How to care for eyelash extensions so they last until your infill

What to do in the first 24-48 hours after your appointment

For the first 24-48 hours the adhesive is still curing, so the rule is simple: keep them dry and away from heat. Lash glue sets on the surface within seconds, but the full bond with your natural lash takes a day or two to reach its final strength.

• Wash your face around the eye area with a damp sponge or wipe.
• No sauna, steam room, swimming pool or very hot, steamy showers.
• Skip intense workouts that make your forehead and eyelids sweat heavily.
• Don't touch them or comb them with your fingers to “see how they look”.

If your eyes feel slightly sensitive from the adhesive fumes during those hours, it usually settles on its own. If the itching or redness is still there the next day, give the salon a call.

How do you clean your eyes with lash extensions?

Eyes with extensions should be cleaned every day with a dedicated foaming cleanser, free from oils and alcohol, and a soft brush. Getting them wet is good for them: what shortens their life is the build-up of natural eyelid oil, sweat and leftover make-up at the base.

1. Pump one or two shots of foam onto the brush (synthetic, soft bristles).
2. With your eye closed, sweep the brush gently from top to bottom in the direction of the lashes, for about 20 seconds per eye.
3. Rinse with lukewarm water, tilting your head so the water runs downwards.
4. Pat dry with a clean towel or use the cool setting on a hairdryer held at a distance.
5. Brush them as soon as they are dry.

This cleansing routine also helps prevent blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelid margin that develops more easily when the lash base stays dirty for days.

Caring for classic lashes and volume lashes

Classic and volume lashes are cared for in the same way, but volume needs a little more attention when brushing. With classic lashes (Natural Effect 1D) one extension goes on each of your own lashes; with volume, fans are used, small bundles of 2 to 5 very fine extensions attached to a single natural lash.

If you can't decide between techniques, our page on eyelash extensions in Andorra sets out each option with how long it lasts and what it costs.

How to brush lash extensions without pulling them out

Brush your extensions with a clean spoolie (a spiral mascara wand, new and without product) when you wake up and after every wash. They cross over while you sleep and, if they tangle, they tug on your natural lash before it has finished its cycle.

• Look down and place the spoolie halfway along the lashes, never at the root.
• Brush outwards and upwards, from mid-length to tips.
• Replace the spoolie every few weeks or wash it with soap and water.

Use a mirror while you brush: if you spot a crooked extension, leave it alone and don't pull it.

What should you avoid with eyelash extensions?

With extensions, avoid anything that brings oil, strong heat or friction to the lash line. These are the habits that shorten their life the most:

• Oily make-up removers and creams near the eye: oil softens the adhesive.
• Mascara: you don't need it, and removing it means rubbing.
• Eyelash curlers: they bend and snap both the extensions and your natural lashes.
• Rubbing your eyes when you wake up or if you have allergies: it pulls on the bond.
• Sleeping face down: the pillow flattens one side and within days it will look sparser; a silk pillowcase creates less friction.
• Frequent sauna and steam: humid heat weakens the glue over time.
• Pulling them off yourself when they look crooked: your natural lash comes away too.

Full lash removal is done at the salon with a professional remover; doing it at home with oil or by pulling usually leaves gaps.

Can I wear eye make-up with extensions?

Yes, you can wear make-up, as long as it is oil-free and kept away from the lash base. Powder eyeshadows cause fewer problems than cream ones, and gel or water-based liquid eyeliner works better than a greasy pencil.

Remove your make-up each night with the same foaming cleanser you use for daily washing, so one step does both jobs. Wipes that leave an oily film and bi-phase micellar waters (the two-layer ones you shake) are the ones that show most in retention, meaning how well each extension stays attached.

Infills: when to come back to the salon

However well you look after them, after 2-3 weeks you will notice gaps, because each natural lash lives for 4 to 8 weeks and falls out with its extension. That is why infills are done within that window.

At Migami, if you come back within 18 days of your last appointment for the same service, you pay the infill rate, which is cheaper; after that, the standard rate applies. At the appointment we remove the extensions that have grown out too far and fill the gaps with the same design. You will find the rates for each technique on our salon prices, and if you want to know how long a set lasts between appointments, we explain it in how long eyelash extensions last.

A 7-step aftercare routine

Here is the full routine, from the first night to your infill:

1. First 24-48 hours without water, steam or heavy sweating.
2. From day three, daily washing with an oil-free cleanser and a soft brush.
3. Pat dry or use cool air.
4. Brush from mid-length to tips when you wake up and after washing.
5. Oil-free make-up, and no mascara or curler.
6. Sleep on your side or your back, ideally on a silk pillowcase.
7. Infill appointment within 18 days.

If you haven't had them done yet, it's worth reading how to prepare your lashes for your first appointment, and once you're ready, book an appointment in Andorra la Vella.