How to care for eyelash extensions to last longer, recommendations for care at home

Eyelash extensions are a popular beauty procedure that is in great demand among a variety of women: mothers on maternity leave, career women, Instagram bloggers and many, many others.

The main advantage of the procedure is saving time. Extensions allow you to look attractive without the need to apply daily makeup (or limiting yourself to only the necessary minimum - tone and lip balm). The procedure can be a lifeline for those who are going through a very stressful period in their lives. When you don’t have any time for yourself, but you still want to look good - like any woman.

However, eyelash extensions also require some care and some self-discipline. To extend their wear for a longer time, follow the following recommendations.

Care in the first 24 hours after extensions

Any mechanical impact on the eyelashes should be avoided (do not sleep with your face touching the pillow, do not rub your eyes vigorously with a towel). From such exposure, natural eyelashes can break off, and extensions can become twisted, which will look unaesthetic. In the future, rubbing the eyelashes should also be avoided.
You should not expose your eyelashes to steam (visit a bathhouse or sauna). High temperatures can destroy eyelash glue. Try to avoid steam exposure during the entire period of wearing the extensions, but especially on the first day.
Protect eyelashes from contact with water.

Sleep rules

After extensions, the hairs are long, beautifully styled, and ideally shaped. If after a few days they stick out in different directions or have creases, then this is a sure sign of improper sleep.

Rules of care during sleep:

You should not sleep with your face on the pillow, even in a position on your side. This can crush the outer tufts of hairs; it is very important to control the position of the body and head.
It is best if the bed linen has a slippery surface, which completely eliminates the clinging of eyelashes.
Remove all makeup from your face every day before going to bed.

Follow-up home care after extensions

There are many myths about eyelash treatments on the Internet. For example, it is stated that after extensions you should not wash your face at all. This is, of course, not true. You can wash your face, but you should do it with caution. Avoid using soap and other aggressive products; it is best to purchase a special foam. You should also avoid contact with oil-based products on your eyelashes. It is not recommended to use cotton pads or other fibrous materials in the eye area. Water for washing should be at room temperature. After washing, do not rub your eyes with a towel; just pat them gently.

If you plan to use mascara while wearing eyelash extensions (by the way, do you know that calling eyelashes extensions is incorrect?), then you should choose it very carefully. Mascara should not contain oils that can destroy the extension adhesive. It is not recommended to use waterproof mascara, because it will have to be removed with more active cleansers, which can “remove” eyelash extensions along with it. A special water-based mascara is best suited.

After extensions, you should not use a curler (eyelash curler). But it is highly advisable to comb your hair carefully to prevent it from tangling. A silicone brush works well for this purpose. Do not comb your eyelashes while they are wet, wait until they are completely dry.

Proper care

Returning home from the salon with eyelash extensions, you need to develop new habits and rules for facial care.

You can touch your eyelids and rub your eyes only if necessary. The less touching occurs, the longer the glue will retain its properties to hold artificial hairs. By touching your eyes with dirty hands, you risk introducing infection inside.

If going to a salon is not possible, then find out how to use false eyelashes yourself.

The right comb

After extensions, the thickness and color of artificial eyelashes are optimal; daily use of mascara is not required. You can tint them for a festive event, but you need to use a water-based product.

Waterproof compounds form compounds with glue, penetrating into it. It will be difficult to wash off the paint. As a result, you can get inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

When using shadows or good liquid eyeliner, you need to be careful not to touch the fasteners.

If you have a fashionable manicure, then also find out how to restore your nails after shellac. Read here how to choose a lamp for shellac.

Luxurious look

To give your eyelashes a well-groomed look, use a brush. Combing will maintain a neat appearance and prevent sticking. A light massage with the bristles of the eyelids increases blood circulation, natural eyelashes will grow stronger and stronger.

You should not curl artificial eyelashes, they can be broken. It is better to immediately choose hair extensions with the necessary bend.

The habit of sleeping on your stomach will also have to change. Eyelashes can break on the pillow. The position of the body during sleep should be on the side or back. If you use an orthopedic pillow, you will get an additional effect - the absence of wrinkles on your neck.

Even the best care will not preserve eyelash extensions indefinitely. This is due to the natural processes of eyelash renewal. The first correction will be required after about 3 weeks, after 2-3 months the artificial hairs need to be removed.

How to straighten your hair without a straightening iron or hair dryer is described in detail here.

Simple rules

For flawless beauty non-stop, read how to get rid of leg hair forever.

What you can and cannot do after extensions

We answer the most popular questions.

Can I use eye cream?

It is possible, provided that you do not allow it to come into contact with artificial hairs and the gluing area. It is advisable to replace thick cream with a lighter product - gel or fluid.

Is it possible to do eyelid makeup?

Yes, you can. However, it is not recommended to use eye shadow base, cream shadows or any corrective products. When applying compact shadows, make sure that they do not get on your hairs - it can be difficult to clean them out later. For the same reason, it is advisable not to use shadow pigments. If you like to draw arrows, give preference to gel eyeliners rather than pencils. All products should not be waterproof or contain oils. Before going to bed, make sure to remove makeup.

Can I use any eyelash strengthening products?

You cannot use care oils. But it is even advisable to use special nourishing conditioners for eyelash extensions. Thanks to carefully selected ingredients, they add shine to artificial hairs and help strengthen natural eyelashes. In addition, you can use a special product - a fixative, which protects the place where the eyelashes are glued from external influences, thereby extending the wear life of the extensions. Often fixatives contain additional care components.

What not to do before eyelash extensions

It would be a mistake to think that going to a master does not require any preliminary work. Both after extension and before it, something needs to be done, but something is absolutely forbidden.

First of all, before visiting a lash maker, you should make sure that you have no medical contraindications to having extensions done. For example, frequent tearing, itching or burning in the eyes indicate health problems, which after extension can result in even greater problems. In this case, you should be examined by an ophthalmologist and only then, if everything is in order, do the procedure.

You also need to pay attention to the following points:

Before applying extensions, do not apply makeup to your eyes or use curling irons. Otherwise, artificial hairs will not attach well to natural ones.
If you plan to do light eyelash extensions, but you know that dark hairs will be “planted”, two days before the procedure, natural ones should also be dyed dark.
Before going to the master, think in advance which types and effects seem especially attractive to you. And already on the spot, the lash maker will tell you what you can do from the chosen one before your eyes.
Extensions cannot be done while wearing contact lenses. They must first be removed.

Can extensions negatively affect natural eyelashes?

For some, natural eyelashes remain fine after the procedure, for others they become weak and brittle, and also require additional care. What does this depend on?

You need to understand that the degree of damage is directly proportional to the professionalism of the extension specialist. His choice must be taken with great responsibility. Unfortunately, about 80% of craftsmen currently violate technology. If you choose a specialist based on price rather than qualifications, prepare for a long recovery period for your own eyelashes. And the opposite situation is that a correctly performed procedure, as a rule, does not bring any negative consequences for the condition of natural hairs. If you notice that your eyelashes have become more brittle and thinner after the procedure, this is a serious reason to look for another – more qualified – extension specialist.

Myths about eyelash extensions

A few common myths that have nothing to do with reality:

Extensions can be done at home yourself.

You can only attach false eyelashes yourself. Even the most experienced lash makers don’t undertake to do eyelash extensions on their own.

Harmful glue is used for extensions

Toxic glue inevitably causes irritation of the mucous membrane of the eye, causing tearing due to which the eyelashes will not stick.

You can't go to a solarium with artificial eyelashes

You shouldn’t go to a solarium immediately after extensions, but after the glue has completely dried, you don’t need to deny yourself a tan. UV radiation will not damage the glue if it is of high quality.

Alcohol does not harm the procedure

In small quantities, alcohol will not affect the build-up, but if on the eve of the extension or correction procedure you had a little too much with strong drinks, the next day the body begins to actively get rid of toxins. Because of this, the glue may “not take”, that is, it may not harden as quickly as it should. You should not drink it after the procedure in the first two days, until the polymerization of the glue is completed.

Causes of damage to natural eyelashes

Poor quality materials
. To attract clients at a price, some masters use materials of dubious quality in their work, which can have a negative effect on eyelashes.
Extensions with a lot of glue
. In addition to the fact that it looks unaesthetic, such extensions can seriously damage the eyelashes. A dense layer of glue prevents oxygen from reaching the hair follicles, which disrupts metabolic processes in them. This can cause natural eyelashes to fall out.
Violations of extension technology
. For example, gluing two natural eyelashes to one artificial one. This creates additional tension in the roots of the eyelashes, which can cause hair loss.
Extension using volumetric technique
. If the artist chooses the wrong artificial material for volumetric extensions, natural eyelashes may become more brittle, as they will experience too much stress. In addition, when choosing volumetric extensions, you must periodically take a break to give your own eyelashes a “rest.” If you do not follow this rule, constant increased pressure on your eyelashes can lead to their loss.
Allergy
. Loss of natural eyelashes after extensions may indicate an allergy. This reaction is often accompanied by swelling, itching, and redness of the eyelid. And mechanical damage to the growth zone with your hands (when trying to relieve discomfort) provokes eyelash loss even more.
Violations during removal of extensions
. If a client decides to remove eyelash extensions at home, this often leads to damage to natural eyelashes. Especially in the case of removing extensions with improvised means, and not with a special means - a remover.

In addition, there is such a thing as “withdrawal syndrome”. The client is so attracted to the luxurious appearance of the extensions that after removing them, the eyelashes appear featureless and frail.

Disadvantages of extensions

Not all girls take advantage of the opportunity to have eyelash extensions, although the procedure is absolutely painless and does not take much time. Refusal of a cosmetic service is based on some negative aspects that not everyone agrees to put up with.

Wearing eyelashes requires some caution. There may be pain or discomfort that occurs at the moment of touch. Forgetting that you have eyelash extensions on your eyes, you can carelessly scratch your eyelid, crushing the hairs, which can cause pain in the area of the bulbs. Girls with sensitive eyelids will not be able to enjoy wearing lush eyelashes.

Oily cream can ruin the result of a cosmetic procedure. By contacting the glue that fixes each eyelash, some types of fats reduce its properties, causing the appearance to deteriorate significantly - the eyelashes fall off. Therefore, those with dry skin should carefully moisturize their face, avoiding the cream falling onto the edge of the eyelid.

It is also highly undesirable to visit a Russian bathhouse and hammam. Those who like to warm themselves will have to use the Japanese variety, since this type of baths provides for a room humidity of 45%-50% at an air temperature not exceeding 50˚C. With such indicators, the glue does not crumble.

Girls who use contact lenses often refuse extensions. Taking them off and putting them on becomes problematic, especially for beginners. Due to a lack of experience when removing lenses, you can ruin the result of the extension specialist’s work.

There is an opinion that any girl can get fluffy eyelashes for a long time if she decides to extend them. However, a professional technician, seeing damaged eyelashes, will understand that extensions will only worsen the situation. For each living hair, you will need to plant two artificial eyelashes. If the client does not have a strong base for extensions, excess load will lead to the loss of her own eyelashes.

The services of a professional craftsman are not cheap. In addition, you will have to make a correction every 2-3 weeks, which is also not free. And when the time comes to remove the results of the extension, you will have to pay again. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that an expressive look will require investment, and more than once.

How to restore eyelashes after extensions?

First of all, you should assess the damage caused to your eyelashes in order to understand how to properly care for them. If their condition causes serious concern, do not self-medicate. You can make a plan for eyelash restoration with a trichologist.

What measures should be taken to restore natural eyelashes?

Nutrition of follicles
.
It is advisable to take vitamins necessary for hair: A, E, D, calcium. We also recommend consuming foods that have a positive effect on the condition of eyelashes and their roots: red meat, blueberries, almonds, eggs, salmon, nuts (Brazil and walnuts). Attention!
Before taking medications or changing your diet, be sure to ask your doctor for advice.
Restoration of eyelid skin
. If irritation appears on the skin of the eyelids after removing the extensions, this may lead to fragility of the eyelashes. To restore the skin of the eyelids, we recommend using nourishing creams, products with a cooling effect, compresses and masks for the skin around the eyes.
Hair strengthening
. For this purpose, special serums and natural oils are used.

How to wash your face properly?

You need to learn how to wash your face correctly from the first day of wearing eyelash extensions and caring for them.

To cleanse your face, it is important to use warm water, not hot. During care, you don't need to stop at the area around the eyes. The dirt between the eyelashes will still be washed out, even if you just splash water on your face.

Do not wash your eyes with soap. It is better to use soft cleansers - foam or gel. Such washes will not harm the care of eyelash extensions.

Dry yourself carefully, not with a towel.

Compresses and eye masks

For compresses, you can use decoctions of herbs, for example, chamomile, thyme, calendula, sage, oak bark, mint, lemon balm, nettle. These herbs can be used alone or in a mixture. Place 1-2 teaspoons of plant material in an enamel bowl, pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew for about an hour. After the infusion has cooled completely, soak cotton pads in it and leave them with your eyes closed for about 30 minutes. This procedure helps relieve swelling, soothes the skin and enhances its protective functions. Also, such compresses have a relaxing effect.

What else can you use?

Compresses with black or green tea.
Apply fresh cucumber gruel to swollen eyelids for 5-7 minutes.
Mix chopped parsley leaves and sour cream in a 1:2 ratio and leave on eyelids for 15 minutes. This mask stimulates regeneration, helps fight swelling, nourishes and moisturizes the skin.

Keep in mind that compresses and masks are auxiliary means to speed up recovery, but they cannot be the only method of treatment.

Types of artificial eyelashes, materials and extension techniques

The duration of the period of “wearing” of unnatural hairs depends on what material was used for eyelash extensions and what technique was used. Knowing how long the effect should last on average, you can understand whether you took care of your hair correctly or did something wrong. After all, if the hairs begin to fall off much earlier than planned, it means that some mistakes were made during the care process.

So, briefly about extension techniques

and resulting effects:

Classic technique - hairs are glued in such a way as to make the look more expressive, adjust the shape and shape of the eyes, but not lose their naturalness. These eyelashes are the easiest to care for.
Sparse technique - elements of different lengths are used, which are fixed in a certain order.
Cat's eye is a technique in which shorter elements are glued to the inner corner of the eyelid, and longer ones to the outer corner.
Glamorous technique - the effect is achieved by fixing two or more hairs onto one natural one.

It is worth noting that gluing eyelashes can occur in two ways - eyelash and beam. The first option is more reliable and easy to care for eyelashes, but the cost of the technician’s work will be high. The beam method of fixation means that the elements are attached not one at a time, but in groups. The advantages of the method are that the procedure is quick and relatively inexpensive. Cons – less natural look than with eyelash extensions; the bunches stay in place for a short time, even if you care for them carefully.

There are also several types of volume:

Incomplete extension. The technique assumes that the elements are glued through four to five natural hairs. Suitable for girls with long and fairly thick eyelashes, if they want to make their eyes a little more expressive and also refuse to use mascara.
Full extension. This technique, which is suitable for girls with short eyelashes, assumes that one artificial hair is fixed for each natural hair.
2D and 3D, as well as Hollywood volume. The technique is suitable for women who want to get the thickest fan-shaped eyelashes. The master attaches from two to ten extensions to each natural hair.

Experts report that the more hairs are fixed, the greater their volume and length, the more carefully they will need to be looked after.

The most popular materials for eyelash extensions

and their service life:

Mink. This material is very comfortable to wear as it is thin and light. Mink hairs perfectly imitate natural hairs and last for about two weeks without correction.
Sable. This material is suitable for those girls who want to have very thick and voluminous eyelashes. The fibers are wide and heavy, so they can only be used on healthy and strong hairs.
Silk. This is a lightweight glossy material that perfectly imitates natural mascara-painted eyelashes. It is well fixed and does not respond well to negative factors, so it lasts up to four weeks without correction.
Silicone. A strong but heavy material, suitable for creating the effect of long and voluminous eyelashes. Can last up to three weeks in a row without loss of aesthetic characteristics.

Women who are allergic to animal fur do not have to worry about the fact that they cannot get extensions using mink or sable. In fact, these are not natural materials, meaning real animal hair is not used during the procedure. The origin of the names “mink” and “sable” is due to the fact that the diameter of the fibers from different materials corresponds to the diameter of the hairs of a particular animal. The diameter of “mink” is 0.01-0.07 millimeters, and that of “sable” is 0.2 millimeters. “Silk” is also used not natural, but artificial; it got its name due to its softness and smoothness. The diameter of the fibers made from this material is 0.1-0.15 millimeters.

Strengthening natural eyelashes

To restore the structure of hairs and their nutrition, it is useful to use natural oils: olive, castor, burdock, almond, coconut, sea buckthorn. One of the excellent means for stimulating the growth of eyelashes after their active loss is usma oil. It helps restore damage, improves hair structure and returns it to a healthy appearance.

To strengthen natural eyelashes after extensions, the client can be advised to use a Complex of oils from Innovator Cosmetics. This is a balanced formula of 4 natural oils: usma, burdock, apricot kernel and castor. The product helps restore eyelashes after cosmetic procedures.

Apply a small amount of the Oil Complex to makeup-free, dry eyelashes once a day, in the evening, for 3-4 weeks. Don't wash it off.

You can also use special serums and growth activators to nourish eyelashes.

How to care for eyelash extensions in winter

Cold and temperature changes negatively affect eyelashes, both natural and artificial. The care rules are not complicated and following them will significantly extend the wear period:

Before the onset of cold weather, take prophylactic vitamins A and E;
Burdock oil strengthens natural eyelashes well, but it must be used a month before the procedure;
To protect against chapping, it is best to use mineral powder;
It is better to minimize the use of mascara in winter.

By following these simple recommendations, you will keep your eyelash extensions in perfect condition until your next scheduled correction.

Reminder for caring for eyelash extensions

For some time, try not to use decorative cosmetics in the eye area: mascara, eye shadow and eyeliner.
In the future, do not use waterproof mascara, as it weighs down the hairs, which can lead to their loss.
Try not to touch or rub your eyes with your hands.
If you still cannot give up eye makeup during the period of eyelash restoration, always remove it before going to bed. This must be done carefully, without putting excessive pressure on the eyelids and eyelashes.
Apply all firming products only after thoroughly but gently cleansing the area around the eyes.
Try to avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation on your eyelashes.
Avoid excessive exercise, stress and lack of sleep. All this provokes a slowdown in metabolic processes in the hair follicles and eyelash growth.
During recovery, stop using the curler.

You need to understand that eyelash restoration does not happen quickly. Do not rush to re-extend your eyelashes until your natural ones are completely restored. You should not rush to see a specialist if there is a risk that the procedure will harm your health. Remember: beauty does not require sacrifice, beauty requires a conscious approach and careful attitude

And so that you don’t forget the most important recommendations for caring for eyelash extensions, we have prepared a reminder for you:

Is it possible to wear makeup with eyelash extensions?

It is allowed to paint eyelash extensions with water-based mascara. To give new eyelashes the required length, make a couple of movements with the brush and the result will not take long to arrive. Try not to overload your eyelash extensions with too much mascara.

If you use eyeliner, apply it so that it is barely noticeable. Remove makeup with smooth and slow movements. Curling irons should not be used at all.

Is it worth taking care of artificial eyelashes - the advantages and disadvantages of extensions

To understand whether it is even worth spending time and effort on caring for eyelash extensions, you need to find out what advantages and disadvantages they have.

Pros of extensions:

The procedure can be carried out in any beauty salon or cosmetology clinic, even in a hairdresser. This means that you can choose a specialist whose cost of services will definitely suit you.
Lasting results. If you take care of your eyelash extensions correctly, you can enjoy the effect for at least several weeks in a row.
Saving time that needs to be allocated to perform makeup. This is especially true for active women.
Saving on the purchase of decorative eye cosmetics. If you wish, you can refuse curling irons, mascara, eyeliner and shadows.
At any time of the day or night you look well-groomed and attractive. Even after washing off the makeup from your face, you will not be left with long and voluminous eyelashes.
Ability to adjust the shape and shape of the eyes. With the help of eyelash extensions, you can hide drooping eyelids or too slanted or large, bulging eyes. But only truly professional and experienced craftsmen can do this.
Impressive effect. No mascara can make your look as expressive and charming as thick and long eyelashes. Especially if the native eyelashes do not have high aesthetic characteristics.
Instant results. You don’t need to wait several months to grow natural eyelashes using all sorts of serums and healing gels. The extension procedure takes only a few hours, and you don’t need to spend a lot of time caring for artificial hairs.

Eyelash extensions, unfortunately, have not only advantages, but also disadvantages. You should familiarize yourself with them so that you don’t regret the procedure later and don’t start caring for your natural eyelashes in order to restore them:

Discomfort, itching, redness of the eyes and eyelids, tearing. All this can happen if you have an individual intolerance to the materials used during the procedure.
Tired eyes. If you make too voluminous, heavy eyelashes, then the look will not look open and expressive, but tired and sick.
Mechanical impact of extensions on natural hairs, eyelid skin, possible damage to follicles. All this can negatively affect the condition of the epidermis and the growth processes of natural eyelashes.
After removing the extensions, and this will have to be done often, you will be unhappy with your reflection in the mirror. During wearing, you will get used to the large volume, and when you remove the artificial eyelashes, your eyes will seem literally “naked.” Since artificial eyelashes cannot be worn for more than four months in a row, even if visiting a specialist for correction, there will come a time when you have to return to your natural look in order to give natural tissues time to rest and recover. To avoid the disappointment of looking in the mirror after removing your eyelash extensions, take a photo before having your extensions done. This way, you get the opportunity to make sure that previously, before extensions, you looked quite normal, but you just managed to get out of the habit of the natural look. In addition, you will be able to find out whether the condition of your natural eyelashes has changed while wearing artificial eyelashes, whether they have thinned out, or whether they need restoration.
There is a chance that you will stumble upon a “crooked” master and spend money on a procedure whose results you will not be happy with. Some “specialists” not only do not have the necessary skills and experience, but also use cheap, low-quality materials, in particular poor glue. In this case, there is a risk of complications, the consequences of which will not be easy to get rid of.
The need to change habits and existing lifestyle. If you can't stop using oily skin cream, or can't sleep in any position other than on your stomach, eyelash extensions may be a disappointment. Well, you will have to take care of your appearance more carefully; not everyone is ready to strictly follow the recommendations of the master in order to prolong the effect. As a result, artificial eyelashes quickly fall off, and the extension procedure only brings disappointment.
Also, when thinking about the need to extend eyelashes and then care for them, it is worth understanding that if you make a mistake in choosing the density, thickness, and length of artificial elements, you can harm the naturalness of the image. Most women prefer that others do not notice that they have eyelash extensions. If you are of the same opinion, you need to use materials that are similar in characteristics to natural eyelash hairs. And also opt for the classic technique and incomplete extensions.