Fake eyelashes do a lot to enhance your appearance, and learning how long you can wear fake eyelashes tells you how long this look may last.
You can wear fake eyelashes for about 12 hours a day, although they may stay on for longer. While they may hold for as much as a week, it is healthier to remove them before you go to sleep each night.
People wear eyelashes for different reasons, with some sticking to special events and others making them part of their daily routine. Keep reading as we explore how daily use affects your natural lashes and offer an alternative better suited to extended wear.
Is It Okay to Wear Fake Eyelashes Every Day?
While it is possible to wear fake eyelashes every day, this is not a decision to make lightly. You need to understand completely what you stand to gain and what risks you take with consistent use.
Fake eyelashes do a lot for your confidence, and they are a fantastic way to display your style. They can provide more reliable enhancement than mascara alone, and they work well to improve the volume of your lashes.
Many choose to wear fake eyelashes to enhance dramatic looks or draw attention to their eyes, and tapping into this confidence boost daily can improve mood and performance. There is something about lashes that lifts you up, and fake eyelashes are a quick and cheap way to tap into that.
Still, wearing them daily is a time consuming process. Even if you get your routine down to 5 minutes a day for application, this still eats away at hours of your life over time. If you’re the type that wants a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning, you might find it here.
Fake eyelashes add up in cost over time, especially with daily use. This varies depending on the quality you desire, but even cheaper fake eyelashes can be costly.
There are also plenty of health and appearance effects, ranging from reactions to expected consequences of wearing fake eyelashes every day.
What Happens If You Wear Them Too Often?
It is possible that you can skate by wearing them daily with no repercussions, but more likely you’ll experience allergic reactions, chemical reactions, and the eventual consequences of tugging and pulling.
Because fake lashes usually comprise synthetic fibers or animal hairs, they can incur a variety of allergic reactions. It is also worth considering how some glue and adhesive puts carcinogenic materials right on your skin.
Even without a true allergic reaction, these chemicals are likely to cause severe damage to the bed of your eyelash and harm the sensitive skin around your hair follicles.
If you get the glue in your eyes (which is more likely to happen with extended use) expect pain, itching, and swelling.
Tugging and pulling on the lashes over time, whether through rubbing, removal, or just the daily weight of the lashes, contributes to traction alopecia, and you might lose your natural lashes.
Daily wear, especially with heavy makeup, is bound to clog your hair follicles and oil glands. As you trap dirt and debris and introduce more materials and germs, expect a higher rate of infection.
Does Wearing Fake Eyelashes Ruin Your Natural Ones?
Wearing fake lashes can ruin your natural ones, even with proper use. The chance increases depending on how they are made and how you apply them.
The chemicals involved in fake eyelash and lash adhesive contribute to lash loss, even with proper application. This worsens if you have sensitive skin in that area or the surrounding hair follicles.
The weight of fake eyelashes, especially over time, pulls on the shaft of your natural lashes. This weakens the lashes and increases the chance of breakage and fallout.
Other mistakes that can ruin your natural lashes include:
- Applying too many coats of mascara
- Impatient or improper removal
- Rubbing your eyes
The permanency of hair loss varies from person to person. While temporary lash loss is more common, it is possible to lose your lashes permanently from wearing fake eyelashes.
Alternative to Fake Eyelashes–Lash Extensions
If this information makes you wary, don’t fret; you have other options.
Lash extensions use semi-permanent fibers to enhance your natural lashes, and they work better for extended wear. Instead of sitting on your lash line, these work with what you offer to lift and open your eyes.
Lash extensions come in different fibers, mainly:
- Synthetics
- Faux mink
- Silk
They fall between 6mm to 18mm, providing you with greater control over the end result. You can also adjust the curl width volume and choose from classic, fan, or hybrid styles.
While classic lash extensions use a one-for-one system, matching a single extension to a single lash, fans use a carefully arranged fan on a single lashes to create a fuller, denser appearance. Hybrids work with a combination of the two to fulfill the middle ground.
How Are These Different?
Let’s start by defining the tendencies of fake eyelashes.
These usually come in strips that you can purchase at a grocery store or beauty supply store. These lightweight options come in a variety of single-use styles (although you can get 2 or 3 uses if you’re careful). You can apply mascara on top for a more cohesive look.
These lashes work better for making a statement at special or periodic events. While you can wear them every day and they only take 5 minutes to apply, they cause more stress on your eyes.
Lash extensions are individual lashes or fans that apply to each lash using a special glue. Instead of adhering to your eyelid, each lash sits on top of one of your own to extend their appearance.
Lash extensions only need to be applied once to start, but the process takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Refills take about one third to half that time. These costs add up, but you benefit from getting up and going on with your day without applying lashes or mascara.
Lash extensions are generally less harmful, but you should pay closer attention to how you sleep and handle makeup removal. Irritation causes them to fall off faster, and can require more frequent refills.
How Long Do They Last?
The time that lash extensions last ranges anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, with a conservative estimate around 3 weeks. Because of this, it is best to get them a few days before a major event such as a wedding so you can get the full experience.
With proper care, expect lash extensions to follow your natural lash growth cycle. This ranges from 6 to 8 weeks, and as you shed lashes you lose the attached extensions.
To end up on the longer side of this timeline, make sure you follow the right care procedures from the start. Steer clear of anything that will wet your lashes for the first 48 hours. You can shower or wash your face, but keep your lashes dry.
Avoid heavy creams and oil-based products around your eye that can cause excessive drag.
One of the most difficult things to avoid is mascara, especially toward the end of the cycle. Because mascara is hard to remove (especially waterproof varieties) you are far more likely to damage or break your lashes or extensions.
Catch yourself before rubbing your eyes and avoid a mechanical eyelash curler, and try to keep your showers short.
As for what you can do to keep your lash extensions going strong–gently brush them with a spoolie fairly often and use a conditioning serum to keep your lashes healthy and hydrated. Keep it as light as possible.
Try to sleep on your side and consider using a silk or satin pillowcase. This material prevents drying and snagging, and you’re likely to see other benefits with your skin or hair.
How Much Do They Cost?
The cost for lash extensions varies greatly depending on where you shop, whether you purchase a full set or just a refill, the style you’re looking for, and more. You’ll see prices ranging from $40 to $200.
If you shop for a lash stylist in a city, expect to pay more. While these areas have more competition, there is also much more demand for these services and few spots available. High end resorts or spas will cost the same, but suburban and rural areas tend to charge less.
Regardless of where you shop, you’ll pay more for a lash artist with experience than a fresh graduate. This doesn’t mean that the prior-student is not qualified to work on your lashes, but they still need experience to justify those prices. A senior lash artist has the skills and timing to charge more, providing better results in less time.
If you want to focus on volume, fuller fan lashes cost much more. These handmade sets require multiple lashes that attach to your own, and you spend more to compensate for the time and materials.
Expect to pay more for higher quality, but do not count on more expensive services equating to high quality. Look for a lash artist that uses higher-quality lashes and adhesive, with reviews to back up those claims.
Conclusion
In the end, it is your choice how often you wear fake lashes and for how long. Make sure you consider the risks and the benefits before making this decision.
Consider an alternative that fits your budget and lifestyle while requiring fewer risks. Lash extensions are one of the best choices, but they aren’t your only other offer.
Decide on something that makes you feel good and do your best to keep it that way!
