How To Tell If Your Lashes Need To Be Removed

It’s no secret that we love lashes around here. But we’re also huge proponents of healthy lashing — there’s no use in getting extensions if you’re just damaging your natural lashes during the process. And part of keeping your lashes healthy is knowing when extensions need to be removed.

This blog contains a few signs that indicate when it's time to part ways with your lash extensions (or when to let your clients know they should have them removed), ensuring your eyes remain comfortable and your lashes stay in top condition.

5 Reasons Your Extensions Might Need To Come Off

Normal Lash Growth

We all know that your natural lashes, like all the hair on your body, grow in a cycle. That means that over time, they’ll naturally fall out. This allows old lashes to be discarded, making way for new, healthy growth. When applied correctly, extensions should not hinder this growth at all, and will fall out with the natural lashes.

After about 2-3 weeks, you’ll start to notice more and more fallout and see a gap between the extensions and lash line. Again, this is normal, and actually indicates that your extensions were placed safely. But by this time, you should be heading back for a lash fill or removal to keep your natural lashes healthy and strong.

Any Pain Or Discomfort

There should never be any pain during your extension service or after — if there is, it’s a sure sign something isn’t right. Don’t ignore any discomfort you feel, as doing so can make whatever’s wrong worse. 

The majority of the time, extensions shouldn’t cause you any pain, but unfortunately, they sometimes can. Whether they’re poking you when you blink or making your eyes water, you should always turn to your lash artist and let them know; they’ll often offer to remove your lashes to mitigate any pain and avoid any future damage.

Moving Or Twisting Extensions

While we advise abstaining from touching your extensions as much as possible, sometimes it’s inevitable. If you find yourself rubbing your lashes and feel them moving around or twisting, it’s probably time that they’re removed. If not, they can move around so much that they poke into your eyes, which is uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.

Allergic Reaction Or Other Irritation

Allergic reactions are unlikely, but some people are sensitive to products used in the extension process. This is usually an ingredient in the adhesive, either the carbon black or cyanoacrylate. Your lash artist should be doing a patch test if it’s your first time getting extensions, which should help rule out any allergies. But sometimes they still happen, and usually mean your extensions need to come off. 

Take a look at our blog all about allergies and other reactions for more information!

You Just Don’t Like Them

Personal preference can make or break your lash set. Even with an extensive consultation and reference photos, sometimes you just aren’t satisfied with the finished product. As long as you remain polite and professional with your lash artist, it doesn’t hurt to let them know that the lash set isn’t what you expected. 

How To Remove Lash Extensions

While you might find ways to remove lash extensions at home, we definitely do not advise it. Even if you’re careful, you can end up causing damage to your natural lashes or eyes. You risk pulling out your lashes or getting products in your eyes, neither of which are safe or healthy in the long run.

If it’s time to remove your lashes, make sure to head back to your lash artist for a professional lash removal. They’ll use a dedicated lash remover that efficiently and safely dissolves the adhesive bonds, allowing the extensions to slip right off. That means your lashes will remain healthy and strong, ready for a brand new set.

Recognizing when it's time to remove your lash extensions is vital for maintaining eye health and personal comfort, whether it’s lash growth, pain, tangled lashes, or any other adverse reactions. We advise that you prioritize your eye health by addressing these issues promptly and seeking professional help when necessary. 

Your eyes deserve the best care, so listen to them and take action when needed. Plus, taking care of your lashes means you can keep getting extensions as long as you want!