Jump below this infocard for my comprehensive guide to aftercare, or take a peek at the simple steps below.

aftercare guide

GENERAL CARE:

Please wash your lids and lashes within 24 hours of your appointment. 

Please wash your lids and lashes at least once a day to dissolve any buildup and to avoid a stinging sensation when you get in the shower. The stinging is caused when salt/dried tears are not cleansed off of your lash line, and the steam and water from the shower loosens it up and it seeps into your eyes. It is not the adhesive causing the stinging - once adhesive is cured it is waterproof, and it’s cured when you leave the studio! 

To wash your lashes, use a foamy cleanser or gel remover that I retail or recommend. If you’re in a pinch, feel free to use a gentle face cleanser but be aware it may sting. It is not necessary to avoid oily eye makeup remover. Do not use baby shampoo. A brush or your fingers are the best way to cleanse your lashes, as I demonstrated after your first appointment and am happy to demonstrate again at any time!

ACTIONS TO AVOID:

Please avoid anything that creates any kind of rough action on your eyes as it puts a significant amount of strain on your extensions. Do not pick, pull or rub at your extensions. Waterproof makeup also creates too much friction when trying to remove to the extent that it is recommended to avoid altogether.

Please do not curl your lashes with a mechanical lash curler. It will permanently kink your extensions and/or break the bond which can make them pop off of your natural lash.

Please do not try to remove your extensions on your own, with tweezers, or with any product. Lash extensions must be removed by a professional or allowed to fall out on their own. It you attempt to removed your extensions, you will most likely cause temporary lash loss of your natural lashes, or breakage, causing them to appear shorter until they grow back out.

PRODUCTS TO AVOID:

Please do not use waterproof eyeliner or mascara. Regular mascara is ok but it can cause more wear and tear for the same reasons as waterproof mascara. Mascara made specifically for lash extensions is recommended.

Please do not use baby shampoo to cleanse your lashes.

Please do not use cotton products to remove eye makeup as the fibers can get stuck in your lashes. Makeup remover wipes, or cloths like the Makeup Eraser are fine to swipe across the eyelids, but do not rub your lashes with them. Again, a brush or your finger work best.

Sometimes certain liquid, cream (gel or kohl), and pencil eyeliners can be hard to remove and tend to build up along the base of the lashes, causing them to stick together. Lashes that stick together with dead skin cells and/or makeup can pull out together and cause temporary lash loss. Test your favorite products at home and see how difficult or not they are to remove and decide from there if you wish to continue using. I will tell you at your fills if I see any remaining product, in which case I’ll recommend you to cleanse your lashes more diligently and/or discontinue use of certain products.

If your eyes look red, please avoid any “get the red out” drops like Visine, Lumify, Rhoto, etc as they can irritate the eyes further. If your eyes feel dry, it is recommended to use artificial tears/lubricating/rewetting drops without vasoconstrictors. I recommend Refresh Tears or Systane. I like to say, if you’re about to go meet the First Lady, please use get the red out drops, just be aware that at the end of the day, they will make your eyes more irritated.

POTENTIAL RISKS & COMPLICATIONS:

Five percent of the population is allergic to the adhesive (cyanoacrylate). We won’t know if you’re allergic until after your third exposure. It’s important to understand the risks of the allergy, otherwise known as contact dermatitis, even if you have been wearing extensions for years. Your risk for allergy is low but it is possible to develop an allergy at any time. 

In the unlikely event you do develop the allergy, you will experience swelling to both eyelids within 12-24 hours of your appointment. The whites of your eyes usually remain “silent” and there is no discharge or oozing present, as the allergy affects the skin on your eyelids and not your eyeballs.

If this happens to you, seek medical care and let me know as well. It is advised to contact an ophthalmologist as opposed to a general MD or an optometrist for a prescription for a topical steroid ointment that can be used to prevent the lids from swelling at the time of fills. Typically, it will only need to be applied (like eyeliner) for a couple of days and you can enjoy your extensions as you normally would. Do not use over-the-counter hydrocortisone.

If you do become allergic, bring your ointment with you and I will apply it after I wash your eyes thoroughly after your fill.

For a more comprehensive guide to understanding contact dermatitis as it regards to lash extensions, please visit my allergy guide.

REGARDING LASH LIFTS:

Do your best not to get lashes wet for the first 24 hours. After that, resume all activities and products as normal.