- Why Not Wear Mascara With Lash Extensions?
- Why Wear Mascara With Lash Extensions?
- Types Of Mascara You Can Use on Lash Extensions
- Types Of Mascara To Avoid With Lash Extensions
- How To Apply Mascara To Lash Extensions?
- What About Mascara on Bottom Lashes?
- How to Remove Mascara From Eyelash Extensions?
- Additional Tips
- Final Thoughts
Isn’t the whole point of lash extensions that you don’t have to worry about mascara anymore? Maybe to some, but if you like the look of extra-dramatic lashes, you may wonder, can you put mascara on eyelash extensions?
Sometimes, mascara just seems to complete a look, especially when you’re wearing a full face of makeup. Read on to understand the fundamentals of wearing mascara on lash extensions without compromising their longevity.
Why Not Wear Mascara With Lash Extensions?
In general, if you can avoid wearing mascara with lash extensions, that’s for the best. Any mascara will add weight to your extension, which will put a strain on the lash glue as well as on your natural lashes. The removal itself is a difficult and delicate process where even the most gentle mascara can still lead to a little bit of lash loss.
Plus, finding a mascara that’s safe to wear with lash extensions can be very difficult. We will give you some tips on mascara you can use, but the short of it is that you want to avoid any mascara that’s not easy to remove or contains oils. That means that the mascaras that are safe to wear with extensions are also the ones that are most likely to run or smudge once you sweat or get a little oily.
If you’re wearing classic lash extensions, you might be able to wear some mascara, but with other styles of extensions, it’s totally off-limits. Volume and Russian volume-style lashes, in particular, will become too heavy if you add mascara.
Why Wear Mascara With Lash Extensions?
These are a few of the common reasons why lash extension wearers may still want to wear mascara with their extensions.
- It gives your extensions a temporarily darker, bolder, and longer look, which can help you feel a little more glamorous before special events.
- Since most lash extensions are applied from above the lash line, adding mascara can help blend your extensions with your natural lashes. This is rarely necessary with DIY extensions since they’re applied from below.
- If your lashes are starting to look sparse before your next refill appointment, mascara can revive them a little and help fill in missing spots.
- If you want to change things up, you can play around with colorful mascara for a totally different look.
Types Of Mascara You Can Use on Lash Extensions
When looking for a mascara you can wear with false lashes, here are the basic things to look out for.
- Make sure to choose an oil and glycol-free mascara, since those ingredients can weaken the lash adhesive and lead to extension shedding.
- Ideally, look for a mascara with widely-spaced bristles. If the bristles are too tightly packed, the wand can pull on your lash extensions.
- Pick a washable mascara that will come off easily with an extension-safe makeup remover or a dedicated lash extension cleanser like our Lash Shampoo.
- Ideally, look for mascara or pigmented lash sealant designed specifically for lash extensions, like the Black Diamond Lash Coating Sealant.
Types Of Mascara To Avoid With Lash Extensions
On the other hand, you definitely want to stay away from the following types of lash extensions.
- Waterproof mascara is totally off-limits since removing it is just too damaging to your lash extensions.
- Water-resistant mascara should be avoided, as well.
- Tubing mascaras are also problematic since removing them requires friction.
- Fiber mascaras tend to have stronger, more long-wearing formulas, so they’re better to avoid as well.
- Oils and glycols can break down your extension adhesive. Read the ingredient list, and make sure to choose a mascara that does not contain them.
How To Apply Mascara To Lash Extensions?
Applying mascara to lash extensions isn’t too different from applying it to your natural lashes, but we do have a couple of small suggestions.
- Open your mascara tube, and wipe off excess product from the mascara wand on the lip.
- Start about halfway from the base of the lash line, and gently press the wand against your lashes, but without wiggling it or moving it side to side.
- You can also blink down into your mascara wand to avoid the spoolie pulling too much on your extensions.
- If you’re just looking for a bit of added length, consider only applying your mascara to the tips of your lashes. The less you apply, the less damage you’ll do to your adhesive.
What About Mascara on Bottom Lashes?
When it comes to the bottom lashes, mascara is perfectly safe, and you don’t have to worry as much about the product you choose! We’d still suggest staying away from oil-based or waterproof mascara. Waterproof mascaras, especially, may require a stronger makeup remover that can compromise your lash extensions. However, a water-resistant or tubing mascara would be okay, as would any washable mascara.
How to Remove Mascara From Eyelash Extensions?
If you’ve decided to use mascara with your lash extensions, your removal process has to be as careful as possible since that’s when you’re most likely to lose precious lashes.
We suggest using a combination of a lash extension cleansing brush, a soft makeup remover cloth, and an oil-free makeup remover. You can find both the brush and cloth in our Lash Bath Kit.
Use the brush to saturate your lashes with makeup remover, and then use the cloth or your fingers to very gently wipe away the mascara. Then, clean your lash extensions with a dedicated lash extension shampoo, and finally rinse them with cool water.
Additional Tips
Here are a few more tips for wearing mascara with your lash extensions.
- Be very careful to apply the mascara only to the upper half of your lashes so that you don’t have to apply too much friction at the base.
- Don’t wear mascara too often.
- Make sure you don’t have volume lashes if you want to wear mascara.
- If you can, use your lash extension shampoo as your eye makeup remover. Whether it’ll be enough depends on the mascara.
- Consider DIY lash extensions - they stick to the lashes from below, so they tend to blend into the natural lash line more seamlessly than professional extensions. Plus, they’re a lot more affordable and they save you a trip to the salon!
