Get Clean Falsies in a Few Easy Steps

How to remove false lashes

The first step to cleaning lashes is taking them off. Here’s a simple — and safe — way of removing them. 

1. Wash your hands. Always give your hands a thorough wash before touching your eye area. 
2. Pull the side of the lash. Gently pull the side of the lash band, starting at the outer corner of your eye. Hold the band, not the lashes, to avoid causing damage. For individual lash sets, gently tug each section by the base.
3. Prep for cleaning. Place the lashes on a clean paper towel.

How to remove eyelash extensions

While falsies are easier to remove, you can also remove eyelash extensions at home. Here’s how to do so safely. 

1. Remove makeup. Using micellar water or makeup remover, gently wipe away eye makeup. 
2. Rinse with warm water. Either take a steamy shower or wash your face with warm water. You can also boil a pot of water and place your face in the steam to further loosen the lash adhesive.
3. Break out the coconut oil. Tip a cotton swab in coconut oil and gently rub it along your lash line to weaken the adhesive. Olive oil works, too, but has a stronger smell and a higher chance of irritating sensitive skin.
4. Wipe away the lashes. Take a cotton pad and gently wipe the lashes off your lids. It may be tempting, but don’t tug at them to avoid pulling out natural lashes or irritating your eyes.

Be gentle, and repeat the process until all extensions are removed. If there are stubborn stragglers, have them removed by a lash stylist. You’ll find more details on extension removal here.

How to clean false lashes

This step-by-step guide shows you how to clean false lashes with micellar water or makeup remover.

1. Remove excess glue. With a pair of tweezers, remove excess adhesive from the lash strip.
2. Remove makeup. Use an oil-free makeup remover or micellar water on a cotton swab and remove mascara from the lashes. We love BIODERMA’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water because it’s super gentle.
3. Cleanse with water. Dip your cotton ball in warm water and gently rub the lashes.
4. Disinfect. Use a cotton pad dipped in a small amount of rubbing alcohol to remove dirt and bacteria. 
5. Let them dry. Set your lashes on a paper towel and let them air dry in their original shape. 
6. Store them safely. Once fully dry, store your lashes in their original packaging, a small box, or a drawer where they won’t move around to ensure they don’t bend out of shape.

How to clean lashes made from natural fibers

Most lashes are made of synthetic materials, but cleaning those made with natural fibers, like mink lashes, is almost the same. The only difference is to be more gentle. We recommend using a Q-tip to remove excess makeup and disinfect them and using the most delicate removal product possible — warm water and soap if you can. 

How to clean magnetic eyelashes

The only difference in cleaning magnetic eyelashes is how to clean the lash band. 

1. Use your hands (not tweezers) to pull the lash band away from the eyeliner.
2. After you’ve removed the magnetic lashes, take a Q-tip with eye makeup remover and find the small magnets on the lash band.
3. Gently clean the magnets with the Q-tip and remove all the magnetic eyeliner.

Reusing fake lashes is a cost-effective way to get bold makeup looks whenever you want. The process is so simple — think of it as a two-minute addition to your nighttime skincare routine. 

People also ask 

Can I restore the shape of my lashes?

Sometimes, late nights mean you don’t have time to carefully remove and clean your lashes. Bent lashes happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. 

To revive their shape, soak the lashes in warm, soapy water. Take the wet lashes and curve them around your finger, pinching them between your thumb and index finger. This helps the lashes curve to your eyelid the next time you wear them. Next, take a clean lash brush and run it through the lashes to ensure they’re evenly dispersed. Use an eyelash curler and gently curl the lashes to restore them to their original shape. 

Are you supposed to clean your fake lashes?

Cleaning fake lashes doesn’t only make them look better and last longer — it’s best practice for avoiding an eye infection or irritation. You should never reuse lash sets that haven’t been cleaned. 

How often should you clean your fake lashes?

Clean your falsies after every use if you plan on reusing them. As mentioned, this makes them look nicer, last longer, and makes it easier to apply them next time since you won’t be working around old makeup and glue. 

Maintaining fake eyelashes doesn’t have to be challenging — for more lash guidance, turn to the Flip community. Our creators constantly share product recommendations and beauty hacks so you can feel confident and excited about your next falsie set.