Lash Lift Aftercare: What to Tell Clients After Every Lift

A beautiful lift can fall flat in a day if the client goes straight from your chair to a hot shower. That is why lash lift aftercare is part of the service, not an afterthought. The few minutes you spend explaining it protect your work, cut down on "my lift dropped" messages, and bring clients back for their next appointment.

This guide gives you the aftercare points to cover, a short routine you can teach before the client leaves, and answers to the questions clients ask most.

Clients remember very little of what you say once they see their new curl in the mirror. Keep your lash lift aftercare message short and repeat it in writing. Most artists cover five points:

• Keep lashes dry for the first 24 hours.
• Avoid steam, saunas, hot yoga and swimming at first.
• Don't rub, pull or sleep face-down on the lashes.
• Wait before using mascara.
• Use gentle cleansers and skip oily products around the eyes.

Send the same list by text or email after the appointment so the client has it when they need it: the next morning in the shower.

Right after a lift, the new shape is still settling. That is why almost every aftercare sheet focuses on the first day or two. Ogle School's lash lift home care sheet tells clients not to get newly lifted lashes wet for 24 hours and to skip sauna, steam, infrared sauna and hot yoga for the first 24 to 48 hours. Use these as your baseline, then add any instructions that come with the products you use.

Tell clients to wash their hair with their head tipped back, wash their face around the eyes with a damp cloth, and skip anything that splashes the lash line. Rain and heavy workouts count too. If the lashes get wet by accident, they should pat them gently and let them air dry rather than rubbing.

Heat and steam are easy to forget. Remind clients about steam rooms, saunas, hot yoga, long hot showers and pools for the first day or two. A simple line works: "If it makes your face sweat or drip, wait until after the first day or two."

Rubbing the eyes can frizz or kink freshly lifted lashes. Ask clients to keep their hands away from their eyes, avoid pressing their face into a pillow the first night, and brush the lashes gently upward with a clean spoolie if they need to tidy them.

The first 24 hours are meant to be makeup-free around the lashes. After that, many clients are happy to wear mascara for extra definition. Our post Can You Wear Mascara with a Lash Lift? goes deeper. Tell clients to avoid waterproof mascara, since it is harder to remove and takes more rubbing.

Harsh products and heavy scrubbing are hard on lifted lashes. Suggest a gentle, oil-free cleanser around the eyes, nightly makeup removal with a light touch, and no scrubs near the lash line. A clean lash line also makes the lift look neater as it grows out.

Good aftercare starts in your chair. Follow the processing times for your solutions so the lift sets the way it should. For our Lash Lift Solutions, the product page lists Step 1 at 5 to 8 minutes, Step 2 at 3 to 6 minutes and Step 3 at 5 minutes. Then walk the client through this routine before they leave:

1. Show: Hand them a mirror and point out the curl you created.
2. Tell: Go over the five rules above in one minute.
3. Practice: Have them brush their lashes up once with a clean spoolie so they know the motion.
4. Send: Text or email the aftercare list the same day.
5. Book: Schedule the next lift before they go. Our guide How Long Do Lash Lifts Last? covers the typical timeline.

Starting or restocking lash lift services: the Lash Lift Kit includes Step 1, 2 and 3 solutions, lift adhesive, small, medium and large rods, a precision tweezer, microbrushes, 10 eye pads, clear wrap and 50 lash brushes. Those brushes are handy to send home with clients for gentle grooming.

Just need refills:Lash Lift Solutions has 10 applications per step.

Clients who want mascara after the first day:Lash Lift Tubing Mascara wraps each lash in flexible tubes and comes off with warm water and a gentle rub, with no makeup remover needed. It is an easy retail add-on at checkout.

Learning lash lifts: the Lash Lift Course Online is $395 with a kit included and unlimited access. You get a downloadable certificate of completion. A certificate is not a state license, and licensing rules depend on your state.

How long after a lash lift can I get my lashes wet?

Most aftercare sheets say to keep lashes dry for the first 24 hours, and to wait 24 to 48 hours for saunas, steam and swimming.

When can I wear mascara after a lash lift?

Wait at least 24 hours. After that, skip waterproof formulas and remove mascara gently each night.

Can I sleep on my face after a lash lift?

Try to avoid it on the first night, since pressure can bend freshly lifted lashes. Sleeping on your back is easiest.

What should I avoid after a lash lift?

Water, steam, saunas, hot yoga, swimming, rubbing your eyes, waterproof mascara and harsh or oily cleansers around the eyes.

How do I brush my lashes after a lash lift?

Use a clean spoolie and brush gently upward from the base. Don't tug or twist the lashes.

Ready to offer lash lifts or restock your supplies? Shop the Lash Lift Kit, add Lash Lift Tubing Mascara to your retail shelf, or learn the full service in our Lash Lift Course Online.