Whether you wear eyelash extensions regularly or just bought your first set, knowing how to remove eyelash extensions safely at home can save you from a world of trouble.
Eyelash extensions are beautiful additions to your natural lashes. They’re perfect for daily wear or for special occasions. However, lash extensions don’t last forever, so when it comes time to remove them, you should be aware of how to follow the proper steps.
You don’t have to be a professional esthetician to know how to remove eyelash extensions. Knowing how to remove your lashes yourself will save you a trip to the salon and the extra expense.
Read on to learn how to remove eyelash extensions at home.
Table of Contents
Don’t Pull on Your Eyelashes to Remove Extensions
If you’re familiar with glue-on false lashes, you may feel the urge to pull on your eyelash extensions to get them off. You should never remove your lash extensions this way.
Eyelash extensions are applied with strong, surgical-grade adhesive. Pulling on your eyelash extensions won’t detach your lash extensions from your lashes. In fact, you’ll only damage your natural eyelashes this way.
Pulling your eyelash extensions will cause:
● Your natural lashes to break
● Your natural lashes to pull out at the root
● Irritation to your eyes
You don’t want to go from having long, lustrous lashes to damaged, sparse lashes. While your eyelashes will eventually grow back, it’ll take a long while. To avoid lash damage, learn how to remove lash extensions gently.
How to Use Steam to Loosen Your Eyelash Extensions
It’ll be easier to remove your eyelash extensions if you loosen them with hot steam. You can do this by taking a shower or by using a facial steamer.
You can even create your own DIY steamer by filling a large bowl with hot water and draping a towel around your head to keep the steam from escaping.
Your eyelash extensions are bonded to your natural lashes. The steam will work to loosen the binding adhesive.
How to Remove Eyelash Extensions With Oil
Oil will break down the glue holding your eyelash extensions on. The oil will also make your lashes slippery, so the eyelash extensions will be more inclined to slide off your natural lashes.
You have several options when it comes to oil. Coconut oil is preferred (and it smells the best), but you can also use olive oil, castor oil, or even vegetable oil.
All of these oils work well to break down the bonds between your lashes and extensions.
You can even use an oil-based makeup remover. The oil content will not be as high as with pure oil, but these products are often designed specifically for use around the eyes to remove stubborn waterproof makeup.
If you choose to use pure oil, you can increase the effectiveness by warming it up. Warm oil will break down the adhesive even better than room-temperature oil.
Do not, however, use hot oil on your eyelashes. Your eyelid and lash area are very sensitive. If you choose to use warm oil, test the temperature by dipping a finger into the oil before you apply it to your eyelashes.
● Cover a cotton ball or pad with your chosen oil or oil-based cleanser and hold it against your eyelashes with your eyes closed.
● Leave the soaked cotton ball or pad on your lashes for at least five minutes to give the oil time to work.
● Do one eye at a time, taking care not to get the oil in your eyes.
● Rinse your face with warm water and gently wipe a soft cloth across your face and lashes.
● You should see your eyelash extensions coming away from your lashes.
If all of the lashes haven’t come off the first time, repeat the oil-soaking process again. Be patient when removing lash extensions. If you find a few persistent lashes, don’t pull on them. Repeat the above process daily until they fall off.
If you’re not in a hurry to remove your lashes, apply castor oil to your lashes before bed. The castor oil will work overnight to loosen the lash extensions. In the morning, wash your face as usual with an oil-based cleanser, and most, if not all, of your lash extensions, should come away easily.
Wash Your Face to Cleanse and Remove Oil
After you’ve completed the oil step, you might notice that lash extension debris and oil are all over your face. All you have to do is wash your face with your normal, gentle cleanser.
Your face and your natural lashes should feel fresh and cleansed after a nice wash. Be extra gentle when using cleanser around your lashes, though, as they’ll need time to recover.
How to Take Care of Your Natural Lashes
Now that you know how to remove eyelash extensions the right way, you can perform maintenance on your natural lashes.
After you’ve removed your eyelash extensions, your natural extensions will be fragile. Eyelashes are delicate in general, but especially so after they’ve had extensions applied. This is why you should be very gentle during the lash removal process. You don’t want to cause more trauma to your lashes.
Lash serums are great for strengthening your natural lashes. They contain vitamins and antioxidants to keep your lashes healthy.
If you’re looking for a budget option, your natural lashes can benefit from the regular application of castor oil.
Castor oil will hydrate your natural lashes and aid in the repairing of any damage. Just apply a small amount of castor oil to your lashes before bed and allow it to work its magic overnight.
Professional Eyelash Extension Remover
You always have the option of buying a professional eyelash extension remover to remove lashes. However, you should be cautious when using this kind of product at home.
Professional eyelash extension remover is a very strong formula and is used by professional estheticians in a salon environment. If you don’t know how to properly use it, you can hurt your eyes.
When learning how to remove lash extensions yourself, it’s best to use the gentlest methods possible. If you’re new to the world of lash extensions, it’s a good idea to leave the professional-grade products to the salon experts.
Final Thoughts
Removing your own eyelash extensions doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Using the gentle method above, you can learn how to remove eyelash extensions and keep your natural lashes healthy and looking great.