Which type of lash extensions last the longest? How to make your lash extensions last as long as possible

We’re often asked which type of lash extensions last the longest – naturally, just about everyone who wears eyelash extensions wants them to look as good as possible for as long as possible!

Although aftercare is hugely important, one of the factors in how long your lashes will last is actually what type of set you choose – and the styling choices you and your stylist make together for your application.

So let me take you through it! In this article, I’ve written out exactly what I would do prior to a lash appointment – and what set I would choose if I was going away on holidays for many weeks (one can only wish!) and wanted my lashes to look great for as long as possible.

Firstly, every human loses a couple of lashes a day. Some days, none – but then other days, you may have a shed of 5 or even more. When you’re not wearing extensions, you may notice them from time to time on your cheek, but yes, they do fall out all the time, and new ones grow in their place. When you are wearing extensions, you may notice it more, as they are bigger and darker. We offer different sets of lash extensions that vary in terms of coverage. For example, if you are wanting lashes that only take an hour or so and give a more minor enhancement/ mascara-like effect, then you would probably go for classics in a lite set, or maybe natural set if you have bigger eyes. With these sets, we don’t attach an extension to every single one of your lashes. Results aren’t as intense/dense.

Some people love these sets, because it means that a certain percentage of their own natural lashes are always resting, and they don’t have lashes on them. It can give a slightly uneven, gappy look which does tend to look more natural, as it’s not as dense/dark and even. It can be combined with an eyelash tint for a lovely “mascara-but-better” effect. It also means that the appointment time is shorter – as when we are only covering 50 to 75% of your own natural lashes with extensions, it doesn’t take the same amount of time as if we are covering every single one.

However – if less lashes are applied initially, they won’t last as long/look as full and complete for as many weeks as our fuller, denser sets, where more lashes have been applied – because there are less of them to lose. A set with maximum coverage (where we put on as many as we can, to your healthy natural lashes) will last longer/gaps will be less obvious as they gradually fall out over more time. So, sets like our glam set, medium volume (and mega, but many find it too much/intense) and max hybrid/wet look offer great coverage as we will cover most, if not all of the natural lashes in these types of sets. You will generally find that with these sets, you get longer between infills.

Length is also something that can affect the longevity of your lash extensions. We’ll always recommend a length that is more conservative and better for the ongoing health of your natural lashes, although we know that sometimes more length and more extreme styles tend to be requested for special events. If you are wanting your lash extensions to last as long as possible however, going with a shorter length is helpful. The reason is that the longer the extension, the larger the surface area ratio of the adhesion part (part where the extension is glued to your natural lash: length of the extension) which means the adhesive bond is not as stable. Longer extensions get knocked around more than shorter ones as they project out from the face further and are more likely to be caught on things like pillowcases.

Extensions that are too long or heavy for the natural lash tend to start to twist as they grow out, and look messy. We want to avoid this wherever possible. Obviously, if you leave it too long between infills and all your lashes are quite grown out, then you will likely have some twisting and messier looking extensions, however, this can be avoided for longer, if you go with shorter lengths. Although the very staggered extreme wispy look is extremely popular at the moment, it is a higher maintenance style that requires filling generally every two weeks to maintain and avoid the messy grown out look.

In a whole other ball game is the new LED lashes. We are finding that these will solve retention issues in just about every case. Particularly, for those who have thicker, stronger lashes, and an oily hair type that does not happen to bond as well to extensions, LED lashes can be a game changer. Due to the super strong and instantaneous curing of this application method and glue type, they will last longer for most people. On average, they last one week better than regular extensions.

So, if I was getting a set of lash extensions myself, because I was going overseas to a warm location for 6 weeks, where I would be swimming lots, and wanted my lashes to look as good as possible for that entire time, this is exactly what I would do/book:

Beforehand:

I would ensure that my lashes were as healthy as possible. I would use products such as LashGame Growth serum which strengthens and thickens the lashes and will ensure that I have as many strong, healthy lashes growing as possible before my application. I’d avoid picking/wearing waterproof mascara – which are not good for lash health.
I would avoid oily products on my lashes or eyelids for several days prior to the application – we want them nice and dry and not repellant to adhesive (we clean them and prime them, but if for some reason your hair follicle has been soaked in oil, it can make bonding trickier)
I would not get my lashes lifted in the 2-3 months prior.

I would ask for/book:

LED lash type (unless your own lashes are very fine and dry – in this case, it might not make as much difference)
A medium volume set, or if I had thicker, oilier natural lashes, I’d ask for ‘short wet look’ which can be done in our Max Hybrid sets. Or if going for classics, a Glam Set.
A shorter style that is only as long, or slightly longer than my own natural lashes (trust me – when done in a fuller style, they look MUCH longer due to the curve!)
I would go for a medium curl type – I wouldn’t ask for the most extreme curl available; more subtle curls tend to hold on better.
I’d choose a shape/style of more consistent lengths (i.e., ‘natural’ shape’ or ‘subtle cat/doll eye’) rather than something like extreme wispy or extreme cat eye – styles like wispy where some lashes have to be very long to get the effect tend to look messy and grown out faster than those of more consistent lengths.
I would let my stylist know that my goal is for the lashes to last as long as possible, so that they can take this into account in the styling choices/lengths above everything else.
If I was booking an infill, I would book the longest infill type possible and ask for my lashes to be made short, even and as full as possible.
I would make sure I was on time to my appointment, with clean, makeup free lashes – to ensure that my stylist had enough time to get my lashes as full as possible.

Afterwards:

I would gently wash them every single day with LashGame Foaming Lash Cleanser
If I went swimming, I would also gently rinse them afterwards with fresh water (salt water and chlorine drying on the lashes are not good for the adhesive bond and can make your lashes feel itchy!)
If wearing eye makeup, I would remove it daily with LashGame Makeup Remover, and then wash them gently afterwards.
I would avoid putting any waterproof makeup on them, even LED lashes, because removing this type of makeup is really straining on the hair follicles underneath as it goes hard.
I would continue to use my LashGame Serum every few days.
I wouldn’t play with my lashes or pick at them!
I would brush them daily when dry.

What I wouldn’t ask for/book/do:

Super long or wispy lashes, or very, very curled lashes – but only in a classic lite or natural classic set, or a book a very short infill time/not enough time for fullness
Apply makeup to them (especially oily/waterproof stuff) a lot once they were on
Get any oily stuff on them in the 2-3 days before the appointment – especially liquid oils like face cleansing oils, eye primers etc.

And lastly, I would recommend always listening to the advice of your lash stylist in terms of what they think your own lashes can handle, and how long you should go between infills – as well as aftercare advice. We love it when you come back with great retention and healthy, clean lashes because it means that you have been taking care of them, getting the most out of them and that we are working with you collaboratively (our skill + your excellent aftercare regimen!) to give you the very best results possible.