Can I wash my eyelash extensions after 24 hours?

Yes, you absolutely can—and should!

After 24 hours, the adhesive used during your lash appointment has fully cured, meaning your new lashes are locked in place and ready for a gentle clean.

Here is everything you need to know about keeping your lashes clean, healthy, and fluffy.

Why Washing Your Lashes Matters

Some people worry that getting their extensions wet will cause them to fall out, but avoiding water actually does more harm than good. Daily life leaves behind natural oils, dead skin cells, eye makeup, and dust that build up right along your lash line.

If you skip washing them, that buildup breaks down the lash glue faster, causing your extensions to pop off early. Clean lashes last longer and keep your natural eyelashes healthy.

What Happens If You Skip Cleaning Them?

Ignoring your lash hygiene leads to a few common issues:

• Lash Mites (Demodex): Tiny microscopic mites naturally live in hair follicles. If dead skin and oil build up, these mites thrive, leading to itching, redness, and inflammation.

• Blepharitis: This is a common condition caused by clogged oil glands along the eyelid margin. It causes swollen, flaky, and crusty eyelids.

• Premature Shedding: Heavy oil buildup softens the lash glue, causing extensions to slide off long before your natural lash cycle finishes.

How to Wash Your Extensions Step-by-Step

1. Use an oil-free cleanser: Regular face washes often contain oils or heavy moisturizers that dissolve lash glue. Pick a specially formulated lash cleanser or an oil-free foaming wash.

2. Be gentle with your fingertips: Wet your face with cool or lukewarm water. Apply a small amount of cleanser to your eyelids and gently massage down through your lashes using circular motions. Avoid rubbing back and forth.

3. Rinse thoroughly: Splash your eyes with clean water until all the cleanser is gone.

4. Pat dry (don't rub): Gently pat around your eyes with a soft towel or lint-free paper towel. Let your lashes air dry, or dry them on a cool setting with a hairdryer held a few inches away.

5. Brush them out: Once they are completely dry, use a clean mascara wand (spoolie) to gently comb through your lashes and fluff them back up.

Best Practices by Activity

• After Workouts & Sweating: Sweat contains natural salts and oils. Always give your lashes a quick rinse and wash after exercising.

• After Swimming: Chlorine in pools and salt in ocean water can degrade lash adhesive and dry out your natural lashes. Cleanse them right after getting out of the water.

• Wearing Eye Makeup: Use oil-free eyeshadows and powders. Apply makeup gently, keeping eyeliners slightly above the lash line so you don't coat the base of the extensions.

3 Golden Rules to Keep in Mind

• Skip the oil: Check your makeup removers, eye creams, and micellar water. Make sure anything used near your eyes is 100% oil-free.

• Never brush wet lashes: Wet lash fibers are heavier and more delicate. Brushing them while wet can snag and pull out your natural lashes.

• Clean them daily: If you wear makeup or work out regularly, wash them every single evening. If not, every 1–2 days works fine.

How to Spot Normal Shedding vs. Glue Breakage

It helps to know what normal lash loss looks like versus a problem with retention:

When to Book Your Next Lash Fill

Even with perfect washing habits, your natural lashes constantly grow and shed. Schedule a fill every 2 to 3 weeks to replace shed extensions and remove grown-out ones before they twist or pull on your natural lash line.

Our Collections

Rapid promade fans
Brown volume lashes
Velo fans

Eyelash glue

Read similar posts

Lash extension tips and tricks

Lash lift vs lash extensions