How To Remove Eyelash Extensions Yourself Without Causing Damage

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How To Remove Eyelash Extensions Yourself Without Causing Damage

Eyelash extensions are a rabbit hole we’ve all found ourselves guilty of falling down. After having them applied, you’ll typically find us leaving the appointment looking like Bambi and vowing never to be seen without them again. But, before you know it, a month has passed by and those perfect lashes are looking scraggly and few and far between. And because we simply can’t help it, before we’ve made another appointment to have them refreshed or removed, we’ve started to pick and pull at the lashes ourselves, causing irreversible damage and fallout to our already weaker natural lashes. Sound familiar? Ahem, shellac manicures.

Anyway, our point is, though we are always going to advocate for having your eyelash extensions professionally removed, if for some reason you can’t and your only choice is to do it yourself, then the least we can do is recommend the safest and most gentle available option.

So for an at-home eyelash extension removal that is free from the danger of damage or fall out, keep reading. Oh and did we mention if you can do this professionally, then do?

How to remove your own eyelash extensions safely…

What you’ll need:

  • Oil-based eye makeup remover
  • Coconut oil or olive oil
  • Cotton pads
  • Cotton buds
  • Micellar water
  • Eye cream
  • Lash serum

What to do…

  1. To begin soak a cotton pad in your oil-based eye makeup remover like the CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Make Up Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips ($39 at Adore Beauty) and gently press it onto each closed eye for 30 seconds, focussing the pressure near the lash line, saturating the area as much as possible.*
  2. Next, dip a cotton bud into your choice of coconut or olive oil and apply it to the lash line (where the glue sits) and rub gently back and forth. At this point you might have one or two lashes start to come away with the cotton bud.
  3. Soak a cotton pad in the same oil from step two. Press it against your lash line with your eye closed. Very gently rub the cotton pad back and forth continuously.
  4. Repeat step three until each lash has safely been removed. This step requires patience.
  5. Once all lashes have been removed, soak a cotton pad in micellar water like the BIODERMA Sensibio H2O Soothing Micellar Water Cleanser ($20.99 at Chemist Warehouse) and run it over each eye to remove the oil.
  6. Finish with a soothing eye cream or serum to calm the skin. We recommend the Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream ($20.99 at Chemist Warehouse).
  7. Apply an eyelash serum to help rejuvenate, repair and stimulate lash growth. May we suggest any from our best eyelash serums roundup?

*Remember how your lash technician told you not to use oil-based products near your eyes? That’s because oil breaks down the adhesive glue. Which is exactly what we want to do.

Have you ever tried removing lash extensions yourself?

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Comments 64

  1. I’ve never had them! I wonder what they’d look like on me. I have a friend who has them and honestly they look a little off when they start to grow out but she’s such a beautiful lady on the inside so it doesn’t matter.

  2. I’ve never had them. They are on the too expensive list for me. Also friends who have had them say when they get close to infill time they look awful and are itchy, which turns me off them.

  3. I love lash extensions. Haven’t had them for a while. Before the first pandemic, my lash salon started selling at home removal kits. Super easy to use and they still sell them now. Before that I tried LITERALLY EVERYTHING to get them off, but my salon uses such a great quality glue that they didn’t budge with oils!

    • They don’t ruin your natural lashes unless a bad lash technician ruins them. I used to get them for over 3 years, nothing ever happened to my natural lashes. Also it’s recommended to use a lash serum to keep them healthy and strong. After I got bored of them and had them removed, I opted for a lash lift and tint instead, and they looked great with mascara.

  4. Oils don’t work if your lash tech uses proper adhesive. They only weaken the adhesive that’s why they aren’t recommended if you have extensions. Tried removing them with various oils once, and ended up ripping about half my lashes out! Just buy a lash removal kit either from your salon or online, or have it done professionally. Easiest removal ever and zero damage!

  5. I have to say that after using under eye Treatment from DermalMD regularly night and day, and while I’m almost out of the first tube and will need to reorder again, I’m bvary amazed at how youthful it has made my eyes look. Bags are virtually gone and skin tone is nicely even glowing.

  6. I have noticed that lash extensions are becoming more and more popular and so many people are using them. Therefore this article will be good advise for these people.