Do Lash Extensions Ruin Your Lashes? Let’s face it!

list In: Eyelash Extensions

Let’s face it: we all want gorgeous lashes without having to try too hard. 

Mascara gets clumpy and some brands transfer and leave dark spots around your eyes. Wearing false eyelashes means fussing with glue and there is always the possibility of losing a lash in the middle of the night. Lash extensions seem like the perfect solution to all of these problems — one trip to an eyelash artist every two or three weeks means beautiful lashes without the fuss! 

Despite the gorgeous results and easy upkeep, many people are still reluctant to get lash extensions, claiming to hear horror stories about the damage that they do to your natural lashes.

So do lash extensions really ruin your lashes?

Spoiler alert: nope! You have nothing to fear as long as your lash extensions are properly applied and you practice good lash hygiene.

When individual lash extensions first became popular in the early 2000s, the use of formaldehyde-based glue was common. Formaldehyde-based lash glues are difficult to remove and cause allergic reactions in lots of people, wreaking havoc on their natural lashes  — this is the reason that negative connotations around lash extensions began to appear.

Fortunately, formaldehyde-based glues are no longer used by any reputable lash artists. Instead, the majority now use medical-grade glues formulated especially for lashes, making lash extensions 100% safe. Your lash artist will still do a “patch test” with the lash glue to ensure that you don’t have an allergic reaction. Better safe than sorry!

Modern lash extensions are formulated to work with — not against — your natural lashes. 

Since lash extensions are attached to each individual lash, they will shed just like your natural lashes do! In fact, this is where the myth that lash extensions ruin your lashes came from. 

Your lashes go through a regular shedding cycle, shedding about 20% of your lashes every two weeks. You lose (and regrow) all of your lashes every 4-6 weeks, shedding roughly 3-5 every single day! This process is way more noticeable when you have big, beautiful lash extensions. 

When you lose your lashes, the extensions go with them, leaving a section where your natural lashes have regrown, sans extension. The remaining extensions make your real lashes look short, stubby, and sparse, leading some to believe that the extensions have damaged their lashes.

For this reason, it is recommended that you get lash fills every 2-3 weeks so you don’t get “lash dysmorphia”. 

However, improper application and care of your lash extensions can lead to damaging your natural lashes. 

If you go to a lash artist that is not certified, they likely will mess up the application of your extensions, leading to irritation and your natural lashes falling out. Additionally, if you don’t take care of your lashes, such as brushing and cleaning, or worse — attempting to remove your lash extensions by pulling them off — you will ruin your natural lashes. To make matters worse, these things can potentially cause health problems that can affect the eye itself.

Moral of the story: lash extensions don’t ruin your lashes, so long as they are properly applied and cared for. 

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