For many years, the beauty industry has introduced both simple and complex enhancements to make your everyday self-care routine just a bit easier. Semi-permanent treatments like eyelash extensions have become increasingly popular and allow you to wake up each day feeling already put together.
While there are many beauty benefits to having lash extensions, the downside is the constant upkeep. Therefore, it can become quite a hassle if you cannot schedule the time to squeeze in an appointment. In this article, we will share how to remove eyelash extensions at home with a step-by-step guide. Including all the tips and tricks you need to remove lash extensions at home with minimal to no damage to your natural lashes.
Can You Remove Eyelash Extensions At Home?
The first and most popular question when it comes to removing eyelash extensions is, can you do it at home? Fortunately, yes, there are solutions to remove eyelash extensions yourself, but they are not as easy as just pulling them off like false eyelashes.
We recommend seeing a professional before trying to remove eyelash extensions on your own. Most lash technicians will offer a lash removal service at a small fee using a lash remover to soften the eyelash glue, so the extensions slide right off. They will typically use either a gel remover or a cream remover without causing irritation or harming your natural lashes.
Removing your own lash extension at home can pose a huge unwanted risk of messing with your natural lashes as you can pull out your actual lashes, and all the beauty experts strongly advise against it.
If for some reason, you cannot have lashes removed by a professional, you can wait for your natural lash with eyelash extension to fall off naturally, as natural lashes have a natural growth cycle of 30 to 45 days. Otherwise, follow along below to see other ways to most safely and effectively remove eyelash extensions at home.
What Is Eyelash Adhesive?
Lash extensions are fake lashes placed onto your natural eyelashes with an adhesive eyelash extension glue: Ethyl cyanoacrylate. This eyelash glue is designed to be fast drying and has strong adhesion. However, both oil and steam will loosen this lash glue and remove the hold.
When you arrive at your first lash appointment, your lash technician will often warn you to stay away from oil-based makeup remover, cleansers, makeup, and other beauty products. This is because the oil will increase the chance of breaking up the adhesive, causing little to no lash retention and an increased need for a refill. When looking to remove your lashes, you can take advantage of this.
How To Remove Eyelash Extensions At Home
Before you start the process at home, note that it can take you an hour, more or less, to remove lash extensions. Check out our step by step guide on how to use an oil-based product for lash removal:
Step one: Cleanse your skin
Before attempting to touch your lashes, cleanse your face with an oil-based cleanser. When washing the eye area, take a small cotton pad and gently remove any eye makeup, making sure not to tug on the lashes, causing your natural lashes to be damaged. Remember you want to make this process as gentle as possible.
Step two: Soak with Hot Steam
As you cleanse your face, make sure to use the steam from the water to help loosen your lashes.
You can do this in the shower and allow your face to sit in the steam for a prolonged period. Use a face steamer, place your face over a large bowl of steaming hot water, or place a large towel over your head.
Step three: Use mild warm oil
Mild warm oil can help accelerate the process, and room temperature oil will work just fine.
If you decide to use warm oil, get a small bowl, fill it with some oil, and warm it up over the stovetop or microwave. Be sure to check the warmth of the oil before using it.
Step Four: Gentle Removal
After you cleanse, steam your lashes and warm up the oil, grab a clean mascara brush or spoolie, and gently brush your lashes. Then dip it in oil and brush again—this allows the extensions to loosen and eventually fall out.
If a brush is not available, dip a cotton ball in oil as you would with eye makeup remover and hold it to your lash for a few minutes. Then gently wipe the lash line downward motion to allow the artificial lashes to fall off slowly.
If not all of them come off in one cleaning, do not worry, this is normal. You shouldn't expect to see all your lashes fall after one hot shower or gently rub with oil. Repeating the steps will help dissolve the glue and allow the eyelash extensions to slide off.
You can repeat this process as often as you like or allow the lash extensions to fall out naturally within the next few days.
Step Five: After Care
After you are done each time, rinse your face with warm water to remove any excess oil and apply moisturizer to hydrate your skin. It would be best if you also tried to nourish your natural eyelashes after removing eyelash extensions.
Choosing An Oil for Removal
While there are multiple oils you can use to remove your false lashes, some work better than others.
For home removal, we recommend taking a more natural route. Each person has a different genetic makeup, and therefore, oil levels will differ, so this process may be a bit of trial and error until you find what works best for you.
The top recommendations that have produced the best results have been coconut oil, mineral oil, castor oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, baby oil, and Vaseline.
Castor oil can be used as an alternative as it is gentler on the lashes. However, it will not break the adhesive bond as effectively. Therefore, it will need to be placed on the lashes for a prolonged period of time and sit repeating this process for a few days until the lashes fall out naturally.
Tips for a Painless Process
Removing lash extensions at home should be the last resort if you are unable to schedule an appointment with a professional to do so. Some technicians will even come to your home so you can get it done in the comfort of your own home. If you do choose to remove your lashes at home, here are a few tips for a painless process:
- Be calm and patient: This process may get frustrating, but patience is key as you want to keep your natural lashes in the best shape possible. When performing this process, be gentle with your entire eye area.
- Be Gentle: Do not attempt to tug, twist, pull, pluck or rip your lashes. Instead, glide your lashes downward with a cotton pad or Q tip to increase the fall out without damage.
- Take your time: The removal process takes time, and it can take up to two hours.
- Use warm oil: Using mild warm oil can help accelerate the process. When using warm oil, be sure to test it first before applying.
- Avoid using eyelash extension remover at home: eyelash extension remover can burn and irritate the skin if not properly sourced and used. Leave this up to the lash expert.
Reasons Why You May Not Want To Remove Eyelash Extensions At Home
Damaging your natural lashes
If eyelash extensions are not removed properly, you can damage your natural lashes during the process. If you pull or rub too harshly, you can damage your natural ones and lead to bald spots.
Takes More Than One Session
Even though oil can break down the adhesive, they are not strong enough to remove lashes in one session. This means you will need to do multiple sessions to remove the extensions completely.
If you got that last few stubborn lashes left, it might be attempting to pull them out, but that will damage and cause you to lose your natural lashes.
Excess Oil
Applying an excessive amount of oil on your lash line can cause a clog in your pore, leading to blackheads, pimples, and breakouts around the eyes.
Irritation And Infection
You can easily introduce bacteria into your eyes if things are kept clean while trying to remove your eyelash extensions, leading to unwanted eye irritation and infection.
FAQs
Can you use an eyelash extension remover?
You can use eyelash extension removers but not recommended. Some can burn and irritate your skin if it's not properly sourced, and it can be very dangerous if you get into contact with your eyes. It would be best to allow licensed or certified lash technicians to apply it instead of experimenting with it yourself.
Can steam alone remove eyelash extensions?
Steaming in front of a hot water bowl or facial steamers for 10-15 minutes will help loosen the glue. However, you shouldn't expect to see all lashes fall out within one session.
Is it safe to remove eyelash extensions at home?
While there are many ways to remove eyelash extensions at home safely, the safest option is going to a professional.
Professionals are trained and experienced with carefully removing eyelash extensions without damaging your natural lashes or irritating your eyes.
Do eyelash extensions ruin your natural lashes?
Sometimes eyelash extensions can damage your natural lashes, but everyone's experience is different. If your eyelash extensions are applied and removed properly, it is unlikely that they will.
Is it better to get eyelash extensions removed or let them fall out?
Letting your eyelash extensions fall out on their own or removing them by a professional is the safest option than removing them on your own.
How to nourish your eyelashes after extensions
After eyelash extensions, there are many ways to nourish and boost your natural lash growth. Some of these ways include:
- Lash enhancing serum.
- Eat healthy and nutritious food rich in protein, biotin, vitamins A and C, niacin, and iron.
- Take a supplement that promotes hair growth.
