How to Maintain Your Eyelash Extensions at Home While Salons Are Closed

By Jessica Harrington

Published on 3/30/2020 at 4:15 PM

Getty | Plume Creative
Getty | Plume Creative

By the end of social distancing, you'll be a pro at root touch-ups, at-home gel manicures, and eyebrow-shaping, but let's not forget eyelash extensions on the list of ever-growing beauty services we're also DIYing right now. Anyone who's ever had eyelash extensions and endured the process of them falling out knows this isn't exactly fun — to be honest, your eyelashes can start to look wonky real fast. There is no graceful way to deal with gaps in your lash set, individual hairs facing in every possible direction, and varying eyelash lengths.

Whether you are still in the beginning stages of your lash service and working on maintaining them at home or missed your last two-week eyelash extension touch-up due to salon closures and are well past the point of saving them, Clementina Richardson, celebrity lash expert and founder of Envious Lashes, shared tips for fixing eyelash extensions at home and nursing your natural eyelashes back to health.

Can You Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home?
Getty | AJ_Watt

Can You Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home?

In short: no. "Unfortunately, there is no over-the-counter or DIY oil-based products that can safely remove lash extensions," Richardson said. "Removing them yourself can pull out your actual lashes since the extensions are attached strand by strand and can lead to bald spots that may never grow back."

The best thing you can do is be patient while your eyelash extensions fall out on their own. "Never cut your lashes or pick off your lash extensions," she said. "Picking at them will only cause damage to your natural lashes." Just like your hair sheds, your eyelashes fall out with time, and your extensions will eventually grow out with your natural lash cycle.

How to Fill In Gaps in Your Eyelashes as the Extensions Fall Out
Getty | Klaus Vedfelt

How to Fill In Gaps in Your Eyelashes as the Extensions Fall Out

Lash extensions don't fall out evenly and can leave sparse areas and holes in your natural lash line. The best way to hide this is with makeup. "You can fill in the gaps using mascara," Richardson said. Just be sure to use a washable formula — waterproof mascara can be too harsh to wash off of eyelash extensions.

How to Keep Your Natural Lashes Healthy and Nurse Them Back to Health
Getty | Paper Boat Creative

How to Keep Your Natural Lashes Healthy and Nurse Them Back to Health

Eyelash extensions, as great as they look, can take a toll on your natural lashes. When it's all said and done, you want to make sure they're in the best possible shape by giving your real lashes some extra TLC. To start, she advises against using a mechanical eyelash curler. "They can damage your natural lashes in many ways, including pulling the lashes out at the root or breaking them in half," Richardson said.

While most people use eyelash extensions as an excuse to not wear makeup, if you are — or if you're putting on mascara to hide sparse areas in your extensions as they fall out — removing it at the end of the day is crucial. "If you are still wearing makeup, don't forget to take off eye makeup before bed," Richardson said. "All your creams, shadows, liners, and mascara can cause buildup and potentially weaken your natural lashes."

And last but not least, reach for a lash serum. "Just like you would apply night cream or serum to your face, applying a lash conditioning serum before bedtime is key," Richardson said. Her pick: Envious Lashes Luxuriating Lash Conditioning Serum ($38, originally $75). No matter what stage your lash extensions are at, and even if you don't have any eyelash extensions at all, using a serum on them is a good habit to start for stronger, healthier lashes.