Are you someone who time and time again feels like their fill appointment could not come soon enough? Does it take everything in you not to put mascara or false lashes on over your extensions because they are looking sparse? Or maybe you have a friend who seems to only get her lashes done every 3-4 weeks while you have to come back every two. Let’s face it – eyelash extensions are an investment and we want you to get the most that you can out of them! While there are some determinants of lash extension longevity that cannot be controlled (such as your personal lash growth cycle or the slickness/smoothness of your lashes), a big factor in lash extension retention is how much TLC you are giving them! Whether you’re a lash extension newbie or you’ve worn them for years, here are 5 tips to help you get the best and longest wear out of your lash extensions!

3 week retention – lash extensions by Devan M      

3 week retention – lash extensions by Becca A

1. Clean your lashes with a lash shampoo

This may sound like a broken record, but it has to be said! If clients express that their lashes are not lasting as long as they hoped, the first thing I always ask is if they are cleaning them and what they are cleaning them with. Using a lash specific foaming shampoo is your best bet for ensuring you are removing all the dirt, oil and makeup that can sit on your lash line and weaken the bond of the lash extension adhesive. Cleansers that are not specifically meant for lash extensions could contain ingredients that might potentially be detrimental to your extensions (not to mention harsh on your eyes!). Always be sure to clean your lashes everyday – especially if you are wearing makeup, sweating, or swimming! Most lash artists carry a lash shampoo in stock. We recommend using our in-house Baby Coral Lash Shampoo which is made of 99% Organic and Natural Ingredients that’s gentle enough for your eyes, but also super effective in removing eye makeup too! 

2. Go easy on the growth serums

If you’re like me and have natural lashes that are on the shorter, thinner and sparser side then you’ve probably been advised at some point by a lash artist to try a growth serum such as Eye Envy. While Eye Envy is great for making your lashes grow and supporting lash health, it should be used in moderation while wearing lash extensions. Growth serums work by speeding up your lash growth cycle and by result – your shedding cycle as well! This means that if you are using one daily while wearing extensions, you may notice that you are losing more lashes than usual. Additionally, you will likely have to come back much sooner for fills as you will have more “grown out” lashes (shown below) that will need to be removed and replaced during your fill appointment. We recommend slowing down usage to 1-2 times per week. We love Eye Envy – just in moderation when it comes to lash extensions 🙂 Read Everything you need to know about Eyenvy and Lash Growth serums here!

3. Switch it up! 

As much as we love long and dramatic lashes, if you want to make your lashes last longer try going with a slightly lighter set! Lash extensions come in many different lengths and diameters whether you’re doing classic, hybrid or volume. Talk with your artist about trying a lighter extension or going shorter. Shorter and lighter extensions put less weight on your natural lashes and are less likely to pop off as the natural lashes can better support them. 

Another option is to switch up the curl! Try switching to a lash extension that more closely matches with the curl of your natural lashes. For example, if you are someone with very straight natural lashes and are wearing a D curl (most dramatic curl), there will only be a small area of contact between the natural lash and the extension. Try switching to a C curl (moderate curl) extension to create a larger contact area and better bond with the natural lash. 

4. Trade in your eyeliner

It is no surprise that makeup will make your extensions fall out faster. Most makeup products have some form of oil in them whether it seems obvious or not. Mascara, pencil eyeliner, gel eyeliner, and cream eyeshadows are all big no-no’s with lash extensions. I remember when I first started wearing lashes I would apply pencil eyeliner on my top lash line every day and wonder why they fell out so soon! If you’re someone who just cannot go without eyeliner, talk to your lash artist about trying an “eyeliner effect” with your extensions! With the eyeliner effect, we place shorter extensions along the bottom layer of your lashes. By doing this, it creates density along the lash line mimicking the effects of eyeliner so you can go without!

Lash extensions by Emily B

5. Let us know!

Lastly and most importantly, if you feel like your lashes are not lasting as long as you wish make sure to bring it up with your artist the next time you’re in! They will be sure to help troubleshoot anything that might be causing your lashes to not hold as well as they could. They will talk through your routine with you to pinpoint any changes that you can implement to make your lashes last longer. I had a client once who was having retention issues and told me she would often go to hot yoga later in the day after her lash appointments! She wouldn’t have known this was detrimental to her lash extensions had she not brought it up with me. By talking it out with your artist you are sure to leave with some tips and tricks to try out at home to help get longer wear out of your lashes. Sometimes all it takes is a little trial and error to determine what works best for you and your lashes!

Have any questions about lash retention? Let us know so we can help you get the most out of your lash extensions!