Caring for your eyelash extensions is not just about maintaining their glamorous appearance; it’s a vital practice to ensure the health of your natural lashes and eyes. Among the various aspects of eyelash extension care, proper cleansing stands out as a cornerstone. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the world of eyelash extensions, with a particular emphasis on the importance of proper cleansing, while also touching upon other vital lash extension care tips.
Why Focus on Cleansing?
Eyelash extensions, while enhancing your beauty, also create a new environment for debris, dust, and oils near your eyes if you don’t take care of them. Without proper cleansing, you not only risk the longevity of the extensions but also the health of your natural lashes and eyes.
If you don’t cleanse your lashes, the subsequent build-up of skin cells and sebum can lead to issues like blepharitis or even eye infections. Therefore, keeping them pristine is essential!
The Right Way to Clean Eyelash Extensions
1. Choose Your Cleanser Wisely
The first step is choosing the right cleanser. While oil-based products don’t break down the glue, they can cause extensions to slide off prematurely due to the oil getting between the glue and your natural lashes. Alcohol-based cleansers will effectively strip oils away from the lashes, however they can be very drying for the skin, leading to irritation and discomfort.
Opt for a gentle, oil-free cleanser which has been specifically designed for eyelash extensions. Foam-based cleansers are often a safe bet as they are very soft and require very little rubbing to work into the lash line.
2. The Cleansing Process
- Prepare: Always start by washing your hands to avoid transferring oils and dirt to your extensions.
- Gently Does It: Dampen your lashes with cool or lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of the chosen cleanser to your fingertips or a clean lash brush.
- The Technique: Stroke downwards gently on your lashes. Avoid rubbing side-to-side to prevent tangling or pulling.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse off the cleanser completely using cool or lukewarm water.
- Pat Dry: Gently pat your lashes with a clean, dry towel or a lint-free cloth.
3. Brushing Your Lashes
After cleansing, use a clean, dry mascara wand to gently comb through your lashes. This step keeps your volume fans lovely and fluffy so is especially important if you have a volume lash set or a set of hybrid lashes, but also helps to lift the lashes and realign them after cleansing, so is equally important for those of you who favor classic lash extensions.
The Role of Regular Lash Fills
Regular lash fills, typically every 2-4 weeks, are essential to maintain the fullness of your extensions. As natural lashes shed as part of their natural growth cycle, they take the extensions with them. This is perfectly normal, but of course leads to gaps in the lash line. Lash fills help in keeping your lash line looking full and fluffy, so it’s important to ensure that you are booked in for them regularly.
Additional Care Tips
- First 24 Hours: Avoid getting your lashes wet for the first 24 hours to allow the glue to set fully. After this time, washing your lashes daily is essential.
- Sleep Smart: Sleep on your back and consider using a silk pillowcase to reduce friction. You can also get sleep masks which are designed for use with eyelash extensions, so seek those if you’re having trouble sleeping on your back.
- Avoid Oils: It’s a common misconception that oils break down lash extensions glue – lash glue is cyanoacrylate based, which means that it can only be broken down by a specially formulated remover. In actual fact, we advise against using oil-based products around your lash extensions as the oils can come between the glue bond and the natural lash, causing the extensions to slide off prematurely. Another reason is that using a lot of oily products can lead to build up around the lash roots, which is something that we’re actively trying to avoid.
- Be Gentle: Always be gentle when handling your lash area, especially while applying or removing makeup. Avoid waterproof makeup, and always pat your lashes dry after washing them.
- Avoid Mascara: To maintain the best look and health of your extensions, it’s best to avoid mascara altogether. It can close volume fans and reduce the overall aesthetic, as well as often containing oils, and requiring more manual cleaning which in turn aggravates your lash glue bonds.
Eyelash extensions, when properly cared for, can be a beautiful enhancement to your look. The key to long-lasting, healthy extensions lies largely in how you clean and maintain them. So, embrace this cleansing routine, stay consistent with your lash fills, and enjoy waking up every day with a beautiful AND healthy set of lashes!
