Got your lashes done and curious on how to best take care of them? Or are you researching what the maintenance of your potential lash extensions may be? Read on!

At Inkvictus Studios, your first full set lash extension service will come with a complimentary aftercare kit. We want to make sure you have everything needed to keep those lashes beautiful and clean! It is supplied with a lash bath brush, cleansing shampoo, and multiple lash spoolies along with a permanent spoolie with its own little case to keep it sanitary.

With the lash bath brush, you will lightly wet the tip of the brush. The cooler the water the better for your lash retention. Warmer water can tend to loosen the glue and cause the lashes to fall out quicker!

After the tip of the brush is wet, we always recommend you either put one pump of foaming cleanser directly onto the tip of the brush or directly onto the lashes themselves. Only one pump is necessary! (Your bottle of lash cleanser should last at least six months!)

You always want to clean your lashes with a downward motion from the base of the lash to the tip with your eyes closed, of course. Working in a circular motion isn’t a bad option either but, for some people, it may cause them to fall out slightly faster so be aware of that.

Once the lashes are nice and foamy, you should take the wet tip of the lash bath brush and use the downward motion, again, on the lashes to get all of the foaming cleanser off. You may need to put the brush into cool water multiple times to remove the remaining suds (it’s super important that all the cleanser is rinsed completely to prevent any eye irritation).

There are a few different ways to dry the lashes after cleansing:

You can use a blow dryer on the low, cool mode while using one of the spoolies from your aftercare kit to gently wiggle the lashes upward while you fan them with the dryer.

You may also use a handheld fan in the same way that you would use the blow dryer. Some clients have stated the blow dryer is a bit too much for them, so we like to offer this suggestion as well!

Grabbing any sort of lint free cloth such as a t-shirt, paper towel, or towel and lightly dabbing the lashes while brushing them upwards with a spoolie is the most simple and easiest way to dry your lashes. If you’re in a bit of a rush, this is definitely the go-to!

Here are some things we want to avoid for the first 24 hours:

– Water and steam – think shower, pools, saunas, and hot tubs. As stated above, warm, excess water on the lashes can cause the glues to loosen which will result in poor lash retention.

– Sweating – the same reason water can cause a loss in lashes is the same reason it’s important to be super consciences when doing anything that can cause extra perspiration.

– UV and Sun Exposure – the natural heat can weaken the bond between extension and natural lash! We highly recommend wearing sunglasses when you can!

Water, steam, sweat, and UV exposure will greatly affect the retention of the lashes during the first 24 hours. The products used to adhere the extensions to your natural lashes during your session need that full allotted time to fully cure and settle.

After the initial 24 hours, you can go back to your typical routine; however, even after the first 24 hours, it’s important to be mindful of any type of moisture that may come in contact with the lashes. Don’t stick your face directly in the shower sprayer and try not to submerge your whole face into the pool when swimming. When working out, we recommend keeping a dry, lint free cloth nearby to help blot the eye area to prevent moisture from sitting on the lashes for too long. It’s not as crucial after the first 24 hours but being mindful can equal better retention in between refill appointments!

There are in fact some things that should be avoided for the entirety of having lash extensions. These will make your lashes fall out much quicker and may require more frequent refills or, in some cases, can determine that you aren’t a candidate for extensions.

– Makeups with oils – can break down the glues that adhere the lashes together.
– Makeup directly on the lash extensions, or around the eyes – Excess scrubbing when trying to clean mascara or other make-ups off the lashes can cause lashes to fall out too.
– picking/ pulling on the lashes – I think this one is pretty self-explanatory!

Hopefully this makes your aftercare a little easier! 😊 If you think you may be interested but don’t know which style you’d like best, I did write a blog about different styles and determining which may be best for you, I definitely recommend taking a peek! If you’d like to see our process, pricing, and some FAQs, take a look here. As always, no blog is complete without a link to the contact button, find that here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, always happy to help!

Extra tips and tricks:
– If you cry (please don’t 😔 ), be sure to wash your lashes immediately after. The salt in your tears can cause the glue to loosen just like oils and water.
– Sleeping on your back will prevent lash fall out in between lash refills. People who sleep on their sides tend to lose more extensions on the outer corners.
– Getting a satin or silk pillowcase can potentially help as lashes tend to get stuck to cotton pillowcases as you sleep.
– If you’re in the gym or tend to work out a lot you should be washing your lashes twice a day because of oil build up – this can result in faster fall out so keep this in mind if you’re interested in getting extensions.
– Book your refills in advance! Doing so can help maintain that beautiful lash look and guaranteeing your slot on the calendar as spots are limited! 🖤

xo, Natascha Rautenberg