Lash Aftercare
Let's talk about Lash Aftercare
Are you cleansing your lash extensions daily? Water alone is not enough and will not cleanse them properly.
TIP: Stand in front of your magnifying mirror and lift your lash extensions with your lash wand so you can see the base of your lashes. If you see build up, you know you're not cleansing your lashes properly.
There is an article going around talking about 'lash lice' known by its medical term, Demodex folliculorum.
It’s actually a type of mite that can be found on the face, where it lives in or near your hair follicles, feeding off dead skin cells, oils and hormones. And they particularly love eyelids and lashes.
If you're not cleansing your lashes daily, you're allowing all that dead skin and oil to build up on your lash line.
These microscopic mites are attracted to the oils that build up on our eyelashes.
If the lashes remain dirty, and are not cleaned properly, the mites can overpopulate, causing inflammation and itchiness and can lead to an increase in bacteria, which could potentially lead to an infection (blepharitis).
Dead skin cells, dirt, makeup and oil build up will also eat away at your lash extension's bond/adhesive, breaking it down over time and compromising your lash retention.
Do not be afraid to cleanse those lashes daily with a proper lash extension cleaner! Clean lashes are happy lashes!
That is something I always tell my clients!
CLEANSE CLEANSE CLEANSE!
Lash Extension Cleansing – Step by Step
Remove all eye-makeup using an oil and glycol-free makeup remover. If taking off eyeliner, use a cotton tip dipped in remover and wipe it across your lid, or away from the lid. Never towards the extensions. Don’t use cotton balls as you’ll get into a furry mess, as they will catch on the bases of the extensions.
If you are wearing heavy foundation, remove this too before washing eyes, using your cleanser of choice but AVOIDING the eye area. Some cleansers contain oil, particularly cream cleansers and ‘cleansing oils’.
Wet your eyes with cool water. Take a very, very small amount of a lash foam cleanser and lather it up on your palm with your lash cleaning brush. Apply this to one eye at a time, brushing in a downward motions. Be careful to not be to rough at the base of your lashes where the extensions are attached. Take your cleaning brush with the cool water and just gently splash it over your closed eyes until all the foam cleanser is gone. If your eyes still feel grubby, repeat.
Gently pat dry. It doesn’t matter if they are a little damp, stuck together with water etc., when you brush them they will re-separate.
Use your lash wand to very gently twirl through them and fan them back out.
Do this every day to keep them looking beautiful and clean. I recommend first thing in the morning to also take care of ‘eye crusties” from sleeping.