From glue-on lashes to magnetic lashes, these tips will enable you to prolong the life of your falsies.
After getting lash extensions or applying a set of falsies, you might feel like a completely new person. Even with the recent popularity of lash growth serum to help you grow longer lashes, false lashes or extensions are still the go-to for many. However, we’re all guilty of slacking when it comes to cleaning our beauty tools, and cleaning false lashes probably tops that list.
Whether you opt for lash extensions, magnetic lashes, or strip lashes, it’s important to learn how to clean false lashes properly. We reached out to a lash expert who promises that following these steps will be easier (and much more low-maintenance) than you think.
How Often to Clean False Eyelashes
Clean your false eyelashes at least once a day or after every use. This will extend the life of your lashes by preventing eye makeup or oils on your skin from damaging them.
Before You Get Started
Different types of lashes require different forms of maintenance. First, you need to know how to remove strip lashes. “Glued-on lashes can be removed easily because the glue used for this type of lashes is super flexible, making it easy to peel off the skin,” explains Clementina Richardson, founder of Envious Lashes.
“But if your strip lashes are applied using a medical-grade adhesive, that makes the process much more difficult. In that case, you would definitely need to see a professional that has the proper products for removal without damage.”
How to Clean Fake Lashes
Strip lashes can usually be used more than once (three to five times, approximately, before they lose their shape), but you have to clean the lashes between uses. “For makeup buildup, it’s best to use baby shampoo,” says Richardson.
What You’ll Need
- Tiny brush
- Tweezers
- Baby shampoo
Step 1: Apply Baby Shampoo and Rub With Your Fingers
Add a few drops of baby shampoo to the lashes. “Have it soak in the lashes for a few minutes, rubbing it really gently with your fingers or a tiny brush,” Richardson says. “The glue portion that’s attached to the actual lash should come off super easy.”
Step 2: Remove Glue
Once the old glue is softened, you can use tweezers to gently remove it from the lash band.
Step 3: Dry
Lay them out to dry completely before storing them—this is important to prevent mold or bacteria from growing on your lashes. Richardson also advises brushing them out since they may be stuck together from the moisture.
How to Clean Mink and Silk Lashes
Mink and silk lashes are known for their durability; in fact, they’re reusable up to 20 times with proper care. Most importantly, never soak your mink lashes in water, as getting the lashes wet will damage the shape and curl.
What You’ll Need
- Cotton swab
- Micellar water-based makeup remover.
- Tweezers
Step 1: Hold on Your Index Finger
After you’ve removed the mink lash from your natural lash line, hold the eyelash on your index finger so that its tips wrap around your finger, maintaining the curl.
Step 2: Dab on Makeup Remover
Drench a Q-tip with a micellar water-based makeup remover, and lightly dab the liquid onto the ends of the lashes, where the residual glue is.
Step 3: Remove Glue
Use tweezers to remove glue residue from both the back and front of the lash band.
Step 4: Dry
Set the lashes out to dry, making sure they are in their original form and not tangled together.
How to Clean Lash Extensions
Cleaning your lash extensions requires a lot of maintenance. Not only do you want them to last as long as possible, but also to keep them clean to avoid infection.
“Lately, I have seen many videos on Instagram of people cleaning their eyelash extensions with foam cleansers,” says Richardson. “I am not a fan of this practice and only find it necessary if you have dead skin buildup—constantly fussing with your lash extensions causes them to shed prematurely.”
Instead, the best way to cleanse your lashes, according to Richarson, is to use an oil-free cleanser. Follow these steps:
What You’ll Need
- Oil-free face cleanser
- Washcloth
- Towel
Step 1: Apply Cleanser to Your Face
To clean lash extensions at home, wet your face in a sink, not in the shower. “Apply the cleanser to a washcloth or to your fingers and apply the product to the entire face, including your eyelids,” says Richardson.
Step 2: Rub It In and Rinse
“Rub the product in one direction repeatedly on your eyelids, then lean over in the sink and rinse with water using your palms.” Do not do this in the shower, as the water pressure is too aggressive on the extensions.
Step 3: Dry
Afterward, gently pat your face dry with a towel. “Wait for your lashes to completely dry before brushing them out,” says Richardson. “Always keep in mind that you need to be gentle with your extensions.”
How to Clean Magnetic Lashes
The process of cleaning magnetic lashes is similar to cleaning mink lashes.
What You’ll Need
- Cotton swab
- Oil-free makeup remover or micellar water
Step 1: Separate Out the Lashes From One Another
Holding the band, make sure the lash is not attached to another magnetic lash. If there is any dried magnetic liner stuck onto the magnets, use your thumbnail to scratch off as much as possible (taking care not to detach magnets from the lash band).
Step 2: Apply Oil-Free Makeup Remover
Next, run a Q-tip dipped in an oil-free makeup remover or micellar water—along the lash band, including the magnetic portion.
Step 3: Dry
Set the lashes out to dry before reapplication.
How to Keep Your False Lashes in Good Shape
To keep your lashes in optimal shape, Richardson advises using a conditioning serum on your lashes while you wear the extensions.
