Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Oct 02, 2025

Pros Explain How to Remove Your Own Eyelash Extensions

Pros Explain How to Remove Your Own Eyelash Extensions

The secret: Oil (and patience).

MHO, one of the best things about eyelash extensions is that they aren't permanent. (Irreversible beauty procedures-like brow tattoos, face lifts, or implants-require more commitment than I'm about these days.) The non-soluble glue used to affix synthetic lashes to your own hairs is so effective that in general, false lashes only fall off when your real ones naturally shed, usually within 10-20 days of your original appointment.

At that point, in the best-case scenario, you then return to your lash specialist for a touch-up or for a full removal, where a proprietary lash adhesive remover is placed at the base of your lash line and allowed to sit for ten to fifteen minutes as glue bonds dissolve, explains Chanel Hillman, a lash specialist at Revive Salon & Spa. The technician then uses a microfiber swab to gently slide your old lashes off, repeating the process until all the synthetic fibers (and residual glue) are removed.

But let's just say you're on vacation, temporarily relocated, or in the middle of a pandemic (speaking hypothetically, of course), and can't get back to your lash spot to get those stubborn remaining lashes properly removed. We asked Hillman and Rochelle-R. E. Magno VaultBeauty member and owner of The Lash Gallery for the the ins and outs of DIY lash removal.

Tip #1: Know the risks.


Safe at-home removal is possible, but with caveats. "Each company puts out a lash adhesive remover that is specially formulated to break down the bonds of their glue, free of damage to the natural lash," explains Hillman. "Because of the compounds in professional glue, it’s nearly impossible to remove them without any lash damage at home."

She adds that the success of your at-home process depends on the type of lash install you've had: Volume, hybrid, and mega lashes are created by fanning multiple tiny lash fibers around a single natural lash. "This wrapping technique makes it harder to remove without damage," she says.

Which is all to say, as discussed, the best way to remove lashes is with the help of the very same person who put them on there in the first place. But there are effective ways to deal with stragglers at home. "I tell my clients to do the very things we tell them not to do to maintain their lashes," says Magno.

Tip #2: Never pick or pull.


It can be tempting to try to pick or pull away lash fibers, but that's actually the worst thing you can do. Synthetic fibers are bonded directly onto your natural lashes, and picking them off means you'll remove those, too. If you disrupt your follicle during its growth phase, you could run the risk of permanent damage—that is, no regrowth. So don't do that. Instead, wash your hands and prepare to be patient.
"They may not all fall off all at once, but you can certain work up to getting them all off eventually," Magno assures.

Tip #3: Start with oil-based products.


Start by incorporating an oil-based makeup remover into your nightly routine. Used daily, the oils will gently start to weaken the attachment of the extensions. There are also a few at-home targeted lash removal oils that work in a similar way. You could also try sweeping coconut, castor or olive oil along the base of your lash line and extensions with a clean mascara wand, being careful to avoid your eye, and leaving it overnight while you sleep, suggests Magno. While none of those oils are deeply reactive, if you have overly sensitive eyes or skin, you may want to test a small area first.




Tip #4: Steam can help, too.


Steam can also help loosen the adhesive bonds. If you don't have a facial steamer, try tenting your head with a towel over a bowl of hot water or even a humidifier, being sure to keep your eyelids closed as the steam hits your face. Repeat for a few minutes, then gently rinse your face. Hot showers can have a similar effect.

Tip #5: Try a lash curler.


"Try a mechanical curler to bend the attachments where the extensions are placed," suggests Magno. "This method could be used before the oil or after the steaming as an added enforcement." And if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. If you're doing it right, you'll need to repeat these steps numerous times to achieve a safe result.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
Vietnam Faces Up to $25 Billion Export Loss as U.S. Tariffs Bite
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Indonesia Court Upholds Military Law Amid Concerns Over Expanded Civilian Role
Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch Join Trump-Backed Bid to Take Over TikTok
Trump and Musk Reunite Publicly for First Time Since Fallout at Kirk Memorial
Vietnam Closes 86 Million Untouched Bank Accounts Over Biometric ID Rules
×