We’ve got some fantastic news for all lash lovers who wear contact lenses: You’re not excluded from the wonders of eyelash extensions! If you’re new to either contacts or lash extensions, it makes sense to wonder if you can have both simultaneously.
This post will walk you through how to prepare for your appointment. We also included a few aftercare tips to keep your eyes safe and your lashes voluminous and full.
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Can You Wear Eyelash Extensions With Contacts?
Yes, you can wear eyelash extensions with contact lenses. Whether you’re getting professional extensions or rocking your self-designed DIY lashes, there’s no issue combining them with contact lenses.
However, wearing contacts while getting professional eyelash extensions applied can cause issues. During your appointment, you may need to keep your eyes shut for up to 2.5 hours. Many people even fall asleep during the process!
Wearing contact lenses with closed eyes for so long often leads to discomfort and irritation and can also increase your risk of eye infection, corneal ulcers, or other eye issues.
Some lash technicians also express concern that the fumes from the adhesive could impact the integrity of the contact lenses, although actual incidences of this occurring haven’t been documented.
Getting Professional Lash Extensions With Contacts
While there are no issues getting professional lash extensions as a contact lens wearer, you’ll need to plan ahead before your appointment to ensure you don’t run into any trouble.
Your best course of action is to come to your appointment wearing glasses instead of your contacts. Immediately after your lash extension appointment, your eyes might be slightly sensitive, so getting the contact lenses back in your eyes might not be so pleasant. You can resume wearing contact lenses the day after your appointment.
Speak to your lash technician if you prefer to wear contacts when you’re getting lashes. It might be okay to remove your lenses before starting and to put them back in once your extensions are done.
If that’s the case, try to arrive a little early so you have time to take your contacts out and get comfortable. Once your appointment is over, as long as your eyes feel normal, putting your contact lenses back in will be okay. You’ll just need to avoid getting any contact lens solution on your lashes since the lash adhesive may not be fully cured yet.
Lastly, wearing your contacts during your appointment might not be a big deal in the case of lash refills. Lash refills can often be done in under 30 minutes. By the time you are getting refills, you’re also more familiar with the process and how it affects your eyes. Many lash technicians would recommend you avoid it, but it does come with less of a risk.
DIY Lash Extensions for Contacts Lens Wearers
If you’re considering DIY lash extensions, we have even better news - you can keep your contacts in during the application.
Unlike professional extensions, applying DIY lash extensions is a speedy process without much room for error. Wearing your contact lenses will ensure you see what you’re doing as you’re applying your DIY lash clusters!
DIY lash extensions come in segments and can stay in place for days. Thanks to their immense versatility, you can let out your inner lash stylist and create any kind of look.
DIY extensions are significantly more affordable than professional ones but just as stunning. Because they’re easy to self-apply, anyone can try them at home.
The adhesives used to bond DIY lash extensions don’t contain the same powerful volatile chemicals as professional extension glues and are faster to set. This means you can safely open and close your eyes in the few minutes it takes to apply a DIY set.
Inserting and Removing Contact Lenses With Lash Extensions
The only notable thing you’ll need to remember when wearing contacts with lash extensions is to avoid pulling on your lashes when removing or putting in your contact lenses.
If you usually tug on both your upper and lower eyelid when inserting your contact lenses, you may need to practice and adjust your technique, as we explain here:
- Wash your hands as usual, and carefully remove your contact lens from its case.
- Using your index finger, gently pull on your lower eyelid to expose more of your eye.
- With your middle finger or the index finger of your less dominant hand, bring your contact lens against your eye from the underside. Try to place the lens directly on the iris or touch it against the whites of your eyes and then look into it.
- Let go of the lens and blink - it should fall into place.
- Repeat on the other side, and you should see once again that the lashes are intact!
Additional Considerations For Wearing Lash Extensions With Contacts
Finally, we have a few more tips to ensure you can maintain your eyes and lashes as best as a contact lens wearer.
Immediately After Appointment
- Don’t let any moisture touch your extensions for the first few hours after your appointment. If your eyes tend to tear up a lot when you insert or remove your contact lenses, you may want to avoid putting them in for the entire time your lash adhesive needs to cure.
- Ask your technician about the exact time frame since this can vary widely depending on the type of adhesive. This isn’t a worry with DIY extensions since the curing time is much faster.
Keep Lashes Clean Once Fully Cured
Once your lashes have fully cured, make sure to cleanse your eyes and your lash extensions regularly. Eyelash extensions can trap debris and oils, which weaken the lash bond and increase your risk of eye irritation if they get into your eyes and are trapped under your contacts.
In addition, follow all of the common lash extension aftercare tips, such as detangling your lashes regularly, avoiding direct water pressure, keeping them clean, and so on.
Eye Drops and Lens Solution
- When you have eyelash extensions, you must avoid products with ingredients that may weaken the extension bond, such as certain oils and solvents. Normally, we focus on eye creams, makeup products, and cleaners containing these ingredients.
- As a contact lens wearer, you should also consider the ingredients in the eye drops and contact lens solutions you use. Avoid formulas that include petrolatum, lanolin, glycols, and other emollients that can cause lashes to shed. Some safe options include TheraTears Dry Eye Therapy Eye Drops and Biotrue Contact Lens Solution.
Bottom Line
If you’re interested in getting lash extensions as a contact lens wearer, there’s nothing stopping you. Remember to switch back to glasses for your professional appointment or save on your lashes with the DIY approach. Watch out for your lashes when putting in your contact lenses or using eye drops; you should see clearly through gorgeously-framed eyes.
