Cleaning eyelash extensions is a very valuable habit to pick up if you’re someone who takes their regimen seriously as well as wants to protect your beauty investment. Naturally while we benefit from serving our clients as often as they’d like to come in and see us, it’s in our best interest to ensure you’re satisfied with your results. This means we are here to make sure your results from your service lasts as long as possible. Lash extensions is an example of a service that has varying degrees of longevity depending on how closely the client follows the post-care procedures. But also, with just a few simple tricks, you can really make your lash extensions last. First, let’s discuss why it’s important to clean your lashes in the first place.
Why Cleaning Eyelash Extensions Is Vital
Clean lashes are healthy lashes – never forget! And like anything else, failure to clean your lashes will end poorly. One of the main physical outcomes tha tresults from neglecting to clean your eyelash extensions is it can cause itchiness and inflammation of the eyelids. In an effort to to remedy the situation, naturally you’re going to rub your eyes not realizing you’re actually rubbing your lashes which feel irritated. This will likely lead to disrupted lashes and red eyes. In more aggresive cases, a failure to clean your eyelash extensions can lead to what is known as blepharitis. According to The Mayo Clinic, this is described as such:
Blepharitis is an inflammation along the edges of the eyelids. The eyelids can become irritated and itchy, and appear greasy and crusted with scales that cling to the lashes. People with blepharitis sometimes wake with their eyelids stuck together. Others may wake with dried tears around their eyes and a feeling of sand in their eyes.
This type of bacteria can lead to the thriving of a certain type of parasitic mites which depend on said bacteria as well as dead skin cells. When this gets out of hand, you may not even realize how bad it is as commonly this physicallny manifests in thr form of redness, as well inflammation and itchy skin.
Gross, I know. Sorry. But it’s better you’re informed so you are equipped to tackle this as it’s a real threat to lash extension clients. And while this is a very mangeable infection in a high majority of cases, it’s still one you’re likely wanting to avoid.
Furthermore, it may render you an unsuitable client for extensions for a bit. Commonly we see clients confuse this with allergies or a mild flu-like sympton. Here are some other things you can look out for:
- White flakes in your lashes
- Burning sensation in your eyelashes
- Redness
- Eye dryness
- Watery eyes
- Gritty feeling in eyes
Most of these symptoms become visible in the morning when you wake up and most disappear with proper lash treatment.
Assuming these are outcomes you personally want to avoid (we don’t blame you), it’s safe to say we don’t need to sell you as to why it’s important. But on to the tips to avoid these outcomes.
While it would be easy for us to go into depth about countless things you can be doing, it’s important we equip you with tangible, practical things you can do RIGHT NOW if you so chose. There are plenty of other things to consider which we can gladly walk you through if you want to contact us. But this will make sure you can implement some adjustments and have immediate results if you are doing these things. Here are 3 very simple steps to cleaning your eyelash extensions.
Cleaning Eyelash Extensions: 3 Pro Tips
Here is a very brief summary graphic for you to reference conveniently any time. Below is a more in depth explanation of these very simple, actionable steps you can take today.
TIP #1: USE OIL FREE MAKEUP REMOVER
In a perfect world, it would be ideal to avoid using certain makeup while you have your lash extensions but in an effort to not limit your existing regimen, we’ll work around that. Regardless of what you prefer, make sure you’re diligent about ensuring anything such as remover or cleanser involved with cleaning your lash extensions is oil-free. One quick look around the web you’ll notice many cleansers are oil based. You want to avoid this as the oil systematically breaks down the compounds that secure your lash extensions. Oil-free products solely break down the mascara & take the debris with it, but leave the lash extensions in tact.
TIP #2: AVOID COTTON SWABS AND PADS
It’s advised a spoolie brush or simply your clean fingers be the main cleaning mechanism to clean your lash extensions. It’s natural to reach for a cotton based swab or pad to finish the job and wipe the cleaning residue away thinking the bulk of the treatment is done. But this is actually where mistakes are made commonly. Often times clients will even have a great cleaning regiment but still be confused when they have extensions that fall out. It is usually due to the fact that these cotton fibers are prone to grabbing your lash extensions and affecting their strength.
Depending on how abrasive you are, it’s certianly possible extensions are loosened and become free. So remember to be patient and simply dab with a tissue. The key thing here is the action/motion you use to dry. Dabbing/patting is the proper solution – avoiding the wiping motion which we’re so used to in nearly all other aspects of cleansing.
TIP #3: SILK PILLOWCASE
And finally, one of the more immediate benefits that applies to your overall happiness well beyond lashes, get yourself a silk pillowcase. There are a numerous eyelash services we offer where this is true as well other permanent makeup solutions. But it’s something most of professionals have been doing for more broad benefits. A silk pillowcase seems simple enough, but you’d be surprised how often your lashes rub against the surface of your pillow. It only makes sense this is going to damage, albeit negligibly in one lone instance. But over the course of one night, week, month, etc – this begins to compound. While it’s near impossible to eliminate this risk, you can manage it by making sure your lashes contact the least abrasive surface you can find. Silk is a wonderful solution to this issue and we highly recommend it.
If you found these tips helpful, you can book right now while the info is fresh using the button above or get even more information on the booking page. Or if you want to know more information prior to getting your lash extensions, you can contact us now. We are eager to get started working with you!