How To Clean Your Eyelash Extensions? A Complete Guide

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Getting eyelash extensions is an excellent investment in both your time and money. And just like any investment, you must get the most out of it to fully experience all the perks they offer.

That’s why it is essential to know how you can prolong the lifespan of your new set of lash extensions. 

To do that, knowing how to clean eyelash extensions the right way is crucial to both your lash health and lash extensions. 

Failing to do it properly will only cause more harm to you than good. 

So how do you clean your eyelash extensions? 

Read this comprehensive guide about how to clean your eyes with lash extensions and be equipped with everything you need to know about lash extensions aftercare. 

We offer a step-by-step guide, lash tips, dos and don’ts, and so much more! 

Without further ado, let’s begin this guide!

Why Is It Important to Clean Your Eyelash Extensions?

If you don’t have eyelash extensions, you usually wash your face and clean all the residues from your lashes and eyes. 

However, once you get your eyelash extensions done, you must be more careful about how you wash your face. If you splash too much water and get them soaked, there’s a possibility that they can prematurely fall off. 

But that does not mean you shouldn’t clean your eyelash extensions either. 

Of course, you must clean them from time to time to remove all the built-up oils, dirt, and bacteria from your lashes. 

Otherwise, these substances can make your lash extensions feel heavy for your natural eyelashes, eventually damaging your natural lashes.

If you don’t know how to clean and wash your eyelash extensions properly, you might experience more severe complications like infections, redness, and itchy eyelids. 

And you don’t want that!

Also, cleansing eyelash extensions can help them look much better and last longer.  

So if you’re planning to get eyelash extensions soon, know that hygiene should be prioritized at all costs. Cleaning your eyelash extensions will be a win-win situation for your eyes and lash set!

What to Use to Clean Lash Extensions

Before we head on to the step-by-step guide on how to clean lash extensions at home, it’s important to know what type of cleanser to use to prevent damaging your eyelash extensions. 

Remember that using the wrong cleanser on your lash extensions can weaken your lash adhesive, causing your lash extensions to prematurely fall off. 

Here are the best lash cleansers you can use to achieve healthy and clean eyelashes:

Lash shampoo

Lash shampoos are an ideal product when cleaning your lash extensions since they are specifically made for lash extension cleaning.

Lash shampoos, like Eyelash Extension Shampoo Stacy Lash, are cleansers formulated to gently cleanse the eye area without irritating the skin or stinging your eyes. 

The best thing about this lash cleanser is that it contains cleansing agents that are meticulously chosen so that they won’t weaken the lash glue on your eyelash extensions.  

Gentle cleanser 

If you don’t have a lash shampoo, you can choose a gentle facial cleanser that claims to be safe for the eyes, such as the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

As much as possible, you need to avoid any cleansers that contain greasy ingredients, such as silicones, caprylic triglyceride, and fatty acids.

And if you’re doubting a cleanser’s ingredients, skip that cleanser and don’t use it!

Instead, always choose gentle cleansers that are mild and oil-free to clean your lash extensions. 

Moreover, avoid oily, milky, creamy cleansers that are usually advertised as “oil cleansers” or “balm cleansers” if you don’t want your lash extensions to shed sooner due to weakened lash glue.

Foam and gel cleansers are the must-have gentle cleansers you can use for eyelash extensions. 

Micellar Water

There’s still an ongoing debate about using micellar water to clean eyelash extensions. Some lash technicians suggest using this product, while others claim you should not use it.

Micellar waters are mainly made to remove waterproof makeup. So some micellar water products can sometimes be too strong, damaging your lash extensions and causing lash loss. 

However, once you get your hands on micellar water with the right formula and know how to use it properly, you can clean your eyelashes with it.  

The best micellar water product to use for lash extension cleaning would always be the oil-free ones that are ideal for sensitive skin like Bioderma – Sensibio – H2O Micellar Water. 

The Best Way to Clean Eyelash Extensions

Usually, certified lash technicians provide their clients tips on how to clean their eyes with lash extensions after the lash session. 

Some of them even give an eyelash extension aftercare kit that you can use to maintain your lash extensions, which contains all the things you need, like this Eyelash Aftercare Kit from Lyon Lash.  

Things You Will Need

• Clean cleansing brush (you can use a clean and wider eyeshadow brush)
• Lash cleanser (either lash shampoo, gentle cleanser, or micellar water) 
• Water
• Clean mascara wand
• Towel or facial tissue

Step-by-Step Guide to Clean Your Eyelashes Extensions

Step 1

Make sure to remove all the makeup residue from your eye area and face using a glycol-free, oil-free, and lash-safe makeup remover. 

Step 2 

After thoroughly cleaning your face and eye area, dip a clean cleansing brush in the lash shampoo. 

Step 3

Close your eye and gently go over your eyelashes and work the brush up and down along the lashes. Do this in a circular motion for about one minute and then proceed with the other eye.

Step 4

Rinse them off with water. You can use a damp brush to help eliminate the remaining lash shampoo. 

Step 5

Use a clean face towel or a facial tissue to pat them dry. You can also dry them with a blow dryer but remember to set them in a cold setting. 

Step 6

After completely drying them out, don’t forget to gently brush your lash extensions with a clean eyelash mascara wand to untangle them and maintain those perfect curls. 

Dos

Remove makeup beforehand

Eyelash extension cleansers can be too gentle to remove eye or face makeup. 

Skin experts recommend that you remove makeup first before you clean your eyelashes. 

This way, cleaning them without accidentally mixing any makeup residue on your eye area will be easier. 

As you remove your makeup, be careful not to touch your lashes. For instance, if you want to remove your eyeliner, you can use a cotton swab to remove it without tugging your eyelashes.

For a more detailed explanation of removing makeup, check out this video below.

Use an oil-free makeup remover

Oils from your face or products can wear out the glue that keeps your eyelash extensions intact. 

So if you’re wearing lash extensions, you should avoid using oil-based makeup and even makeup removers. 

Instead, it’s best to look for oil-free formula products like micellar water. 

You can also use a makeup removing cloth to remove your makeup too — an eco-friendly alternative that is gentler on the skin. 

Use a silk pillowcase

You can sleep with your eyelash extensions on. 

However, many people still experience lash loss during nighttime, and the main culprit is the cotton pillowcase they use. 

Sadly, cotton pillowcases can pull at your lashes as you sleep, causing them to come off.

If you don’t want to experience premature lash loss, you should always sleep on your back and invest in a smoother pillowcase like a satin or silk one. 

Use a protective after-cleanse product

After cleansing your eyelash extensions, we highly recommend using a protective after-cleanse product like BL Lashes Crystal Drop Coating Sealant. 

Such lash coating products can seal over the eyelash adhesive, which helps your eyelash extensions last longer. 

Moreover, they keep your lashes strong and give them a nice sheen. You can also ask for lash sealants from your lash technician. 

Always brush your lash extensions 

During your eyelash extension journey, brushing your lash extensions is crucial in making your lashes last longer.

Not only do tangled eyelash extensions look bad on the eyes, but the tangle actually stresses the lash extensions and adhesive. As a result, they cause eyelash extensions to fall off. 

Because of that, it’s important to brush your lash extensions at least two times a day —  AM and PM. 

If you do this regularly, expect to achieve longer-lasting and cleaner lash extensions. 

Don’ts

Do not wear eyeliner or mascara

When wearing lash extensions, eyeliner and mascara can be problematic later on. 

Sure, it’s easy to wear these eye products. However, the issue starts as soon as you try to remove them.

If you use waterproof and highly-pigmented products, you might have difficulty removing them on your eyelash extensions because they need to be deep-cleansed. 

Since you need to be careful not to tug your lash extensions, chances are they won’t be adequately cleaned. If this happens, it could lead to irritations or even allergies. 

So if you feel like wearing a bit of eye makeup, choose an easy-to-remove and washable mascara and eyeliner specifically made for lash extensions. 

Do not use cotton pads when cleaning lash extensions

Using cotton pads or other abrasives can snag and pull on your extensions. 

So as you clean your lash line and lashes, it would be better if you opt for an ultra-soft brush to be safe. 

If you don’t have a cleaning tool, gently brush your lash cleanser over your lashes using your ring finger. 

When to Clean Eyelash Extensions

After you get your eyelash extensions, your lash technician will tell you to avoid water contact and to avoid cleansing your face for the first 24 to 48 hours. 

But after that, you might ask how often to wash eyelash extensions.

You should clean your eyelashes as frequently as you wash your face daily to keep your lashes in good shape. 

It’s advisable to do this at least two times a day to ensure that the dead skin cells, dirt, eye makeup, and bacteria on your lashes are removed. 

But if that’s not possible, wash them at least three times a week.

If you have oily eyelids, do not skip washing them daily to prevent your natural oils from breaking down the lash adhesives.

What Happens If Your Lashes Aren’t Properly Cleaned?

The primary function of our eyelashes is to trap dirt, dust, and other small particles naturally so they don’t get into the eyes. 

These are what would happen if your lashes aren’t cleaned for a long time:

Premature Lash Fallout

If you do not regularly clean your eyelashes, the makeup residue, dead skin cells, and natural oils can build up around your lash base over time.

This can cause the lash adhesive to weaken, break down, or get in between the natural lashes and extensions, eventually causing more premature lash fallout.

Premature lash fallouts mean you didn’t get all your money’s worth for your lash extensions.

Blepharitis

Aside from that, improper eyelash hygiene may lead to blepharitis — eyelid inflammation that can be incredibly uncomfortable, irritating, and unsightly. 

Blepharitis is a condition that people commonly suffer from, especially when they fail to clean and take care of their eyelids properly.  

Blepharitis happens when dead skin cells build up on your eyelids and are not properly flushed away from time to time, causing itchiness and inflammation of the oil glands in your eyelids. 

As soon as it sets in, it’s not easy to get away with it. 

Some of the symptoms that point to blepharitis are:

• Burning sensation in your eyelashes
• Eye dryness
• Grainy feeling in the eyes
• Redness
• Watery eyes
• White flakes in your lashes

If you get this infection, it’s best to contact your eye doctor to discuss possible ways to manage it. 

Demodicosis

Another skin condition that unwashed lash extensions can cause is demodicosis, which shares similarities with blepharitis.

Microscopic organisms called Demodex mites, which are found on human skin, especially the eyelids, are the cause of this. In tiny quantities, they are typically harmless.

However, unhygienic lash extensions might provide the ideal environment for these mites to flourish, which causes them to multiply uncontrollably and increases the risk of demodicosis. In addition, it results in irritation, itching, and redness around the eyes.

Cleaning Your Lash Extensions Is Important!

When it comes to eyelash extensions, lash maintenance and aftercare play a vital role.

Yes, it is the job of your lash technician to maintain your lash extensions after every fill appointment. But that’s only half of the equation to achieving healthy lashes. 

It’s equally important to know how to clean eyes with eyelash extensions in between fills, which you should do daily. 

Now that you’re fully equipped with everything you need about the best way to clean lash extensions, apply all the tips we discussed and expect healthier and fuller lashes from now on!

Want To Read More About Eyelash Extensions?

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• How Much Do Eyelash Extensions Cost? What’s The Price?
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