Eyelash extensions can last for anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on your natural lash cycle and aftercare. As eyelash extensions attach to your natural lashes, when you shed an eyelash, you shed an extension too. Taking good care of your eyelash extensions will give you the most mileage out of them. The longer they last, the more money you save. Maintaining them through days of activity, face washing and sleeping can be tricky. Here are some hacks to make them last longer.
1. Keep your lashes clean and tangle-free
Your first instinct may be not to touch your new eyelash extensions. You will need to cleanse them daily. Keeping your eyelash extensions clean is one of the best ways to make them last longer. If you don’t clean them, natural oil can build up at the base of the lashes.
Once the initial curing period is over, use a lash-safe cleanser every night. Use your fingertips or a lash-cleaning brush to gently massage the cleanser into your lash line. Rinse with water until you fully remove the cleanser.
While sleeping, your lashes can tangle, and they will come off more easily. Use a spoolie to brush them in the morning to make sure they are separated. Close one eye, place the spoolie on top of the lashes and roll the brush over the lashes.
Lilac St., Sweed, Lankiz, Eneda and EyeLure offer DIY long lasting lash extensions that you can apply at home and will last for multiple days. They might not last quite as long as professional extensions, but you will save in the long run because they are so easy to apply.
2. Resist the urge to touch or rub your eyes
Try to avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. If you keep rubbing at your lash line, your lashes can fall off prematurely. If you have an itch, rather use your mascara wand and gently pull through your lashes. Slightly rubbing on your eyelid in a circular motion won’t do any damage either.
When your eyes rub against something else, like a pillow, you risk ripping off lashes. Sleeping with your face squished into a pillow is probably not a good idea if you have eyelash extensions. Sleep on your back instead and if you can’t manage this, try to use a silk pillowcase to reduce friction or use a beauty sleep mask with molded pillows that rest around your lashes and protect them while you sleep.
3. Use an eyelash extension sealant
A lash sealant can go a long way to extending the life of your eyelash extensions. A lash sealant creates a protective coat over the lash extensions to protect the adhesive and prevent it from degrading. It protects the area from dirt, oil, and makeup. Wearing an eyelash extension sealant will add a slight shine to the look and make it more defined.
There are various types of sealants, such as daily use and twice weekly use ones. Some of them are designed for people with oily skin types or who live in high humidity areas. Others have multiple functions, not only extending life span but strengthening lashes and promoting lash growth too. They may contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, B vitamins, and allantoin to ensure your natural lashes get the protein, vitamins, and hydration they need.
4. Only use lash-extension friendly products
Not all beauty products are suitable for use with lash extensions. You need to use products for cleansing etc., that are made specifically for lash extensions. Using oily skincare products or makeup removers around the eyes can disintegrate lash adhesives. Stay away from waterproof mascara because it is oil-based. Don’t use any oil- or alcohol-based products or cosmetics if you want to keep your lashes intact. Be sure to check the list of ingredients in cosmetics like anti-aging eye creams.
5. Don’t miss refills
Don’t wait too long to refill your lash extensions. Your technician will perform maintenance to refresh your current set of lashes and place new extensions to ensure a full lash line. If you don’t keep up with regular refills, you may have to pay for a full set of lashes rather than a refill.
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