How to Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home Without Ruining Your Lashes

Is It Safe to Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home?

First things first — we do not recommend removing your eyelash extensions at home unless it is absolutely necessary, and the pros we spoke to agree with this sentiment. “My lash artists strongly advise clients to not remove them at home, as it most certainly will pull out the natural lash,” says Amy Kernahan, CEO and owner of a|k Studio. Her best advice is to see a lash artist, who will use an acetone solution to remove the extensions in a safe and gentle way.

How to Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home

Once again, if you have a full set of lash extensions to remove, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. If you attempt it at home, you can easily pluck or rip out natural lashes that may never grow back, or spread bacteria around the eye area. Starr says that your technician will be able to safely and effectively remove the extensions without causing damage to your lashes. 

If you only have a few lingering lash extensions leftover and don’t have time to visit your technician, there are a few steps you should follow to ensure a safe DIY removal: 

Step 1: Steam Your Face

Start by removing all your makeup and steaming your face. This “helps the process of loosening the bond of the adhesive,” says Starr. You can do so in a hot shower or by gently massaging your face with a warm, damp towel. To make your face is thoroughly cleansed, we recommend using an oil-based face wash, such as the CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser. Packed with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, the formula whisks away makeup and debris without stripping your skin. 

Step 2: Apply an Oil

After steaming, Starr recommends applying coconut or olive oil to the base of your lashes. You should ensure whatever you apply is safe for the eye region. 

Step 3: Gently Massage Your Lashes

Once you’ve applied oil on the area, gently massage it in. This breaks down the bond of the adhesive and allows for safer removal. It’s important to be patient during this step and give the bond time to weaken because tugging could break your natural lashes.

If your extensions aren’t coming off after going through the steps above, stop what you’re doing and see a professional. No extensions are worth the risk of causing damage to your natural lashes (or worse, introducing potentially irritating bacteria to your eyes). 

The Best Products for Longer Lashes

If you feel like eyelash extensions aren’t worth the extra hassle, or they’re outside of your budget, don’t worry. Below, find our favorite alternatives to lash extensions, from volumizing mascaras to full and fluttery sets of false lashes.

Maybelline New York the Falsies Surreal Extensions Mascara

This mascara has a fat, cushiony wand and hybrid fiber technology that wraps around each lash and delivers up to 10 times more volume, plus impressive length. In a review by one of our editors, she noted that the formula kept her lashes looking “long, full and defined” through a 16-hour day, with minimal smudging. 

L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara

Get full, fanned-out lashes with this ultra-lengthening and volumizing mascara. The tapered wand is easy to maneuver around every lash, including the small and stubborn ones at the inner and outer corners of your eyes. The formula stays put for up to 24 hours, with no smudges, flakes or clumping sight.

YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

When it comes to delivering mega-plush and volumized lashes, this YSL Beauty mascara goes above and beyond. If you’re craving a departure from black mascara, the formula also comes in a rich, teddy bear brown and a striking electric blue. We recommend pairing the blue shade with a white eyelash primer, such as the Lancôme Cils Booster XL Enhancing Lash & Mascara Primer, to make the vivid hue stand out even more.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Volumizing Waterproof Mascara

Forget losing your lashes’ volume and length after a hot, humid day or a dip in the pool — this waterproof mascara will stand by you through it all. Dubbed a “life-proof formula,” it powers through sweat, humidity and water without any errant flakes or smudges, for up to 24 hours. When it comes time for you to take it off, you can do so by gently massaging your eye area with an oil-based makeup remover or a cleansing balm, such as the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover. 

Valentino Beauty Magnificent Mascara

This is for the girlies (of every gender) who are looking for their thickest, plushest lashes possible, without having to pile on 10-plus layers of mascara. In just a few swipes, this mascara gives smudge- and flake-defying volume that lasts all day. Bonus: It’s ophthalmologist-tested and is gentle enough for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

ColourPop Level Up Lengthening Mascara

For long, curled, doll-like lashes, we recommend picking up this mascara — which, by the way, rings in at under $10. Available in classic brown and black, the formula features a tapered brush that lengthens every lash and holds a curl all day. Ingredients like Tahitian gardenia flower extract, plus vitamins C and E, condition your lashes and keep them soft and flake-free. 

NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Lash! Vegan False Eyelashes

Don’t underestimate the plumping power of false lashes. These falsies from NYX Professional Makeup come in eight styles, from feline-like and flared to rounded and doe-eyed, to suit every eye shape and makeup look you set out to create. Affix the lashes to the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Lash! 2-in-1 Liner & Lash Adhesive, a waterproof liner, for dramatic lashes that won’t lift at your inner corners by the end of the day. 

Glamnetic Magnetic False Lashes

Glamnetic lashes are applied using a magnetic liner, which keeps them from budging or lifting the way lashes applied with an eyelash glue sometimes do. Plus, if you go on the Glamnetic website, you can narrow down your false lash by style (cat-eye, wispy or round) and by lash length. The shortest lash styles range from 4mm to 10mm, while the longest, most dramatic styles range from 12mm to 17mm. 

How to Safely Remove Mascara Without Damaging Lashes

Yes, mascara removal can take a toll on your lashes, too. Follow the easy, two-step process below to help mitigate damage and keep your lashes healthy. 

Step 1: Use a Cleansing Balm

Cleansing balms, or other oil-based makeup removers, are your best bet at taking off all traces of your makeup, including stubborn waterproof mascara. We like the Banila Co Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm, a gentle, hypoallergenic formula that melts away leftover makeup. 

Step 2: Wash With a Water-Based Cleanser

Once you’ve rinsed off your oil-based cleanser of choice, it’s time to remove any remaining makeup and debris with a water-based cleanser. Those with dry and/or sensitive skin should look for gentle, fragrance-free formulas, such as the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Facial Cleanser. If you have oily or combination skin, you may prefer foaming or gel cleansers; one of our favorites is the Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser.