13 Useful Tips To Make Your Eyelash Extensions Last A Long Time

The above lash extensions are a week old. I swiped Nudestix (available at Sephora) Magnetic Eye Color in Angel as a base and Immortal on the outer edge, that's it. No eyeliner, no mascara, and good to go! 😀

I've had eyelash extensions for a while now and I wanted to share my experience on how to take proper care of lash extensions so they can last you a long time.

Don’t Sleep Face Down

For those who naturally do not sleep face down and find it quite uncomfortable to do so, this might seem like an obvious choice. However there are many people who do sleep face down – yes, with nose crushed and cheeks sunk into the pillow. Doing so will also crush and make your lash extensions go out of shape. So maybe, for the sake of vanity and longevity of your lash extensions, try to minimize sleeping face down, k?

Goodbye Mascara

Mascara is a definite no-go. Mascara, even if stated water-soluble, contains oils and waxes that will require a lot of splashing of water to wash it all off, if not oil-based makeup removal. Eyelash extensions should not come in contact with oil as it will melt the glue. Besides, you don’t need to apply mascara if you’ve lash extensions on. During the resting month between sessions, I go back to my Holy Grail Lancome Grandiose Mascara. I'd buy a full-sized tube even if I'm going to be off eyelash extensions for just a couple of months coz the difference between mascara-ed lashes and not is huge!

(With Misuzu-san from Graceous)

In this picture I had extensions for the lower lashes too. I wouldn't recommend that though, it was really quite uncomfortable when the upper and lower extensions got tangled. So now I only go for the upper lashes.

Apply Eyeliner Sparingly

Similar to mascara, eyeliner is hardly necessary. Most of the time I just pat some eyeshadow and define the outer edges with a darker shade. When I do want to play up the emphasis, I’ll apply eyeliner, but without tightlining.

Firstly coz it’s not necessary; secondly coz it’s pretty tedious removing eyeliner from the waterline. You’ll have to be very careful not to get the cotton bud fibres onto the root of the extension.

You want to keep the lash extensions clean and free of gunk, to prolong their time spent on your lashes.

Stash The Eyelash Curler

Eyelash extensions, if done at a reputable place under a skilled therapist, are durable, but not indestructible. So don’t go test their limits by crimping your lashes with an eyelash curler.

Keep Cotton Pads Away From Eye

If you think you can be very careful, you’re most probably wrong. Speaking from many bad experiences of having cotton fibres stuck on my lash extensions, I really advocate not getting any cotton pads near the lashes, you’ll spend way more time trying to untangle the cotton fibres from the lashes. Use a cotton bud, and even then, be very careful. I prefer cotton swabs with a precision tip.

I prefer cotton swabs with a precision tip (find it here) as it makes cleaning hard-to-reach spots a lot easier.

Be Gentle During Makeup Removal

If you’ve always been gentle during eye makeup removal, you can afford to be even gentler. 🙂 What I do is remove the rest of my makeup with a water-based cleanser and cotton pads, leaving the eyes. Then I’ll soak a cotton bud with the water-based remover and gently work to remove the eye makeup.

Resist Urge To Rub

I used to love rubbing my eyes. Oddly, I don’t miss doing that at all. If you have eyelash extensions on, you’ll naturally curb that rubbing habit.

Blow Dry

As with blow-drying your hair to set it in place, use a blow dryer to fan your lashes back in place too. I usually just blow them for 10 seconds each eye. Choose a good hairdryer (My favorite is the light-weight but heavy-duty Dyson Supersonic), set it to cool setting and blow your lashes at a comfortable distance from the lashes.

Choose Your Look Wisely

Some people want a more natural look, while others want a more dramatic/glamorous look. I love how Misuzu-san from Graceous Lash Extensions is able to place so many lashes on my lids while making it still look natural. I always go for the ‘unlimited lashes’ option.

I used to do 9-12mm, and the one in the pictures here are 10-13mm, just because I wanted more oomph for the festive season. Heh heh. My lashes are able to carry 80-90 lash extensions.

The fall rate will depend on how strong your original lashes are in holding the extensions and how much weight (meaning number of lashes) you put on them. Lash fallout of 10 from 120 lash extensions will be less obvious than 10 from 80.

Let It Rest

Eyelash extensions can be addictive, since the results are so beautiful and it brings about so much convenience. But if you already have weak or damaged lash follicles, allow some rest periods in between. It’s pretty similar to having manicures, rest is always good. At the time of writing this post I've let my lashes rest for 2 weeks and am going to get a new set done in a couple of days.

Condition To Strengthen Natural Lashes

Eyelash serums claim to promote growth, lengthening strengthening. Top recommendations for eyelash growth serums include Organyc Lash & Brow Growth Serum, GrandeLASH-MD, and Talika Lipocils Eyelash Treatment Supplement. I bought my eyelash essence from Graceous at $55 and was told it's safe for both upper and lower lashes. I've been using it for a while and am seeing some new lashes near the inner corners! So eyelash growth serums do work! ^_^*

Find The Right Parlor

Recently I met a girl at an event and she complimented my lash extensions. I told her I’ve gone for 4 sessions so far and absolutely love it. Then she shared with me her bad experience.

She bought a session from some coupon site and went for the appointment. After some hard-selling, she paid extra for ‘more volume’. The lashes looked quite nice initially, but after a few days they started to shed a lot and the glue stung her eyes. So she went back to have them removed. Removed them, the staff did.

BY CUTTING HER LASHES. 😯

Oh noooo….! She said there were holes in between her lashes and she was really distraught. For many months she kept searching for remedies on how to grow back her lashes.

Her lashes looked fine when I met her, but she said she’s really apprehensive of lash extensions unless someone can assure her nobody will chop off her lashes again.

So I shared with her Graceous Extensions' contact. We didn't keep in touch, but if she ever makes a trip to Graceous, I'm sure she'll like it.

If this story is not enough to alert you to find the right person, I don’t know what can. It’s good to read reviews and find photos online first to see what others say about their prices and services. Eyelashes are really precious, I cannot imagine losing chunks of eyelashes from the hands of some irresponsible therapist. I think the Japanese are usually more deft at such techniques that require delicate and meticulous skills.

Okie phew! That was a long list of do’s and don’t’s of lash extensions!

Yes, there are sacrifices to be made in having eyelash extensions. I’ve been sleeping with an eye shade for YEARS coz I like complete darkness, but for the sake of keeping my lashes in good shape, I’ve had to learn to adapt to sleeping without it. It really gets easier with time. 😀

Would I recommend people to get eyelash extensions? DEFINITELY! It cuts my makeup time in half and my eyes already look fabulous the moment I wake up. No more crimping, applying mascara, removing mascara. If you find a good therapist, they can last pretty long. Mine can last 6 weeks.

I hope these tips can guide you to take better care of your lashes and make them last longer! If you’re interested, you can go to my favorite eyelash extension salon in Singapore - Graceous Eyelash Extensions - and look for Misuzu-san. Misuzu-san is at the 26A Purvis Street branch. Tell them you’re my reader and you can get 20% off for the first session.