How To: Restoring False Lashes

False lashes are a fantastic tool in the art of makeup. They can transform, open, and awaken the eye when worn alone, or they can beautifully enhance the look of your eye makeup. Unfortunately, lashes tend to wear out very easily with re-use. I believe in making the most of makeup purchases, so here is a quick how-to on restoring seemingly trashed lashes. The lashes featured in this blog are the 105 lashes from Ardell.




Supplies:

1 spoolie brush
Isopropyl alcohol (preferably concentrated 91% to assure a quick drying time!)
Original lash packaging
Makeup remover (needed primarily is mascara has been applied to the lashes)



1. Place the damaged lashes on the natural curve of your finger, with the top side of the lashes against your finger, simulating the shape in which you want the lashes to curl in the end.

2. If the lashes have been used with mascara, spray the spoolie brush with an oil-free makeup remover, and run it through the lashes until the mascara has come out completely. If the lashes are free of mascara, skip this step and go straight to step number 3. If there is waterproof mascara on the lashes, see the tips section at the end of the blog!

3. Spray the spoolie brush generously with the alcohol.

4. Begin to comb the brush through the lashes, being sure to keep them curved against your finger to maintain the shape you are attempting to restore.

5. You will need to alternate between repeating steps 2 and 3 several times until the lashes have regained their shape.

6. Carefully place the wet lashes into their original packaging. This encourages the lashes to dry in the shape you've created. You may need to touch them up a bit with the brush during the drying process.

Tips: If the lashes won't stick back into the original packaging on their own, dot a tiny bit of lash glue on the very ends of the lashes. When the glue is very nearly dry, carefully place the lashes into the packaging. They should stick just like new!

Avoid using water or oil-based makeup removers. Oil will cause the lashes to droop, and water will cause the lashes to frizz and lose shape. If there is waterproof mascara, you will need to use an oil-based remover to remove the mascara from the lashes. In this case:

1. Run the oil through the lashes on a separate spoolie than the one you will use for alcohol later on.
2. Soak the lashes is a very diluted mixture of water and baby shampoo to remove the oil.
3. Allow the lashes to dry.
4. Proceed to the restoration process listed in the blog above.




Before:


After:


For reference, here is a pair of unused Ardell 105 lashes, taken directly from the Ardell website.



While this trick is great for getting extra uses out of your lash stash, some pairs of lashes will obviously be beyond repair, and even the most skilled restoration techniques can't restore every pair. Remember to take good care of your false lashes by practicing proper hygiene after every use in order to get the most mileage out of your falsies! This process can also be used to keep your lashes clean and free of bacteria after each use.

Good luck!

xo Jen