Eyelash extension aftercare is the simple daily routine that keeps your extensions clean, bonded and full between infills.
Here's the dream: it's week three, you're heading in for your infill, and your lashes still look like you had them done last Friday. No gaps, no twisted strays, no sad little bald patch at the outer corner.
The difference between that and a set that looks patchy by day ten usually isn't luck. It's a handful of small habits that keep oil, water and friction away from the bond, plus booking your infill at the right time. At the end of every appointment I tell clients the same thing: the first 48 hours decide how well your set bonds, and the next three weeks decide how full it looks when you come back.
So here's the lash extension aftercare routine I give my own clients, why extensions sometimes fall out early, and how often to book infills so your lashes never look patchy. Let's get into it.
Key takeaways
- Keep new eyelash extensions dry for the first 24 hours, and avoid steam and saunas for 48 hours, while the adhesive cures.
- Cleanse your extensions once a day with an oil-free, lash-safe cleanser, and brush them through with a clean spoolie.
- Most clients need an infill every 2 to 3 weeks. At Jay Lash and Brow, a classic full set infill is $85 at 2 weeks and $105 at 3 weeks.
- Infills cost more the longer you wait because more lashes need replacing. A 4-week classic full set infill is $140.
Lash Extension Aftercare: The First 48 Hours
The short answer is to keep new lash extensions dry for the first 24 hours and away from steam and heat for 48 hours, while the adhesive fully cures.
Here's why: the adhesive keeps setting after you leave the studio. Water and heat during that window weaken the bond before it's at full strength, which shows up as extensions dropping early.
Can you shower with eyelash extensions? Yes. For the first day, keep your face out of the spray, wash below your eyes with a damp cloth, and skip long, steamy showers.
For the first 48 hours, avoid:
- steam rooms, saunas and hot yoga
- swimming
- eye makeup, especially mascara and liner on the lash line
- touching, rubbing or sleeping face-down
What's fine: washing your face below the eyes, brushing your lashes gently with a dry spoolie, and getting on with your day.
Got them wet by accident? Don't panic (it happens to everyone). Pat them dry with a tissue, don't rub, and brush them through once they're dry. A splash rarely ruins a set. Repeated soaking in the first day is what shortens retention.
Your Daily Cleansing Routine
Wash your eyelash extensions once a day with an oil-free, lash-safe foam cleanser. I know, washing them sounds like the opposite of what you'd do. But clean lashes last longer. Oil, makeup and the natural build-up from your skin slowly break down the bond, and a grubby lash line can become itchy and irritated.
Step by step: how to clean eyelash extensions
In six steps: wet, foam, brush, rinse, dry, then comb through with a spoolie.
- Wet your lashes lightly with lukewarm water. Hot water softens the adhesive.
- Apply the foam to a soft, fluffy cleansing brush. Skip cotton pads and cotton tips, which snag on the extensions and pull them out.
- Brush gently downward along the lash line, from the base to the tips, for 20 to 30 seconds per eye. No scrubbing side to side.
- Rinse with cool water until no foam is left. Leftover cleanser leaves a residue that attracts more build-up.
- Pat dry with a lint-free tissue, or let them air-dry. Never rub with a towel.
- Comb through with a clean spoolie once they're completely dry, starting from the middle of the lashes and brushing out to the tips.
Do this once a day, and again after the gym or any sweaty day.
Daily and Weekly Habits That Protect Your Set
Most early shedding comes down to three sneaky culprits: friction, oil and heat. These habits keep all three away from the bond.
Sleep
Back-sleeping is ideal. If you're a side-sleeper, a silk pillowcase or a contoured sleep mask stops your lashes being crushed and twisted against the pillow overnight. Twisted extensions look like early shedding, and they often fall out sooner too.
Water, heat and sweat
Can you swim with lash extensions? Yes, after the first 24 hours. Rinse off chlorine or salt water with fresh water afterwards and brush your lashes through once they're dry.
Steam, saunas and hot showers aimed at your face soften the adhesive over time, so keep that exposure short. After exercise, cleanse your lashes rather than leaving dried sweat on the bond.
Makeup and skincare
Can you put mascara on lash extensions? I'd skip it. Mascara clumps the extensions, and taking it off means rubbing and oil-based removers, both of which loosen the bond. Most clients find they don't need it.
Keep these away from your lash line:
- oil-based makeup removers and cleansing balms
- micellar waters that contain oil
- rich eye creams applied right up to the lashes
- waterproof mascara and glitter liners
And give your lash curler a holiday while you're wearing extensions. It bends and can snap them.
Products that help (and hurt)
The aftercare kit that genuinely helps is small: an oil-free, lash-safe foam cleanser, a soft cleansing brush, a pack of clean spoolies and an oil-free makeup remover. A silk pillowcase is a bonus. If you're thinking about a lash serum, ask me first, because some formulas aren't meant to go on the bond.
| Do | Don't |
| :---- | :---- |
| Cleanse daily with an oil-free lash cleanser | Use oil-based removers or balms near the eyes |
| Brush through with a clean spoolie each morning | Rub, pull or pick at the extensions |
| Sleep on your back or use a silk pillowcase | Use a lash curler or waterproof mascara |
| Book infills every 2 to 3 weeks | Try to remove a set at home (book a removal, $50) |
Why Your Extensions Are Falling Out Early
First, a little reassurance: losing a few extensions every day is completely normal. Each extension is bonded to one natural lash, and your natural lashes are always renewing. According to StatPearls, a medical reference on the NCBI Bookshelf, each lash grows for about 4 to 10 weeks, then rests for months before it falls out and a new one replaces it. When a natural lash sheds, its extension goes with it.
Because your lashes are all at different stages, a full set sheds out gradually over roughly 6 to 8 weeks. That's exactly why infills every 2 to 3 weeks keep it looking full. For more on this, see how long eyelash extensions last.
Why are my lash extensions only lasting 2 weeks?
If your set looks sparse after a week or two, one of these is usually the reason:
- Oil near the eyes. Cleansing balms, oily removers and rich eye creams break down the bond faster than anything else.
- Skipping the daily cleanse. Build-up on the lash line weakens the bond and can cause irritation.
- Water or heat in the first 24 to 48 hours. The adhesive never reached full strength.
- Sleeping on your side or face-down. Friction twists and loosens extensions overnight.
- Rubbing or picking. Every tug pulls extensions off early, and sometimes natural lashes with them.
- Your body. Shedding naturally picks up at times, and hormonal changes or some medications can affect how your lashes grow.
If you're doing everything right and your lashes still don't last two weeks, tell me. Retention also depends on the application, the adhesive and even the humidity on the day, and those are things I can check and adjust.
Infills: What They Are and When to Book
An infill (some salons call it a fill or refill) replaces the extensions that have shed with your natural lashes and refreshes the ones that have grown out, so your set looks full again without starting from scratch.
How often to book
Book an infill every 2 to 3 weeks, or once roughly 40 to 50 percent of your set has shed. Clients who follow their aftercare usually sit comfortably at the 3-week mark. Book before you leave the studio so the date is locked in (future you will thank you).
Is it normal to need a fill every week? Not usually. Weekly shedding points to oil, friction or a retention issue, so mention it at your next appointment and we'll work out the cause.
Why infills cost more the longer you wait
The longer the gap, the more lashes need replacing and the more time you spend in the chair. That's why my infills are priced by the number of weeks since your last appointment.
| Set | 2 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- |
| Classic half set | $80 | $100 | — |
| Classic full set | $85 | $105 | $140 |
| Glam full set | $100 | $135 | $165 |
| Hybrid full set | $110 | $140 | $170 |
| Natural volume set | $110 | $140 | $175 |
| Glam volume set | $120 | $150 | $185 |
| Full volume set | $130 | $160 | $195 |
Jay Lash and Brow infill prices as of October 2026.
On a classic full set, waiting from week 2 to week 4 takes the infill from $85 to $140. If you're comparing salons, I've rounded up what eyelash extensions cost in Sydney.
What happens at an infill
An infill is shorter than a full set, usually around an hour depending on how many lashes need replacing. I cleanse your lashes, remove extensions that have grown out too far from the lid, replace the ones that have shed, and check the whole set so it looks even.
To get the most from it, arrive with clean lashes, no eye makeup, and no oil-based products on your face that day.
Infill or fresh full set?
There's no fixed number of infills before you need a new set. If it's been more than four weeks, or less than about half of your set is left, a fresh full set usually gives a better result than an infill. A fresh set also makes sense when you want to change style, say from classic to volume.
Due for an infill? Text me on 0401 797 455 and I'll find you a spot before week 3.
When to Book a Removal Instead
Sometimes the right next appointment isn't an infill at all (and that's okay). Book a removal when:
- You want a change. Switching to a lash lift, or just giving your lashes a break. If you're weighing that up, read lash lift vs eyelash extensions.
- Your eyes are reacting. Redness, swelling, itching or watering that doesn't settle is a reason to see your GP or optometrist first, then book a removal.
- The set has grown out unevenly. Patchy, twisted or heavy grown-out lashes are often better removed and started fresh.
Eyelash removal is $50. Please don't pull, pick or oil extensions off at home. The adhesive is strong enough that DIY removal takes natural lashes with it, and those take months to grow back.
Eyelash Extension Aftercare FAQs
Can you shower with eyelash extensions?
Yes, but keep water and steam off your lashes for the first 24 hours while the adhesive cures. After that, shower normally and avoid aiming hot water at your face.
What happens if eyelash extensions get wet in the first 24 hours?
The adhesive may not cure fully, which can shorten how long the set lasts. Pat them dry gently and don't rub. A small splash rarely ruins a set.
Can you put mascara on lash extensions?
It's best not to. Mascara clumps extensions, and removing it usually means rubbing and oil, both of which break the bond.
How do you clean eyelash extensions?
Once a day, wet them lightly, apply a lash-safe foam cleanser, brush downward with a soft brush, rinse with cool water and pat dry. Comb through with a spoolie once dry.
Can you swim with lash extensions?
Yes, after the first 24 hours. Rinse off chlorine or salt water afterwards and brush your lashes through to keep the set neat.
How often should you get lash infills?
Every 2 to 3 weeks for most people, or once roughly 40 to 50 percent of the set has shed. Good aftercare keeps you closer to 3 weeks.
How long do lash infills take?
Usually around an hour, depending on how many lashes need replacing. A 2-week infill is quicker than a 4-week one.
How much is an infill at Jay Lash and Brow?
It depends on your set and how long since your last visit. A classic full set infill is $85 at 2 weeks, $105 at 3 weeks and $140 at 4 weeks.
Book Your Infill in St Ives & the North Shore
Ready to keep your lashes looking freshly done? We're based in a private studio at 1st Floor, Suite 2B, 2 Memorial Avenue, St Ives, where I work one-on-one and have been doing lashes for more than 20 years. Clients come from across the Upper North Shore, and you can see the full range of sets on my eyelash extensions in St Ives page.
Text to book or call Jay on 0401 797 455. We're open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm. The easiest way to stay on track is to book your next infill before you leave.
Infill prices as of October 2026. Last reviewed by Jay, October 2026.