Do fake eyelashes ruin your eyelashes?

One of the reasons why some people avoid wearing eyelash extensions is the myth that eyelash extensions ruin eyelashes. But do eyelash extensions ruin your eyelashes? The short answer is yes. Do eyelash extensions ruin your eyelashes? They can, but they don't have to. One thing to understand about getting eyelash extensions for the first time is that there is always some element of risk.

That said, you can reduce those risks by taking the time to research where you're going to get your eyelash extensions.

False eyelashes

are a cosmetic enhancement used to create the appearance of full, lush eyelashes.

False eyelashes

come in a variety of materials, colors and lengths, from short to dramatically long. They are fixed to the upper part of the natural eyelashes with an adhesive material.

If improperly applied or removed, false eyelashes can damage natural eyelashes. Even with proper application, excessive use can damage natural eyelashes. They are a temporary eyelash enhancement that adheres to the lash line with a latex or acrylate-based adhesive. If you're planning to get eyelash extensions, ask a licensed beautician to apply them to avoid these side effects.

As any eyelash technician will tell you, one of the most common questions you hear is if extensions damage real eyelashes. But with that said, you can do everything right and still discover that eyelash extensions break your natural eyelashes. Eyelash glue should be applied directly to the eyelashes and should not come into contact with natural eyelashes, as it will protect them from the aggressive chemicals in the glue. Next, two eyelash experts, a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon will discuss everything you need to know about eyelash extensions, from finding the right eyelash artist to the cost, risks, and everything in between.

And try taking breaks where you let your natural lashes do their thing (and use a conditioning eyelash serum to get them back to health). These are some of the factors that influence whether eyelash extensions can damage natural eyelashes or not. When it comes to safety, dermatologists compare eyelash extensions to acrylic nails; they're not necessarily good for you, but they're not likely to cause serious health problems, so you may decide that the aesthetics of the extensions outweigh the potential side effects (which, most commonly, include irritation, infection and allergic reactions). The most common risk of eyelash extensions is an allergic reaction to glue, which contains cyanoacrylate.

The rate at which eyelashes will regrow will vary from person to person, but they will grow back even if they have been damaged. Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent fibers that adhere to natural lashes so that the fringes of the eyelashes appear longer, fuller and darker. Using long or heavy eyelash extensions can damage natural eyelashes, the weight causes them to fall out or break. While damage to natural eyelashes is certainly not ideal (nor is it sustainable over time), any breakage or fall should resolve on its own in one to three months, as part of a typical eyelash growth cycle (more on the following).

All your eyelashes are at a different stage at any given time, which means that some of your eyelashes are about to fall out, while others are experiencing a growth period (this is true whether you have eyelash extensions or not).

Randi Miera
Randi Miera

Extreme coffee fanatic. Friendly music evangelist. Total pop culture enthusiast. Lifelong travel fanatic. Award-winning twitter fan.