So….Day one of using lash extensions went fairly well. Longer, fuller lashes, check. But then….Day Two, in the shower, glue running into my eyes, ouch! Day Three feels like someone is yanking on my eyelids. Day Four, hmmm, it feels like they’re clumping. Day Fourteen, they start looking a bit patchy. Day Twenty, how much longer must I endure this?
Sounds familiar?
You’re not alone if you once if you, at some point, tried lash extensions and soon found your enthusiasm fading fast. Expensive, uncomfortable, even downright damaging– a far cry from the simple, low-maintenance lifestyle you were promised when you first set foot in the salon.
It’s never too late to save those lashes, though! We’ll help you understand how extensions affect you and introduce you to a pain-free way to show them the door.
Are Eyelash Extensions Safe?
When correctly applied by a qualified and licensed practitioner, eyelash extensions are a safe way to enhance the look of natural lashes and give you that boss-babe vibes. However, eyelash extensions have some drawbacks. They include:
Skin Irritation and Infections
The main risk of lash extensions is irritation of the eyes. Eyelash extensions require a [glue] to adhere the extension to the natural follicle, and your eyes could be incredibly sensitive to these chemicals.
Most hypoallergenic substances can still inflame or irritate tissue by weighing them down or pulling on the hairs… hence the underlying issues with extensions. Anything near the eyes has the potential to irritate, either because of the chemicals, friction or the pulling forces around the lashes.
Damage to Natural Lashes
Even if you go to the top lash specialist and follow all aftercare instructions to the letter, it’s still extremely conceivable that your natural lashes will suffer harm.
The distance between your extensions and the root of the lash increases as your natural lashes grow. This makes it difficult for your natural lashes to withstand the weight of the extension, which can cause breakage.
You can also cause harm to your natural lashes by rubbing or itching your lashes in your sleep (either with your hands or against your pillow).
Uneven Fallout
Your eyelashes are constantly in different stages of growth, which means that some are growing while others are shedding. It means that a few weeks after your lash extension appointment, some extensions will fall out as lashes shed and get replaced with new, natural eyelashes, while others will remain intact.
As a result, this can create an uneven, scattered appearance if you don’t get your extensions refilled every two to four weeks.
Clumping
A poor application of the lashes can frequently result in clumped lashes, especially if the individual doing it didn’t correctly glue one extension to one natural lash.
This issue frequently arises when you apply your own eyelash extensions. Mascara can also be an issue since it can lead to a greasy effect that clumps the lashes together in an unattractive and even painful way.
Investment of Time and Money
Your first set of eyelash extensions will cost between $100-300, with refills setting you back around $50-150 every two to four weeks. Getting your first set of lash extension applications can take up to two hours, with refill appointments lasting up to an hour.
So, despite the high cost of extensions and the fact you’re supposed to be carefree afterward, your lash tech will subtly advise you to top up your extensions once a month to keep your lash line balanced.
How Can You Remove Eyelash Extensions Safely?
Once you’ve decided it’s time to get rid of those extensions, the challenge is getting rid of them without harming your natural lashes.
You’ll probably find a lot of online advice about removing your lashes at home using coconut oil, castor oil, or vaseline, but we wouldn’t recommend this.
These products will partially dissolve the adhesive on your lashes, but they might not altogether remove it. This could mean that to separate your extensions completely, you will still need to rub or even yank them off. At this point, you run the risk of hurting your natural lashes.
Which is the last thing you want, right?
We’ll take you through some tips to help you free yourself from lash extensions in no time!
- Step 1– Ensure you have the right tools like eye makeup remover, tweezers, and clippers.
- Step 2– Before removal, thoroughly clean the lash extensions with soap and water, ensuring you get rid of any debris lodged in the adhesive.
- Step 3– Hold the tweezers at a 45-degree angle and slowly pluck the eyelash extensions out. Use a makeup remover wipe to carefully scrape away any glue if you can’t see the glue holding your eyelash extensions in place.
- Step 4– Cautiously pull the lash extensions on your natural lashes. If you feel any resistance, you may need to use more remover to dissolve the eyelash extension glue. You can apply more remover and gently continue pulling.
- Step 5– Seek professional help. If you can’t remove the eyelash extensions, play it safe and return to the salon, where a professional will remove your lashes using a specially-formulated cream that dissolves the extension glue in minutes.
Remember: Avoid using professional remover creams or gels if you remove your eyelashes at home. They contain aggressive ingredients that dissolve the glue quickly; if they get in your eyes, they can cause irritation. Hence, be sure you’re in capable hands and leave everything to the experts!
Do Natural Eyelashes Grow Back After Extensions?
Things get a bit hairy at this point. It’s essential to understand that lash extensions alone will not ruin your lashes. Damage to the natural lashes results from a poor application or your lash tech not selecting the correct type for an existing natural lash.
For this reason, getting lash extensions done by a professionally licensed esthetician is essential. Note that you may follow all the instructions and still find that your extensions cause damage to your natural eyelashes because of factors you have no control over, like genetics.
Now, eyelashes are hair— unless you have a pre-existing condition, hair grows back. Which implies your eyelashes will grow back.
While damaging your natural eyelashes is not ideal (nor sustainable over time), any breakage or fallout should resolve in four to six weeks as part of a typical lash growth cycle.
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