- The Main Cause of Damage: One Extension on Several Lashes
- How Much Shedding Is Normal
- How to Check Your Own Lashes
- Extensions That Are Too Long or Too Heavy
- Skipping the Cleaning
- How to Choose a Lash Artist Who Takes Their Time
- When the Adhesive Is the Problem
- If Your Lashes Are Already Damaged
- Frequently Asked Questions
No. Lash extensions are safe for your natural lashes when they are done correctly. If your lash artist works carefully and you look after your set, you can wear them for years without a break.
Damage does happen. But it comes from a short list of mistakes, and many of them are on the lash artist’s side. Once you know what they are, you can spot them yourself. The quickest one to check is time. A proper classic full set takes me about two hours, so I would book with somebody else if a lash artist says they can do one in an hour.
The Main Cause of Damage: One Extension on Several Lashes
Every extension should sit on one natural lash. Lash artists call this isolation. We separate a single natural lash from the ones around it, then glue the extension to that lash only.
Isolation matters because each of your lashes grows at its own pace. One lash next to another can be at a different stage. One is mature and will fall out soon. Its neighbour is only halfway grown.
When one extension is glued to two or three of those lashes, the lash that is growing faster pushes the extension out and pulls on the others. Over time that tugging pulls lashes out before they are ready to shed.
How Much Shedding Is Normal
Your natural lashes shed all the time, with or without extensions. Most people lose three or more natural lashes a day. Over two weeks that adds up to forty or more, and some of them were carrying extensions.
A new lash grows in behind each one that falls out. That new growth is what your lash artist works on at your fill. So a set that thins out a little each day is normal. What is not normal is losing natural lashes before they are ready. You can see how a fill works on the new growth.
How to Check Your Own Lashes
You can check this at home. When an extension falls out with your natural lash, look at it closely. You should see one natural lash attached. If you see two or more stuck together, the set was not isolated properly.
Extensions that are applied properly feel natural. It should not feel like you have anything on your eyes. Pain is a warning sign:
- Tugging or pulling usually means an extension is glued to more than one natural lash.
- Poking usually means an extension was placed on the skin of the eyelid instead of on the lash.
If you feel any discomfort, contact your lash artist right away.
Extensions That Are Too Long or Too Heavy
An extension can be up to 3 millimetres longer than the natural lash it sits on. That is the rule I follow when clients ask if they can go a little longer. Anything longer can be too heavy for that lash. A lash carrying too much weight can shed early, and over time it can be damaged.
You can check the length yourself. Take an extension and hold it right beside one of your natural lashes. Eyeball whether it is more than 3 millimetres longer. Fuller styles add more to each lash, so check how classic, hybrid and volume sets differ before you book.
Skipping the Cleaning
Clean your lashes every day, starting 24 hours after your appointment. Some damage happens at home when this gets skipped. Use a lash shampoo, a cleanser or baby shampoo. I send my clients home with the Stacy Lash shampoo and brush set ↗. The set comes with its own brush.
When lashes are not cleaned, build-up collects at the base and the lash line gets unhygienic. That build-up can irritate your eyes. Lash mites are attracted to the dead skin that collects there, and they feed on it. Mites can clog the follicles your lashes grow from. That affects your natural lashes, and over time it can leave thin or bald spots. Cleaning every day also helps your set stay on. More on that in how long lash extensions last.
How to Choose a Lash Artist Who Takes Their Time
Good isolation takes time. A lash artist who rushes is the one most likely to glue extensions to several lashes. So before you book, ask two questions:
- How long have you been lashing?
- How long does a full set take you?
A volume full set takes me about three hours. If you have had a volume or mega volume fill done in 45 minutes, look closely at your lashes when they shed.
Read reviews, and ask all the questions you have. A good lash artist is happy to explain how they work. Part of that time goes into setup, like placing eye pads and tape so each natural lash is easy to see.
When the Adhesive Is the Problem
Some people react to lash adhesive. I have had clients react. When that happens, I switch them to Stacy Lash Sensitive glue ↗.
Sensitive glue dries more slowly than a regular adhesive, so the set takes longer. I decide on it client by client. Even with sensitive glue, some clients still react. If that happens, lash extensions are not for you, even when they are applied well.
If Your Lashes Are Already Damaged
Sometimes a new client comes to me with lashes another artist has damaged. I suggest a full removal of the extensions. Depending on how bad the previous set was, clumps of natural lashes can come out with them. Then the client takes a break for at least a month before their next full set.
Use a lash serum during the break. The one I recommend is GrandeLASH-MD. It is popular, and in my experience it works well for encouraging growth.