Aftercare Is What Makes a Lift Last

A lash lift can hold for up to eight weeks, but only if it is cared for — and most lifts that fade early do so because of what happens after the appointment, not during it. Aftercare falls into two parts: protecting the curl while it finishes setting in the first 48 hours, then keeping the lashes conditioned over the weeks that follow. Get both right and the lift runs its full course on lashes that stay in good condition. Here is the routine that protects the result.

The First 48 Hours

The bonds inside the lash that were reformed by the neutraliser carry on setting for about 48 hours after the treatment. Until they have fully stabilised, the new curl can be disturbed, so this short window is where the rules are strictest. Anything that re-softens or moves the lash now shortens the lift later.

These first two days set up everything that follows, and they are covered in more depth in our guide to the lash lift first 48 hours.

The Daily Conditioning Routine

Once the curl has set, the job shifts from protecting it to nourishing the lashes so they hold the lift and stay healthy. A reshaped lash benefits from conditioning, and a simple daily routine is what carries a lift through to its full eight weeks.

Brushing the lashes each morning with a clean spoolie resets the lifted shape and keeps them tidy. The two products that do the conditioning work are a cold-pressed castor oil and a nourishing serum.

Nightly Conditioning

Cold-Pressed Castor Oil

★★★★★

100% natural and cold-pressed: rebuilds the lash structure, adds softness and shine, and conditions lashes that have been through a chemical treatment.

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Castor oil rebuilds the lash structure and adds shine, and is ideal for lashes that feel dry. A nourishing serum with keratin, biotin and castor oil conditions the lashes and is specifically formulated to increase how long the treatment lasts. Applied in the evening, after the first 48 hours, the two keep the lashes soft and the lift holding. More on the oil itself is in castor oil for lashes.

Extends the Lift

Nourishing Aftercare Serum

★★★★★

Conditions the lashes with keratin and biotin to keep them soft and in condition, and to help the lift last its full run.

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For clients who also want more length and density, a growth serum can be added to the routine — the BBL formula is made without prostaglandin analogues, so there is no risk of the fatty atrophy sometimes linked to those ingredients. Using one after a lift is covered in lash growth serum after a lift.

What to Avoid Ongoing

A few habits work against a lift even after the first 48 hours, and avoiding them is part of keeping the curl through its full run.

• Oil-based makeup removers around the eye, which break down the conditioning and can loosen the curl.
• Waterproof mascara, which needs heavy rubbing or oily removers to take off — though most people find they need little or no mascara at all.
• An eyelash curler on lifted lashes, which is unnecessary and stresses the curl.
• Rubbing and pulling at the lashes, which is the quickest way to disturb the lift and weaken the lashes.

If a lift is fading faster than it should despite good aftercare, the likely causes are covered in why a lash lift is not lasting.

When to Re-do the Lift

A lift grows out gradually with the natural lash cycle rather than dropping all at once, so there is no need to rush back. Wait at least six weeks between treatments, with around eight the optimum, so the previous lift has grown out before the next one. Re-treating too soon stresses the lashes for no benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions