How To Clean Eyelash Extensions

Eyelash extensions rock! Longer and thicker eyelashes after just a little while at the salon. No need to use mascara anymore to make them look wonderful (but you still can, of course!). 

However, even if you don’t put mascara on your extensions, than can still get dirty. It is important to make sure that your eyelash extensions are cleaned regularly to keep them in good condition. 

How do you clean lash extensions? How do you remove the buildup of makeup, oil, dirt, and dead skin cells on your eyelash extensions without taking them off unintentionally?

In this article, we’re going to show you how to clean eyelash extensions.

Not all people who get eyelash extensions know how to do this properly so they end up not enjoying their extensions for a long time. Some may accidentally damage their eyelash extensions while cleaning them. 

Be sure you know how to do it correctly!

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Importance Of Cleaning Your Eyelash Extensions

If you don’t cleanse your eyelash extensions, they will eventually have a crusty buildup. This could be due to the combination of dirt, makeup, dead skin cells, oil, and eye secretions. 

It just happens over time.

Though lash techs often encourage cleaning, many clients don’t listen until their lashes are pretty gross. 

Cleaning eyelash extensions regularly is crucial. Not only will there be a visible buildup, but extensions could harbor bacteria that could reach your eyes and cause an infection. 

This infection is known as blepharitis. When this happens, lash mites can thrive in the area and the eyelids could get inflamed. 

Cleaning eyelash extensions regularly is crucial. Not only will there be a visible buildup, but extensions could harbor bacteria that could reach your eyes and cause an infection. 

Another thing that could happen when you do not clean your eyelash extensions is the breakdown of the adhesive bond.

As the glue weakens, your eyelash extensions will fall off prematurely. 

One of the main reasons you’d want to clean your eyelash extensions is to make them last longer.

However, you should know how to clean them properly or they’ll get damaged. You could even irritate the lashes if you skip the cleaning. 

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When To Clean Eyelash Extensions 

It is important to clean your eyelash extensions. But when do you do it, exactly? How often should you be cleaning your eyelash extensions to keep them in their best condition?

Those who have oily eyelids may need to clean them more often than those who don’t. If you are one of those with oily lids, daily cleaning should be part of your schedule. 

Daily cleansing of the eyelash extensions should be done by those who wear makeup. If you don’t wear makeup and if your lids aren’t that oily, you may clean them at least twice a week. 

Daily cleansing of the eyelash extensions should be done by those who wear makeup. 

If you engage in activities that will make you sweat like going to the gym, you should clean your eyelash extensions at the end of the day. 

Don’t Expose Your Lashes to Water for At Least the First Two Days

When cleaning your eyelash extensions for the first time, it would be best to allow 48 hours to pass before cleaning them. And always follow the guidance of your lash tech.

Remember that you shouldn’t get your eyelash extensions wet within 2 days after the procedure to make sure that the adhesive cures properly and your eyelash extensions attach securely to your natural lashes. 

When cleaning your eyelash extensions for the first time, it would be best to allow 48 hours to pass before cleaning them. And always follow the guidance of your lash tech.

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How To Clean Eyelash Extensions

Here’s a step-by-step procedure on how to properly clean your eyelash extensions: 

Step 1: Remove Your Eye Makeup

If you have makeup on, you should first remove this by using oil-free makeup removers. Oil-based makeup removers are great for waterproof makeup, but they could negatively affect the bond of the adhesive used. 

Step 2: Wet Your Lashes

Once you have removed your makeup, you can now wet your eyelashes. Make sure to use water that’s not too hot and do it gently. You don’t need to rub it in because that could remove your eyelash extensions if you do it often. 

Step 3: Use A Eyelash Shampoo

You can use an eyelash shampoo  and gently apply it to your eyelashes. This will help remove the buildup and bacteria that could be found on your eyelashes. 

The lather from the product you use should be applied around the eye area as well as the eyelashes. Most of the debris is on the base so you could concentrate on that area. 

Use an eyelash brush to help you clean it. An up and down motion should be used on the lashes but make sure that you do it gently. 

Step 4: Rinse With Water

After working the lather on your eyelashes and surrounding areas, you can rinse it out with water. You can repeat the process if it still feels like your eyelashes are dirty. Just make sure to do It gently. 

Step 5: Dry The Lashes

Airdrying your eyelashes are still best. You can fan it so that it dries up faster. You may blot it gently with some soft tissue or a lint-free towel. Make sure to be extra careful when doing this. 

Step 6: Comb Your Eyelashes

Lastly, you should comb your eyelashes with a clean mascara brush. This will help remove any dirt or buildup that was left on your eyelashes. 

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Useful Tips To Cleaning Your Eyelash Extensions

Apart from following the procedure above, here are a few more tips when cleaning your eyelash extensions.

1. Properly Select A Cleanser

Some products are specifically formulated to be used as a cleansing agent for eyelash extensions. These are the best products to get because you’ll be sure that they are safe for your eyelash extensions. 

Other products like baby shampoo which some people use may not be ideal. Baby shampoo could contain fragrances or other irritating ingredients. It could contain oils that could affect the adhesive used. 

If you don’t have a lash shampoo, a good alternative will be to use micellar water  It has been used to help remove makeup effectively so it can be used to help remove the buildup that might form in your eyelashes. 

2. Do It Gently

We cannot stress enough about being gentle with cleansing your eyelashes. Although you are cleaning the lashes, you should still always think that the extensions could fall off if you are not gentle enough. 

Don’t rub, pluck or tug on your eyelashes while cleaning them. Doing that could make your natural lashes or eyelash extensions fall off. 

Don’t rub, pluck or tug on your eyelashes while cleaning them.

3. Remove Your Makeup First

When cleaning your eyelashes, you must first remove all your makeup. If you start with cleaning your eyelashes first, the makeup that you remove afterward could get into the eyelashes and build up once again. 

To remove your eye makeup, you could use a cotton swab dipped in the makeup remover so that you don’t have to touch the eyelashes when removing them. You can use a swab to remove the makeup in your lash line. 

4. Use A Eyelash Brush

Aside from selecting the best cleanser for your eyelash extensions, you should be using the correct tools for cleaning them. Use a clean eyelash brush to clean them in detail. 

Your fingers may be too thick.

The brush should be used in an upward and downward motion to remove the debris or dirt in the eyelashes. You shouldn’t be using cotton swabs either, they could tug on your eyelash extensions. 

5. Don’t Use Makeup Remover Wipes

Makeup remover wipes are effective in removing all of your makeup but shouldn’t be used on your eyelashes. The reason why they are so effective in removing makeup is because of the different oils, emollients, and glycol that they contain. 

Although it could effectively remove your makeup, it could cause the eyelash extensions to fall off because it could loosen the adhesive used.

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Tips To Take Care Of Your Eyelash Extensions

Cleaning your eyelash extensions regularly is just one way to properly take care of them. Below are a few more things that will help your eyelash extensions to last longer. 

1. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

Friction or rubbing your eyelashes is something that you should avoid doing as much as possible. Sometimes, we unintentionally rub our eyes out of habit when we feel that it is itchy, and sometimes when we cry. Doing so with eyelash extensions will slowly ruin them. 

You should be mindful about rubbing or touching your eyes when you have eyelash extensions. Rubbing them while cleaning them is not good practice as it could lead to your eyelash extensions falling off. 

Apart from your fingers, friction could happen when you are lying down on your pillow. To lessen the friction, it would be best to switch to silk pillows.

2. Don’t Use Oil-Based Products

Be mindful about the products that you use on your eye. Even if you are doing your skincare, make sure that you avoid those that contain oil in them. 

Oil-based products aren’t only used on makeup removers, they are found on your moisturizers and cleansers too. It would be best to avoid them from getting into your eyelash extensions so that the adhesive doesn’t weaken. 

3. Lessen Eye Makeup

Eyelash extensions already give your eyes emphasis. You may not need lots of eye makeup and mascara anymore!

If possible, it would be best to avoid makeup so you lessen the buildup on your eyelashes.