After Care
I present to you the eight golden aftercare rules!
This is a detailed list of all the things to do to make sure your lashes last as long as possible and always look super fresh and pretty.
Wash your Eyelash Extensions daily. This is the most important aftercare tip and is especially important if you wear eye makeup regularly. Your lashes, both real and extensions, collect environmental pollutants such as dust, chlorine and salt water. If you don’t clean them they will have a buildup of oil and debris, putting you at risk for an eye infection. Do not use micellar water or baby shampoo, only use a lash cleanser specifically formulated for lash extensions. This is a great way to prolong the life of your extensions as it will only contain eyelash extension friendly ingredients where as other cleansers don’t take the lash extensions into account. When it comes to cleaning your extensions, it is recommended you do so every day or every second day as this will prevent a build up of dirt, dust and debris. The cleanser will also keep your lashes looking fresh and moisturized. Think of it as a shampoo for your lashes. For best results, spray the lash cleanser onto a flocking or micro-brush. With closed eyes, gently apply to base of lashes using downward strokes, softly sweeping across lashes. Follow with a gentle water rinse and then let your lashes dry naturally. This will protect your lashes from eye makeup or eyeshadow that may get dusted onto your lashes.
Avoid oil like the plague. Don’t use any oil based products around your eye area including eyeliners and eye creams. Make sure your make up remover is oil-free. The oil in the products will cause your extensions to fall out prematurely as it will break down the glue.
No mascara, gel eyeliners, or eyelash curlers. If you must use liquid eyeliner, make sure that it is water-based and oil free. Avoid getting foundation, setting spray, and other products on your extensions as these can break down the bonds in the glue causing pre-mature fallout. Hot tip: when using setting spray wear a pair of old sunglasses, this perfectly protects your lashes from the setting spray mist.
No picking or rubbing, no touching. Don’t pull or pick your lashes out. Yes sometimes you may feel that some of the extensions are grown out and need removing but do not pull them out! This will damage your real eyelashes and you will be left with sparse eyelashes. Pulling your lashes out can also result in infections, styes, ingrown hairs or irritability in your eyelid area. If you need your extensions to be removed head to your lash technician who will remove them correctly and safety.
Brush daily. It is important that you brush through your extensions on a regular basis with the spoolie provided. This will prevent your lashes from being matted, tangled up and becoming clumpy. I recommend you brush through your lashes every morning and night and at any point you feel they could do with a brush. It is particularly important to brush through your extensions if you have gone for fuller lashes such as Hybrids or Volumes as these tend to be the type of lashes that become knotted or matted. If you have Classic extensions you may find you only need to brush through them once in the morning and at night. Do not brush your lashes when they are wet, wait for them to air dry or use a handheld fan.
Avoid Heat. When applied correctly your lash extensions are sturdy and resilient, but high heat can take even the best-applied lashes down. Don’t point your blow dryer in the direction of your lashes. The heat will straighten out and distort them. Likewise, avoid exposing your lashes to high-heat cooking. In other words, don’t stand in front of that pot of boiling water! Avoid standing too close when opening a hot oven, and be careful around open flames such as a lighters and campfires. If you are heading on a sunny holiday, it is recommended to wear sun glasses when you can as the heat from the sun melts the glue and your extensions will fall out much faster than if you were in a cool environment.
Sleeping. Try to sleep on your back rather than your stomach, as sleeping with your face down causes pressure on your eyelash extensions and make your lashes go out of shape or fall out. If you are accustomed to sleeping on your side, make sure your head is put on the edge of the pillow to avoid your lashes touching the pillow or the bed. However, as we all know, sometimes you go to sleep in one position only to wake up upside down in the bottom corner of the mattress, wrapped tightly in sheets and missing a sock. Some of us just have no control over the events that happen during unconsciousness. So how can you protect your lovely lashes after you have gone to sleep?
A silk pillowcase – Regardless of the material that you have chosen for your eyelash extensions, the best fabric to sleep on is silk. Because of the very smooth fibers, the chances of snagging or tearing are significantly reduced. That way, if you happen to roll back onto your stomach, there is less possibility of damage. Silk pillowcases are also perfect for preventing damage to your hair and face due to being breathable and hypoallergenic – which is a benefit that no one can deny. A satin pillowcase is a more budget friendly option that will do the trick also.
A contour sleep mask – If you happen to be a fan of sleep masks already, a contoured sleep mask is your best bet. If you have never slept with an eye mask before, now is the perfect time to start. The contour in this type of eye mask makes it so that it doesn’t merely lie flat against your closed eyelids, but instead, it is formed to sit comfortably on your face and is designed to hold a cup-like shape over your eyes. You might imagine it like a small bra for your eyes. The mask also makes it so that you can sleep in any position that you find comfortable.
Book your fills! Your lashes will need to be filled every 2-4 weeks, depending on your natural growth cycle. It is normal to lose 3-8 lashes per day, per eye. After a week or so you will start to notice some gaps or loss of fullness. It’s time to get those babies back to their former glory by booking a fill! During your fill, old grown out extensions will be removed and replaced with fresh extensions, as well as any gaps being filled so you leave with a full set that looks brand new.
If you follow proper after care you will be my favorite client, and your lashes will last longer and look amazing!