If you’re a sustainable sister, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can reuse fake eyelashes (at least in most cases). Most false lashes can be worn repeatedly - some brands even advertise that their lashes can be worn more than 25 times!
But what about the fake lashes already in your hands? And what about magical DIY lashes that combine the magic of falsies with long-wearing lash extensions?
In this guide, we’ll provide all the best tips for reusing your fake lashes, along with some advice for our affordable, top-rated Lilac St. Lashes.
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How Many Times Can You Reuse Fake Eyelashes?
You can reuse most fake eyelashes between 5 and 10 times, assuming you take good care of them. You might even enjoy as many as 25 or 30 years if your lashes are of excellent quality and your care is impeccable.
To reuse your lashes, you’ll have to remove them gently, clean them of all makeup and other residue, and allow them to dry completely. While it can take a bit of work, it’s well worth the effort for a beautiful pair of lashes.
That said, it’s also very easy to wreck your lashes before your first use - some designs seem to tear the second you try to pull them out of the container! Avoid destruction, and practice gentle handling.
How to Reuse Your Lashes: Cleaning & Storage Tips
From removal to storage, here are our key tips for caring for your false lashes to ensure maximum reuse capacity.
Removal
When ready, remove your fake lashes carefully. First, hold a cotton pad soaked in makeup remover over your eye to loosen the lash adhesive. Then, gently wipe downwards - this might be enough to dislodge your lashes safely.
If you’re using under lash clusters like our DIY lash extensions, you can also use your finger or a cotton swab to gently peel away the glue at one end of the strip. Then, grab your false lashes near the base (careful not to catch any of your natural lashes) and pull them off.
Cleaning
Clean your lashes as soon as you can after removing them. Wipe them down carefully to remove any makeup residue. We recommend using a makeup remover if you use waterproof mascara on the falsies. Even if you didn’t apply makeup to them directly, we still recommend wiping them with micellar water.
Next, you can use alcohol to disinfect your lashes, especially if they’re synthetic. Wipe the lashes a second time with alcohol, or let them soak in a solution (70%-90%) for up to 10 minutes. Note that alcohol may dry out mink or human hair lashes, potentially shortening their shelf life.
If there is any adhesive residue, you can use a cotton swab or other tool to remove it.
Finally, rinse the lashes in cool or lukewarm water before drying.
Drying
Allow your lashes to dry completely once you’re done cleaning them. You can use a paper towel or microfiber cloth to remove excess water gently. Then, leave them somewhere clean and dry to finish air drying.
Reshaping
If your lashes lose their shape after they’ve dried, you can reshape them. Use a clean makeup brush handle or another cylindrical object to curl them around. Start by rolling near the base of the lash, to wrap the lashes around the handle. Let them stay this way for 10-15 minutes, and they should regain their curl.
Storage
Put your lashes away somewhere safe, clean, dry, and where they won’t accidentally be blown away by a breeze.
If you won’t be wearing them again for a while, we highly recommend storing them in a lash container.
Additional Tips
- Careful removal. If the lashes are attached to the box, you can use tweezers to gently flip them near the base, so less of the lash is attached. Then, you can use your fingers along the base to pull them out without tearing off lash fibers.
- Minimize makeup: Avoid applying mascara or other makeup products directly to your false lashes. This will help minimize wear and tear from cleaning, so you’ll get more reuses out of your lashes.
The Reusability of Different Types of Lashes
You may want to make small adjustments to your cleaning process based on the material your lashes are made of.
Synthetic
Synthetic lashes are made of PBT, a plastic polymer of variable durability. Earlier synthetic lashes were less durable and could usually hold up to 5 years.
Nowadays, there are designs that (at least according to brands) can hold up for over 25 wears. These lashes can handle a more thorough cleaning and disinfection process. Synthetic lashes are sometimes sold as faux and/or vegan mink or silk.
Real Mink
Mink fur is delicate but durable, so it makes for false lashes that can be worn up to 25 or 30 times. That said, you’ll need to be careful when cleaning them. They're more prone to drying out from alcohol exposure and may require recurring if they lose their curve.
There is some controversy surrounding using mink fur as it’s an animal-derived product, and animal cruelty concerns exist. Many choose to avoid them, including Lilac St as a brand.
Magnetic Lashes
Magnetic lashes often have excellent reusability since they’re less likely to get covered in mascara or lash glue. However, the magnetic eyeliner often sticks to the magnets in the strip, and it can be hard to remove. We recommend using a cotton swab and a strong makeup remover to take it off.
DIY Extensions
DIY lash extensions like our Lilac St. Lashes are a more affordable way of maintaining long-lasting, gorgeous lashes all year round. Made of synthetic silk, they’re vegan and cruelty-free. They’re as easy to clean as any set of synthetic lashes! Our more durable styles can be reused when cleaned and handled carefully.
Potential Risks of Reusing the Same Lashes
Reusing your lashes is perfectly safe when you do it correctly, but as ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Jovi Boparai cautions, there are potential risks if you don’t.
“Reusing eyelash extensions without properly cleaning and drying them poses several risks to the eyes, ranging from allergic, infectious, inflammatory, and traumatic,” he explains.
According to Dr. Boparai, dirt, debris, makeup, and different microbes can lead to infections, inflammation, or allergic reactions that can irritate or damage the eyes and eyelids.
Can I Use Lilac St. Lashes Multiple Times?
If your Lilac St. lashes are still in great shape, you can use them multiple times! Lilac St. lash extensions are made of durable vegan silk with a flexible yet tough cotton band that holds up to gentle cleaning.
That said, the extension fibers can become crooked or misshapen if handled too aggressively, especially regarding our more delicate styles. Make sure to remove them and clean them with care if you’d like to re-wear them.
