Lash Help Series: Keep It Clean

Lice in your lashes? It's more likely than you'd think!                

As part 2 of my special series on eyelash extensions, I wanted to delve deeper into a current issue that's come up about cleanliness. There's been some recent articles talking about the increased risk for lice in lashes, and what comes to a bit of a surprise to some of my clients is that it's not unheard of!

These are some lashes I removed from a client from another salon. There was no separation and just more and more glue and extension piled on each other which caused them to clump up and pull out her natural lashes when any needed to shed. She was unable to comb through and the build up from lack of cleansing just added to the mess!

Yes, it's incredibly rare for it to get that bad, and eyelash extensions can make your routine go much faster, they still require special maintenance. You don’t want end like one of those horror stories we see online who lost all their natural lashes or ended up with an eye infection either! So how do you avoid this? Beyond the basics of regular fills with a reputable lash technician who keeps your extensions looking full, anyone in the beauty and wellness industry will tell you it really comes down to homecare. Remember, you wouldn’t stop washing or detangling your hair if you got hair extensions or not wash your hands anymore because you got acrylics, eyelash extensions are no different. 

It can definitely take some getting used to, people often rely on mascara which keeps their lashes in place and is later washed off or don’t worry about their natural lashes at all if they never touch them. So, imagine you glued on strip lashes (aka falsies) and then never took them off. Strip lashes are not designed to stay on more than a few hours, the adhesive goes directly on the skin and isn’t strong enough to last much longer than that, but by applying individual extensions to your hairs with a super glue-like adhesive they are able to last the entire life cycle of the hair. This means that makeup, dead skin, and crustiness can build up along your lashes along with lint and even dust, especially when thick extensions clump up or tangle at the base of your lash line. Gross, right? 

So if you’re the type of person to sleep with your makeup on and make your mascara last a couple days per application, then eyelash extensions are going to be more work. 

What healthy eyelash extensions look like.

Beyond the first 24 hours that some lash adhesives require to be kept dry in order to cure, you need to be cleansing your lashes at least a few times a week. Many lash companies make their own extension-safe cleanser that your lash tech will probably recommend. Stay away from drying, exfoliating face washes or oil-based eye makeup removers which can break down the adhesive. However, if you’re on a budget regular Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo works great and won’t irritate your eyes.

To cleanse: gently rinse your extensions with cool water and foam up a small amount of cleanser and work in with your ring finger, which has the lightest touch, and rinse. You can also use lint-free microfiber Q-tips to work off any stubborn build up. Finally brush out your extensions with a clean spoolie brush. 

***Remember, it’s equally important to regularly brush your extensions to prevent twisting, tangling, and keep build-up from collecting.

Partial sets like this one can also add fullness and length without looking super patchy when they grow out.

Some people still avoid properly maintaining their lashes for fear that it will make them fall out faster. This is often the biggest concern for new lash clients, (and rightfully so, you just spent over $100 to have them attached in the first place!) but that should not stop you from keeping them clean. Don’t confuse fallout with regular lash shedding, which means your lashes will continue to naturally fall out with the extensions still attached and a new hair will soon take its place.

Regular fills will keep your lashes looking full, so unless you’re losing lots of extensions without the natural hair attached or if you’re experiencing discomfort and they are getting pulled out early with overzealous brushing, try not to worry too much when you lose a few. It’s better to lose a few more here and there with regular maintenance than have them all stuck together and unable to shed naturally which in turn leads to build up, pulling, and even gaps in natural lash growth. Plus it makes it a lot harder for your lash technician to perform fills if you come in with a tangled,dirty mess of extensions!

Remember, eyelashes are not much different than the hair on your head and with extensions they can twist and tangle just as easily, so treat your delicate eye area similarly, just with a more gentle touch. This does not mean you should blindly scrub them in the shower or rub them vigorously as you wash the rest of your face, instead just set aside a little extra time when you wake up in the morning, maybe after you brush your teeth and wash your face, to care for your extensions. Your lash technician and your lashes will thank you for it in the long run. 

Let’s face it, no one wants to be the poster child for lash lice!