First, what is normal
Your lashes grow, fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle, just like the hair on your head [1]. It is normal to lose between one and five of your own lashes each day. An extension is attached to one natural lash, so when that lash sheds, the extension goes with it [2].
That is why finding an extension with a tiny natural lash attached at the base is not a sign the glue failed. It means that lash finished its cycle [4]. It is also why a set thins gradually. It looks its fullest for the first two to three weeks. Past three weeks there is usually too little left to build on, so it is a new set [2].
| When | Usually normal | Usually a sign of a problem |
|---|---|---|
| First 3 days | One or two here and there | Several every day, or bald patches |
| Weeks 1 and 2 | A few a day, with the natural lash attached | Clumps of extensions together |
| Weeks 2 and 3 | Gaps starting to show, grown-out ones twisting | One eye much thinner than the other |
| Past 3 weeks | Too little left to fill, time for a new set | Your own lashes looking short or broken underneath |
Why extensions fall out in the first day or two
Water or steam in the first 24 hours
Lash glue sets using moisture in the air. It feels dry in seconds, but it keeps curing for a long time after that. A glue maker's own data sheet for this family of glue says curing continues for at least 24 hours before it reaches full resistance [5]. That is why my aftercare says no water or steam for 24 hours: no showers directly on the lashes, no sauna, no heavy sweating [2]. A hot shower, a steamy kitchen or a hard workout on day one is exactly the kind of thing that makes a new set let go early.
Oil or makeup on the lashes
If there is makeup or oil on your lashes when I arrive, the extensions will not hold. That is why I ask for clean lashes and move the appointment if they are not [2]. After the set, the same rule applies every day: keep oil-based products away from your eyes, because oil breaks down the adhesive. Cleansing balms, rich eye creams and oily removers near the lash line are common culprits [4].
Rubbing and picking
Rubbing, tugging or pulling can fracture your natural lashes [3], and it pulls extensions off long before their lash is ready to shed. It is the hardest habit to notice, because most of us rub our eyes without thinking, especially first thing in the morning.
Why one eye loses more than the other
Usually, it is the side you sleep on. The eye on the side you sleep on often thins out faster [6]. Sleeping face-down is the worst for it; my aftercare says to sleep on your back or side so they are not crushed [2]. A silk or satin pillowcase or a contoured sleep mask helps, and my sleeping guide has the details.
Why they fall out in clumps
Extensions should come out one at a time, each with its own lash. A clump usually means several lashes were glued together, so when one sheds or grows, it takes its neighbors with it [7]. That is a sign of the application, not your aftercare. My guide to the signs of bad lash extensions shows how to check.
What about the Las Vegas heat and dry air?
Dry air matters most while the glue is going on. A glue maker's own data shows the rate of cure depends on the humidity in the air [5], and Las Vegas air is dry most of the year. That is something I manage while I work, not something you can fix at home [8]. Once the set is on, heat, sweat and oil matter more than dryness [4]. Keep car vents and fans from blowing straight at your eyes, and rinse and wash after the pool or the gym once the first 24 hours have passed.
Myths worth dropping
- "Water ruins lash extensions." Only in the first 24 hours. After that, washing them every day with a gentle, oil-free lash cleanser is what keeps them on [2].
- "A good set lasts two months with no fills." The extensions last four to six weeks with proper aftercare, falling out as your own lashes shed. A fill every two to three weeks keeps a set looking full [2].
- "If they fall out with a lash attached, my lashes are being ripped out." A small natural lash on the end is that lash finishing its cycle [4].
- "Stronger glue would fix it." Glue matters, but no glue does well with steam on day one, oil every night or sleeping face-down.
What to do
- Brush daily with a clean spoolie and wash your lash line every day from the day after your appointment [2].
- Do not pick at loose or twisted ones. Brush them into place, and let them shed on their own [7].
- If your eyes are red, itchy or swollen as well, see an eye doctor rather than waiting. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says an allergic reaction can trigger pain, itching, redness and swelling [3].
- If lots came off in the first days of a set I did, text me a photo and tell me what happened that first day.
A fill puts back what shed. With me, a Hybrid fill is $90 within 2 weeks of your last set and $110 at 2 to 3 weeks; past three weeks it is a new set [9]. Fills are only for sets I did. If another artist did your set, book a new set and tell me in the notes, and I take the old one off first. A $25 deposit holds your time and comes off your total. Reschedule with more than 24 hours notice and your deposit moves to the new time at no charge. Cancel inside 24 hours and the $25 deposit is not returned, plus a $20 cancellation fee.
Questions about lash extensions falling out
Is it normal for lash extensions to fall out after one day?
One or two, yes, because your own lashes shed a few every day. Several in the first day usually means they got wet or steamed in the first 24 hours, there was oil or makeup on the lashes, or they were rubbed. If your eyes are red, itchy or swollen too, see an eye doctor.
Why are my lash extensions falling out on one eye?
Usually because of the side you sleep on. The eye you sleep on gets pressed into the pillow all night and thins out faster. Sleep on your back if you can, or use a silk pillowcase or a contoured sleep mask, and never sleep face-down.
Why are my lash extensions falling out in clumps?
Extensions should shed one at a time, each with its own natural lash. Clumps usually mean several lashes were glued together, so they come out together. Do not pull at them; brush gently and have the artist check the set.