One of the best perks of DIY lashes (besides fabulous eyes on a budget) is the ability to reuse your false lashes. Whether you’re using strip lashes or cluster extensions, a little TLC can allow you to wear them multiple times – saving you money and keeping your lashes looking fresh. But cleaning falsies can be tricky; do it wrong, and you might damage those delicate fibers. Fear not! In this guide, we’ll walk through how to clean and reuse your DIY lashes step by step, all while keeping them in tip-top shape. Say goodbye to crusty lash bands and hello to lashes that look like new. Let’s get into it!
Why Cleaning and Reusing Your Lashes is Worth It
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly talk about the “why”:
- Save Money: Quality false lashes aren’t cheap. If you toss them after one use, you’re literally throwing cash away. By cleaning and reusing, you can get many wears out of one pair. Some people manage up to 4-5 uses, even up to 20 uses for high-quality strip lashes with proper care . That means fewer purchases in the long run.
- Better Hygiene: Cleaning isn’t just for reuse, it’s for hygiene. Lashes can accumulate glue, makeup, and bacteria. Cleaning them ensures you’re not putting old gunk near your eyes the next time. This reduces any risk of eye irritation or infection.
- Maintain Lash Quality: A clean lash simply looks nicer. Removing old glue and mascara residue brings back the lash’s softness and true shape. This means your reused lashes will look as good as they did the first time – no weird clumps or stiff bits.
- Less Waste: Reusing lashes is eco-friendlier. Fewer single-use products means less waste in landfills. It’s a small way to reduce beauty waste and be more sustainable.
Alright, now that we’re motivated to clean those lashes, let’s go through the process.
Step 1: Gentle Removal – It Starts Here
Reusing lashes actually begins with how you take them off your eyes. A careful removal will make cleaning easier and keep the lash intact:
- Soften the Glue: Use a cotton pad with eye makeup remover (preferably one that’s good at dissolving adhesive, or any oil-based remover) and hold it against your closed eye for about 20-30 seconds. Let the solution seep into the lash band or bond. This will loosen the glue’s grip.
- Slide Off, Don’t Rip: Starting from the outer corner of your eye, gently peel or slide the false lash off. Go slow. If you feel resistance, apply a bit more remover. For cluster lashes, you might remove them one segment at a time with tweezers after the bond has softened. The goal is to not tug out your natural lashes and to keep the falsies in one piece.
- Use a Remover Tool (Optional): Some brands have special remover wands or applicators – feel free to use those as directed. For example, Lashify has a Melt Away remover; others just rely on good ol’ coconut or baby oil. Whatever you use, the key is gentleness.
By removing the lashes carefully, you prevent them from warping (yanking can stretch or bend the lash band) and you keep as many lash fibers on the strip as possible (instead of shedding off onto your eye). Now you’re ready to clean!
Step 2: Remove Excess Glue from the Lash Band
Now that the falsies are off, you’ll notice the lash band (for strips) or the cluster bases likely have leftover adhesive stuck to them. We need to get that off:
- For Strip Lashes: Hold the lash by the fibers (the lashes themselves) or place it on a clean towel. Using your fingers or a pair of tweezers, gently pick at the dried glue on the band and pull it off . Often, the glue will come off as a few stretchy strands or chunks. Be careful to pull along the band, not away from it – you don’t want to tear the band. Take your time to peel off as much glue as possible. This step is oddly satisfying, like peeling off dried glue from your hands back in school. 😜
- For Cluster Lashes: There might be small dots of glue on the cluster’s base (especially if you used a lot). You can use tweezers to gently scrape or flick off the bulk of any glue globs. If the glue is really stubborn, don’t force it here – we’ll soak in the next step which will help.
- Avoid Pulling Lash Fibers: Whatever you do, try not to yank the actual lash hairs. If some glue is very stuck, it’s better to move on and address it during soaking/cleaning rather than pull so hard you rip out lash fibers from the band.
Removing the obvious glue chunks first makes the following cleaning steps more effective, since the cleansing agents can then reach the lash band itself.
Step 3: Soak or Wipe to Remove Makeup and Adhesive Residue
Next, it’s time to give those lashes a nice bath (figuratively speaking). This will dissolve smaller glue bits and remove mascara or makeup:
- Prepare a Cleaning Solution: You can use a makeup remover (non-oily if you plan to re-glue the lashes soon) or a mix of warm water and a drop of mild soap/shampoo. Some people love using micellar water for this step as it breaks down makeup gently. If the lashes are very dirty, a tiny bit of oil-free eye makeup remover in the mix can help.
- Soak or Saturate: There are two methods:
- Soaking: Fill a small, clean dish or bowl with your cleaning solution. Gently place the lashes in the liquid. Let them soak for a minute or two (don’t over-soak strip lashes with lots of glue, as very long soaks could loosen the lash hairs from the band if the glue holding the lashes starts dissolving).
- Wiping: Alternatively, soak two cotton pads in your cleaning solution. Place the lashes between the pads (like a lash sandwich) and let them sit for a couple minutes. This softens everything.
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- Wipe Down the Lashes: After soaking, take a cotton ball or pad, dip it in the solution, and gently wipe along the lashes and band . Always wipe from the band towards the lash tips – this avoids distorting the lash shape. The idea is to remove mascara, eyeliner, or eyeshadow residue and any remaining glue bits. The cotton should come away a bit dirty – that’s the old makeup. You can also use a cotton swab (Q-tip) for more precision, especially on the band and behind the lashes.
- Be Gentle on Fibers: Lash fibers (whether synthetic or mink) can be delicate. Don’t rub harshly or you might crimp or pull them out. A light dabbing or soft stroke motion is enough.
If you used mascara on your falsies (for example, blending your lashes with strips), you might need to spend a bit more time in this step to fully remove it. Mascara can stiffen lashes, so carefully roll the mascara off with a swab dipped in remover . Avoid waterproof mascara on falsies in the future – it’s tough to clean and can deform the lashes .
Step 4: Disinfect (Kill Bacteria Without Killing the Lashes)
This step is especially important if you plan to store the lashes for a while or share them (note: generally avoid sharing lashes for hygiene reasons, but if you ever did, definitely disinfect). Disinfecting ensures no bacteria or germs linger:
- Rubbing Alcohol Method: Take a fresh cotton pad or swab and dab it in 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Gently swipe it along the lash band and the lashes . Alcohol will kill most bacteria and also help dissolve any last bits of oils. Don’t soak the lashes in alcohol for long, just a few swipes will do.
- Tea Tree or Lash Cleanser: If you have a specialized lash cleanser (some brands sell gentle cleaners with tea tree or other antimicrobial ingredients), you can use that according to instructions. Usually it involves a light mist or dip, then rinse. But alcohol is a simple go-to that evaporates quickly.
- Avoid Soaking in Alcohol Too Long: While alcohol is great for sanitizing, prolonged exposure can dry out or stiffen lash fibers. So use it sparingly – a quick disinfect is enough .
- One Lash at a Time: It might be easiest to do this one lash strip at a time (or one cluster at a time), holding it in your fingers and swabbing. That way you make sure to hit the entire band where germs could hide.
If you skipped this step, likely nothing terrible would happen if you reuse the lashes promptly. But if you’re storing lashes for later, disinfecting is a good habit – eyes are sensitive and you want to keep things as clean as possible. Plus, if you had any eye irritation or infection, you definitely want to disinfect before reusing (or honestly, if you had an infection, toss the lashes to be safe).
Step 5: Rinse (if needed) and Dry the Lashes
Depending on what you used to clean, you might want to do a quick rinse:
- If you used soap or a lash shampoo, rinse the lashes in clean water to remove any soapy residue.
- If you used mostly micellar water or alcohol, you can skip a full rinse, but you might want to give a light mist or dip in plain water just to ensure nothing that could irritate eyes is left.
Now, drying is crucial:
- Place on Towel: Lay the lashes on a clean, dry paper towel or lint-free cloth.
- Blot Gently: Take another dry paper towel or cloth and gently press on the lashes to absorb excess moisture . Don’t rub, just press and lift.
- Reshape While Wet: This is a pro tip – while the lashes are still a bit damp, it’s easier to mold them. Using your fingers or a clean spoolie, fluff the lash hairs back into their original shape. If it’s a strip lash, you can even wrap it around something curved (like the cap of a makeup brush or a cotton ball) as it dries, so it keeps a nice curved shape that will fit your eye later.
- Air Dry Completely: Let the lashes air dry fully. It’s tempting to use a blow dryer to speed it up, but avoid heat – high heat can singe or frizz synthetic lashes, and even distort real hair lashes. Just leave them out for enough time to be completely dry. This might take an hour or more, depending on how wet they got.
- No Hairdryers or Direct Sun: As mentioned, heat is a no-no . Also don’t dry them on a radiator or in direct sunlight – UV and heat could weaken them. Room temperature air is best.
Make sure the lashes are 100% dry before you pack them away or attempt to reuse. Any dampness could lead to mildew or bacteria growth when stored – ick. Also, trying to reapply a still-wet lash won’t work well because the glue won’t stick to a wet surface.
Step 6: Store Properly for Next Time
Clean lashes – check. Now, how do we keep them safe until the next wear?
- Use the Original Case: The packaging your lashes came in is often perfect for storage. Most strip lashes come in a tray that has a curved half-moon shape – place the dried lashes back onto those curves to maintain their shape. This also helps you remember which is left and right if they are styled differently.
- Small Containers: If you lost the original case, you can use any small, clean container. Even a pillbox or clean contact lens case can work for clusters or segments. For strips, an old (cleaned) mint tin or a dedicated lash case works. Just ensure you lay them in a gentle curve.
- Keep Them Dry and Cool: Store lashes in a dry, cool area. Avoid bathrooms if they get very humid (excess humidity could affect the curl or encourage bacteria). A drawer in your vanity or a makeup organizer is fine.
- Label If Needed: If you have multiple styles of lashes, label the containers (“Natural #110”, “Glam Wispy” etc.) so you remember which is which. Also note how many uses a lash has had if you want to track that.
- Avoid Crushing: Make sure nothing heavy sits on top of your stored lashes. The next time you want to use them, you don’t want to find them squished or bent out of shape. This is why a hard case or box is helpful.
Proper storage not only preserves the lashes’ shape, but it also keeps dust off them. Dust and grime can collect static-ly on lash fibers if left out in the open, undoing all your cleaning work.
Bonus: What Not to Do (Common Mistakes to Avoid)
To truly reuse without ruining, here are some no-no’s to keep in mind:
- Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals: It might be tempting to use things like pure acetone or heavy-duty cleaners to dissolve glue – these can distort or weaken the lash fibers (and are not eye-safe). Stick to gentle makeup removers and alcohol.
- Don’t Rub Vigorously: Treat false lashes like a delicate fabric – gentle motions only. Rubbing or scrubbing will deform the lash curl and could tear the lash band.
- No Soaking Overnight: A long soak (especially in something like oily makeup remover) can over-saturate the lash and loosen the pre-set curl or the bond holding the individual fibers in the strip. A few minutes is all you need.
- Don’t Apply New Glue on Dirty Lashes: If you’re in a rush, you might think, “eh, I’ll just glue this already-worn lash back on without cleaning.” That can backfire – old glue gets bumpy and new glue on top may not sit evenly, meaning a poorer bond. Also, the lash won’t look as nice. At least peel off the old glue if you absolutely can’t do a full clean between uses.
- Avoid Mascara on Reused Lashes: If you want to maximize reuse, try not to put mascara on the falsies. Mascara, especially waterproof, is the hardest thing to clean and the main reason lashes deteriorate. Instead, put mascara on your natural lashes first (let it dry), then apply the falsies. Or use a tiny bit just at the base to bind real and fake lashes. The less product on the falsies, the longer they’ll last.
- Don’t Share Lashes: This is less about ruining the lash and more about not ruining your eye health. Using someone else’s used lashes or lending yours is a quick way to swap germs. Even with cleaning, it’s best each person sticks to their own lashes.
By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll extend the life of your lashes and keep them looking fab.
Knowing When a Lash Has “Retired”
Even with the best care, false lashes won’t last forever. How do you know when it’s time to finally let that pair go?
- Shape Wear-Out: If the lashes have lost their curl (even after reshaping) or just don’t sit right anymore, they might be past their prime.
- Thin or Frayed: Over time, you might notice the lash band starting to fray or some individual lash fibers shedding or bending oddly. If chunks of the lash are missing or it looks patchy, it’s time to replace.
- Stubborn Build-up: After several uses, sometimes a bit of glue or mascara just won’t come off and the lash feels gunky or stiff despite cleaning. When cleaning doesn’t restore the lash’s softness, consider retiring it.
- Allergic Reaction: If you ever get an eye infection or irritation, play it safe and toss the lashes you wore during that period, even if they look okay. It’s not worth risking re-infection.
- Count Your Uses: As a general guideline, many find strip lashes look good for about 5-8 wears with cleaning, while delicate clusters might be reusable a few times. If you’ve hit those numbers and they’re acting up, you got your money’s worth – open a fresh pack guilt-free.
When you do dispose of lashes, be mindful: they’re small but not biodegradable (if synthetic). Throw them in the trash, not down the sink or toilet (they can cause clogs). Some crafty folks even repurpose old lashes for creative projects, but that’s another topic!