How to remove eyelash extensions

I wanted to share how to remove eyelash extensions and the best practices for doing it yourself at home. I love eyelash extensions and plan on getting them back, but when my second son was born, I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue with monthly top-up appointments while on maternity leave. It just wasn’t worth it for me until my son was a little older and I could get more of a routine. So, at my last appointment, I discussed with my aesthetician how to most effectively remove them at home so I could keep them on for as long as possible. However, once my lashes started to fall out, I could safely remove them until I was ready to wear extensions again.

I too have worn eyelash extensions for years, but it is a good idea to take them off for a while to give your natural lashes a rest and allow them to regrow without the extensions. It is also a great time to use an eyelash growth serum if needed, which I will explain more about later in this post.

Related: This is what happened after I tried the lash lift and tint: This is what happened after I tried Grande Lash MD: This is what happened after I tried Lashify Lashes:

Supplies

You’ll also need water and a clean towel – I personally like to use a black towel. Like this For makeup related things, a black washcloth is best for washing your face, since all of your other towels and hand towels are white (I like that because you can bleach them), but makeup does stain easily, so a black washcloth is best for washing your face.

How to remove eyelash extensions

First, wash your eyelids thoroughly. Wash gently and avoid rubbing your eyelashes. If you want to keep your eyelash extensions, it is common to wash your eyelids and around your eyes carefully so that the extensions do not get wet. This is the opposite, if you wash your eyelids and around your eyes thoroughly, your eyelashes will start to fall out with just water and eyelash shampoo.

Once you have washed thoroughly, use the spoolie to gently rinse any remaining water off the eyelash extensions and wet the base. You will notice that a lot of your eyelashes will fall out during this process. There is no need to tug or pull the eyelashes, just comb them with the spoolie. If your face is still wet, pat it dry.

Next, use an applicator brush (or a cotton swab) to apply adhesive remover to the base of your extensions. Then, use a spurrier to comb through. Repeat this process as many times as necessary until all of the extensions have been removed.

If glue remover gets in your eyes, wash them again with eyelash shampoo.

What not to do

• Don’t tug on the extensions as this can pull out your own lashes as well. You may be tempted to do this eventually when you only have a few stubborn extensions left, but resist the urge.
• Don’t tug on your lashes, only use the spoolie to remove the extensions, and basically comb through the extensions so that when you brush your hair, the hair comes out.
• Even if you use a towel, don’t scrub or rub your lashes too hard — gentle is the key word here.
• Do not use soaps or other products that can irritate your eyes. The adhesive remover is a slight irritant, so be careful not to get it in your eyes. If you do get some in your eyes, rinse them out. It’s not dangerous, it will just sting.

Natural eyelash care

• If you’ve been wearing eyelash extensions for a long time, give your natural lashes time to breathe and grow by not using other products such as heavy mascara. It’s hard when you’re used to the look of extensions, but just like giving yourself a break from acrylic nails, this is very healthy for your lashes.
• While your lashes are natural, this is a great time to use a hair growth product. You can make your own natural rosemary hair growth spray and use a spoolie to apply to your lashes at night after washing your face. Commercial eyelash growth products such as Grande Lash-MD are also an option. NormalLattice, Babe Rush or Revitalash.

I love eyelash extensions and plan on wearing them again, but it’s nice to know how to remove them at home for when you need to or want to take a break. Thank you for sharing. If you’ve had success removing extensions or have other tips you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.