Eyelash extensions can transform your look by giving you long, full lashes without the need for daily mascara. However, getting extensions is just the first step. Lash extension maintenance is essential if you want to keep those lashes looking fabulous for as long as possible. With improper care, extensions may shed within a couple of weeks, but with the right techniques, you can extend their longevity significantly. For beginners, it’s important to learn how to care for your new lashes from day one.
Immediate Aftercare: The First 48 Hours
The first day or two after getting your extensions is the most critical period. The adhesive bonding of your extensions needs time to cure fully. Here’s what to do right after your appointment:
- Keep lashes dry: Do not allow water to contact your lashes for at least 24 hours. Avoid showering, swimming, crying, or washing your face around the eye area during this time. Moisture can disrupt the adhesive bond before it sets.
- Avoid steam and heat: Stay away from saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and even very hot showers in the first two days. The steam and heat can soften the lash glue and cause premature shedding. Be cautious with cooking over a steamy stove.
- No eye products: Refrain from applying any eye creams, serums, or makeup to your lash line for the first 48 hours. Oil-based products, especially, can interfere with the glue (more on that later). It’s best to keep the eye area product-free initially.
- Hands off: Do not rub your eyes or fiddle with your extensions. It’s normal for them to feel a bit foreign at first, but resist the urge to touch. Rubbing or tugging can dislodge extensions and irritate your eyes.
- Sleep carefully: If possible, sleep on your back the first night or two to avoid pressing your face into the pillow. Side or stomach sleeping can crimp or crush new extensions. A satin or silk pillowcase can help reduce friction if you tend to move around.
These precautions will give the adhesive ample time to strengthen. Patience in the first 48 hours pays off with better retention. Once you’re past this initial phase, you can move on to a normal eyelash extension care routine, but remember that even after curing, lash glue is never invincible. Gentle care is key to making extensions last.
Daily Eyelash Care Routine
After the initial two days, you can settle into a regular daily routine to care for your lash extensions. Here are the core components of a daily lash extension regimen:
- Cleansing: Regularly cleaning your lash extensions is crucial for both longevity and eye health. Dirt, oils, and makeup residue can accumulate along your lash line each day. Not only can buildup loosen the adhesive over time, but it also creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Cleaning your extensions helps prevent eyelid inflammation or infections like blepharitis that can result from poor hygiene.
- Brushing and grooming: Just as you brush the hair on your head to keep it tangle-free, you should brush your eyelash extensions daily to keep them aligned and neat. Extensions can sometimes crisscross or get slightly tangled, especially after sleeping or showering. Using a clean spoolie is the best way to gently brush your lashes. It’s usually easiest to do this when the lashes are dry. To brush properly, close one eye and support your lashes by placing a finger on your eyelid above them; then use the spoolie to lightly comb through the extensions, going outward and upward from the base to the tips. Do not roughly brush from the root or tug hard. A soft touch on the tips is enough to realign them. Daily brushing keeps your extensions fluffy and prevents them from clumping together or twisting in odd directions. It also helps you shed any loose fibers that have detached in a controlled way.
- Gentle makeup practices: One of the perks of lash extensions is that you might not feel the need to wear mascara or heavy eye makeup at all. Your eyes already look “done.” If you do choose to wear additional makeup, keep it minimal and extension-friendly. Avoid using regular mascaras on your extensions, as most mascaras can not only clump up the extensions but are also very hard to remove without rubbing. In particular, never use waterproof mascara on lash extensions; removing it requires oil-based removers or vigorous rubbing, both of which will shorten the life of your extensions. If you must add a touch of mascara, only apply a very light coat on the tips of the extensions. Similarly, go easy on heavy eyeliners or eyeshadows. Gel or liquid liners that are oil-free are preferable to waxy pencil liners, which can leave residue. And when it comes time to remove any eye makeup, always use a gentle, oil-free makeup remover.
- Be mindful of moisture: After the initial 48 hours, normal exposure to water is fine – in fact, keeping your lashes clean is necessary. However, extremely long or hot showers, frequent sauna sessions, or intense workouts that cause a lot of sweat around the eyes can still weaken the adhesive over time. You don’t need to avoid living your life, but be aware that extensions do best when not subjected to excessive heat or moisture regularly. When showering, it’s a good idea not to let the full force of water spray hit your lashes directly. Instead, wash your face gently with a washcloth or let water flow over your lashes indirectly. After getting them wet, pat them dry carefully (never rub with a towel) and give them a gentle brush back into place.
By incorporating these daily habits, you’ll significantly improve the longevity of your extensions and their appearance each day.
How to Clean Lash Extensions Properly
Knowing how to clean lashes with extensions is absolutely vital. Regular cleansing not only keeps your lashes looking fresh but also protects your eye health and ensures the extensions bond securely. If you never clean your extensions, oils and debris will build up and can break down the adhesive, invite bacteria, and even attract microscopic mites. Don’t worry, cleaning lash extensions is quick and easy once you have the right supplies and technique.
What to Avoid
Now that we’ve covered the proactive things you should do, it’s equally important to know what not to do if you want to maintain lash extensions for as long as possible. Beginners sometimes unknowingly engage in habits that cause their extensions to shed or get damaged prematurely. Treat your extensions with a gentle touch. Little habits like rubbing your eyes or using the wrong products can greatly diminish how long your extensions last. By avoiding the pitfalls above, you’ll be practicing the best lash care practices for longevity and lash health. Your investment in extensions will go further when you take these precautions.
Regular Refills and Long-Term Maintenance
Even with perfect care, no lash extensions last forever. Your natural eyelashes are on a growth and shedding cycle, typically replacing themselves every 6–8 weeks. This means extensions will shed along with your natural lashes gradually. To keep your lashes looking full, you will need regular refill appointments. Most lash technicians recommend getting a refill about every 2–3 weeks. After about 2 or 3 weeks, a noticeable portion of your extensions will have shed or grown out. By 3–4 weeks, you may notice your lash line looking patchy as gaps appear where the extensions have fallen off. Scheduling routine touch-ups every 2–3 weeks is crucial to keep your extensions looking fresh. At a refill appointment, the lash stylist will replace the extensions that have shed and remove or reposition any that have grown out too far. This brings your lash set back to full glory without needing a completely new full set. Think of refills like maintenance on your car – regular small services keep things running, so you don’t have to do a big overhaul as often.
The lash technician will first assess your current extensions. Any extensions that have grown out might be removed if they are twisted or off-angle. Grown-out extensions can sometimes make your lashes feel tangly or heavy, so removing those is important. The stylist may use a tiny bit of lash adhesive remover to slide off those extensions or may gently detach ones that are barely hanging on. Once the old, loose ones are dealt with, they will clean your lashes and then apply new extensions to the new growth that has come in. Typically, to qualify as a “refill,” you need to still have a certain percentage of your extensions remaining. The refill process typically takes less time than the initial full set – approximately 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of items that need replacement.
Refills typically cost less than the initial full set. They might be around half the price of a full set. When budgeting, remember that extensions are an ongoing investment. For example, if a full set costs $150 and refills cost $75, you’ll be spending that $75 every few weeks. Over a year, that adds up. Some salons offer memberships or packages for regular clients to save on refill costs. As a beginner, you may still be deciding whether the maintenance is worth it for you. Knowing about the refill commitment ahead of time helps prevent surprises. If keeping up with appointments every 2-3 weeks sounds difficult or too costly, you might choose to wear extensions just for special occasions or short periods, rather than continuously.
DIY Lash Extensions at Home: Kits, Tools, and Safety
Salon eyelash extensions aren’t the only way to achieve lush lashes. In recent years, many at-home solutions have emerged, ranging from temporary at-home lash kits and cluster lashes to more advanced DIY extension systems. You might be curious about doing your own extensions to save money or for the convenience of not having to visit a salon. Indeed, a professional lash session can cost $100 or more each time, whereas an at-home kit often comes at a fraction of that price. And with busy schedules, being able to apply lashes on your own time is appealing. If you decide to buy lash extensions online or try a DIY kit, there are several important considerations to ensure a safe and successful experience.
If you’re going the DIY route, do your research and invest in a quality kit from a reputable lash extension brand. There are many options on the market, so look for kits that are well-reviewed by other users, and ideally, ones that are designed specifically for beginners. The best lashes for beginners at home are often cluster or segment lashes, which come in small fans or groups that you apply under or over your natural lashes in a few pieces. Clusters strike a balance by being easier to handle yet giving a semi-permanent effect. Also, ensure the kit’s glue is safe, as it should explicitly say it’s for use near eyes, and it’s a bonus if it’s latex-free and formaldehyde-free. Many beginner kits come with everything you need: the lash pieces, glue, an applicator tool, glue remover, and sometimes a sealer to extend wear. For example, ProLash offers a beginner-friendly lash extension at-home kit that includes pre-curated lash clusters, adhesive, an applicator, and remover – essentially all the necessary lash extension tools in one package for a safe at-home application.
By following these eyelash extension aftercare tips, you’ll ensure that your knowledge on how to remove lash extensions remains long-lasting. Proper maintenance might require a bit of effort each day, but it becomes routine quickly, and the payoff is that your lashes will look flawless from fill to fill. Enjoy your gorgeous new lashes and the confidence they bring. Remember that a little TLC goes a long way in keeping them lush and healthy.
Sources
- Healthline – Eyelash Extensions Aftercare: How to Get the Most Out of Your Lashes (June 22, 2021)
- Bidwell Optometry (Dr. Jen Wademan) – Lash Extension Care (Sept 13, 2024)
- Byrdie – How to Clean and Care for Eyelash Extensions (Updated May 20, 2024)
- Allure – 5 Best At-Home Lash Extensions That Actually Last for Weeks (Sept 9, 2025)