Do lash extensions damage your real lashes?

Properly applied lash extensions do not damage your natural lashes and can be worn indefinitely.

Lash extensions that are not applied correctly can cause temporary or possibly long term damage to your natural lashes.

Temporary damage includes:

• broken lashes if lashes extensions that are too heavy or long are used;

• gaps in the lash line from lashes being glued together and not properly isolated;

• gaps in the lash line from too much adhesive being used;

• broken lashes or gaps from the client picking or pulling at the extensions.

Temporary damage from lash extensions can take several months to repair depending on where you are at in your natural lash growth cycle and how severe the damage is.

Long term or permanent damage may include:

• traction alopecia: a condition where the natural lashes begin to grow slower or not at all due to the constant pull of the weight of the extensions. There is anecdotal evidence for traction alopecia but nothing concrete. If it does occur due to lash extensions it is rare and may be confused with a part of the lash growth cycle where heavy shedding is occurring.

• downward growing lashes: lashes begin to grow downward due to the weight of the extensions. This change is permanent but also rare.

If you’ve worn extensions for a few weeks, months, or years you’ll have gotten used to seeing yourself with them. Once you have your lash extensions removed it can be a jarring experience. This can border on a dysmorphic perception of the way your face looks normally which can lead people to think their lashes are damaged, missing or thinner than usual. The reality often is that they just aren’t used to the way their face looks without extensions anymore.

You can monitor the health of your lashes before and after extensions by having your lash artist take a before pic at your first appointment. You can ask them to take an after picture, such as the one above, for comparison when you eventually get them removed.

The photo pictured above shows healthy natural lashes. The ends should be tapered, not blunted, and there should be no large gaps in the lash line. At my studio we show clients their natural lashes after each removal and have never seen damage from lashes we have applied.

You can help prevent damage to your lashes by:

• going to a reputable and experienced lash artist;

• having realistic expectation about how long and thick your extensions can be based off your natural lashes;

• asking your lash artist before you get lashes how long or thick is safe for your lashes to wear long-term;

• never picking or pulling at your lash extensions;

• having your lashes professionally removed and not trying to take them off yourself.

  Lash extensions, when properly applied, will not damage your natural lashes and can worn for years without needing to take a break.