can contain oils or alcohol that can damage your extensions. Always check the ingredients and avoid spraying these products directly onto your lashes.
Sleep on Your Back: Sleeping on your side or stomach can cause friction and stress on your lash extensions. Try to sleep on your back to prevent your lashes from being squished or distorted.
Conclusion
To keep your lash extensions looking fresh, fluffy, and full, regular cleaning is a non-negotiable step in your lash care routine. Washing your lashes every day or every other day ensures that you maintain a clean, healthy lash line and extends the life of your extensions. Avoiding oil-based products around your eye area, using the right cleansers, and following a gentle, thorough cleaning technique will ensure that your lashes stay in pristine condition.
By taking the time to clean your lashes properly, you’re not only protecting your investment in your lash extensions but also promoting the health and longevity of your natural lashes. Clean lashes are happy lashes, and the result is always worth the effort!
