Taking Care of Eyelash Extensions in the Winter

What You and Your Clients Can Do to Care for Eyelash Extensions in the Winter

Lash aftercare is important no matter the season. As the seasons change, your advice to clients can reflect what they need to do to look after their lash extensions. Good aftercare between appointments can help clients maintain a fuller set and leave you more time to focus on application at their next infill. Winter can be a harsh season, so we’re here to discuss what your clients can do to get the best out of their extensions.

Understanding Winter Changes

The arrival of winter can bring a few challenges for lash extensions. In the salon, you might notice your lash glue taking longer to set if the room is cooler or drier than usual. This can make it harder to keep extensions in position or keep volume fans open. Check your room conditions against the adhesive’s recommended range. If the glue still sets too slowly for your placement speed, you may want to consider a quicker-curing formula suited to your workstation.

Winter weather can also change how clients care for their lashes afterwards. In the salon, a digital hygrometer and thermometer helps you keep track of changes in humidity and temperature. Read more in our guide to applying lash extensions in winter.

How Humidity Affects Retention

It’s common to turn up the heating or enjoy the warmth of a cosy fire during the colder months. In the salon, indoor heating can lower relative humidity. If it falls below your adhesive’s recommended range, the glue may take longer to set.

Check your room readings before adjusting your setup with a humidifier or changing adhesives. Use Primer during pretreatment and apply Retention & Speed Booster to the base of the extensions while they’re still on the strip, following the product instructions. Keep pretreatment liquids away from fresh adhesive bonds to avoid shock polymerisation.

At the end of the treatment, you can use Superbonder Sealant according to the product instructions. It’s designed to help finish curing the adhesive and keep the bonds flexible.

Winter Effects on the Client’s Skin

Clients may reach for richer moisturisers as a result of the drier winter conditions. Some formulas can leave an oily residue around the lash line, especially when applied close to the extensions.

Before applying extensions, remove any oils or skincare residue from the natural lashes so the adhesive has a clean surface to bond to. That’s where a thorough pretreatment routine comes in.

Oil and skincare residue can be difficult to remove from between the lashes and can make a set look clumpy, particularly with volume lashes. Go over aftercare with your clients and show them how to cleanse gently along the lash line.

If your client comes back for an infill with a lot of build-up, you may need to spend more of the appointment cleansing and have less time to restore that full, fluffy look. Encourage a consistent cleansing routine between treatments and remind clients to apply moisturiser carefully around the eyes, keeping it away from the lashes.

Makeup

As the festive season sets in, clients may wear more makeup for Christmas office parties and celebrations with family and friends. They might also reach for hydrating foundation or eyeshadow primer during the colder months. Makeup can build up between extensions and be difficult to remove at an infill, so remind clients to cleanse gently at the end of the day. For more tips, see our guide to wearing makeup and using skincare with eyelash extensions.

Client Aftercare

Share your winter aftercare advice wherever your clients are most likely to see it. You can talk them through it in person, add it to your website or post a reminder in your social media stories.

If you retail aftercare products in your salon, the Clean Lashes DUO pairs a foaming Lash Shampoo with a Cleansing Brush. Show clients how to use them for gentle daily cleansing to remove oils, makeup and debris from around the lash line.

It’s also worth explaining that natural lashes shed throughout the year, taking the attached extensions with them. If a client notices more fallout than usual, ask about their aftercare and look at what’s shedding when they return. You can read more in our article on seasonal lash shedding.

When clients leave the studio, an umbrella can come in handy if they’re heading out into rain or snow. Explain when they can get their lashes wet based on the instructions for the adhesive and any finishing product you used.

By keeping an eye on your salon conditions and sharing practical aftercare advice, you and your clients can help keep their extensions looking full through the winter. And don’t forget to book their next infill before they leave!