How to Remove Eyelash Extensions

When you get eyelash extensions, artificial lashes are carefully attached to your natural lashes with a strong adhesive. To avoid damaging your real lashes, it's essential to be cautious when removing them. Follow the instructions below to safely remove the extensions.

Remove makeup around your eyes. Gently use an eye makeup remover to cleanse off any mascara or eyeliner. This will allow you to clearly see your natural lashes and the points where the extensions are attached.

Steam your face. The steam will gradually loosen the eyelash extensions. Follow these steps:

• Heat a bowl of water in the microwave. Wait until the water is hot enough to produce steam.
• Lean your face over the bowl and drape a towel over your head to trap the steam around your face.
• Steam your face for about 10 minutes.

Soak a cotton pad in olive oil. Use the oil-soaked cotton pad to gently wipe your lashes, being careful not to get the oil in your eyes. Continue wiping gently until the extensions start to fall off.

Wash your lashes. Gently splash warm water on your lashes to remove any excess oil.

Buy a lash adhesive remover. If you can't go to a salon, you can use a lash adhesive remover to take off the extensions. These products are available in beauty stores.

• If you had your lashes done at a salon, you could ask which solvent they used and whether you can purchase that product.
• Lash adhesive removers are typically thin solvents that have a similar smell to nail polish remover.

Examine your eyelashes carefully. The process of removing false eyelashes requires precision, so it's important to have a clear view of what you're doing. Follow these steps to prepare for the removal:

• Stand in front of a well-lit mirror. If needed, add extra lighting to avoid any shadows on your face that might make it hard to see your lashes clearly.
• Remove makeup around your eyes. Use a gentle makeup remover to carefully clean off mascara or eyeliner. This will help you better see your natural lashes and the placement of the false ones.

Apply eyelash adhesive remover. Follow these instructions to apply the product and remove the fake lashes:

• Pour the adhesive remover onto a cotton pad, making sure it's evenly soaked.
• Gently pull down the outer corner of your upper eyelid. With one eye closed, use your fingertip to softly pull down the skin at the outer corner. Your upper lashes should now point downward, making it easier to see where the false lashes are attached.
• Slowly glide the cotton pad along your lash line. Gently move the pad from the outer edge toward the inner corner of your eye. The adhesive remover will start to loosen the glue holding the lashes in place.

Peel off the false eyelashes. After applying the remover-soaked cotton pad to your lash line about 15 times, use your thumb and index finger to gently pull off the false eyelashes. At this point, the false lashes should come off easily.

Clean up any leftover adhesive on your eyelids. Once the false lashes are removed, take a moment to clean the remaining adhesive from your eyelid for a thorough finish.

Wash your eyelids. Splash some warm water on your face to rinse off any remaining adhesive remover from your eyelids and the surrounding eye area.

Visit the salon where you had your lashes applied. When getting eyelash extensions, professionals typically use a strong adhesive containing cyanoacrylate, also known as superglue. This glue is incredibly difficult to remove without the right tools and chemicals. Here are some reasons to go back to the salon for removal:

• If your extensions are nearly falling off and there are just a few left, it’s best to have the salon remove them. Usually, there’s no extra charge for this service.
• If you’re unhappy with how your eyes look after the extensions, it’s better to visit the salon to have them removed completely rather than attempting it at home.
• If your eyes start to feel irritated a few days after your extensions were applied, it might be because one or two extensions have stuck together or some natural lashes have been glued to multiple extensions. This can be easily fixed, but you should have a professional handle it.

Consider visiting a different salon if you're dissatisfied with the initial lash application. Sometimes, an inexperienced technician or one without proper training may make mistakes when applying extensions. If you experience any of the following, it might be a good idea to visit a more reputable salon for removal:

• If your extensions look unprofessional. If the lashes are uneven, tangled, or poorly applied, you should seek a more skilled technician to fix it. Attempting to fix the issue on your own could make it worse and damage your natural lashes.
• If you feel pain around your eyelids. Improper application of the adhesive can pull at the skin and cause discomfort. If this happens, it’s best to go to a more experienced technician to help remove the lashes.

• You can try removing your lashes at home using baby oil or an oil-based eye makeup remover. Be sure to apply the oil evenly along your lashes before attempting to remove the extensions.
• If all at-home methods fail, it’s advisable to go to a salon for professional removal.

• Do not attempt to remove the eyelash extensions yourself, as this may cause your natural lashes to fall out as well.