Does wearing a mask make lash extensions fall out faster?

Have you noticed that since the pandemic began your lash extensions don't last as long as they used to? If so, the answer to making your gorgeous lash extensions last longer may be right under your nose. Err... Eyes.

For some of us, this is the first time in our lives that we've ever worn face coverings and masks for an extended period of time. And I don't know about you, but I look forward to the day that we no longer have to wear them.

Between the maskne, the mask print wiping off my makeup and the sweaty upper lip, I'll be glad when mask wearing becomes a thing of the past.

A lot of my clients work in the medical field and have to wear masks all day and what I've noticed is that if their mask is not custom fitted to their face so that no air escapes from the top, bottom or side of their mask, their lash extensions don't last as long as my clients that don't wear a mask all day.

So being the supersleuth that I am, I did a little digging to understand why. And here's what I discovered.

As you know, there are three common things that can cause your lash extensions to shed prematurely. Those three things are oil, friction and heat.

On their own, each of these can cause your lash extensions to not last as long as they could. But if you combine two or all three, it's a recipe for disaster when it comes to the longevity of your lash extensions.

Here's why.

Our eyes naturally produce oil and lubricant as a means to keep our eyelashes healthy and so that our eyes aren't dry and uncomfortable. This is why I encourage my clients to wash their lashes twice a day in the morning and at night before bed using Chrissanthie Foam Cleanser. The cleanser helps to balance the eye chemistry so that your eyes are healthy and so that oil isn't left to sit on your luscious lashes all day, causing them to detach from your natural eyelashes.

When you combine heat to that oil and moisture that occurs naturally from the eyes, it creates steam. And exposure to steam is a surefire way to see an immediate loss of lash extensions.

You may be wondering how this applies to you but stay with me because I'm going somewhere with this.

When you wear a mask that isn't custom fitted for your face, your breath only has a few places to go in order to escape from under the mask.

What I've noticed since reopening is that many people wear masks that don't seal around the top of the nose. Because of this, it creates openings on each side of the bridge of the nose and when you breathe out, your breath exhausts through those openings.

And those openings lead directly to your beautiful lash extensions.

So here's my theory... The combination of heat and steam from your mouth, combined with the natural oils from your eyes is likely the reason why you're seeing your beautiful lash extensions fall out faster than they did pre pandemic.

Does this mean you should give up lash extensions until the mask mandates are over? Come on beauty, as a lash artist, you know I'd never tell you to do that. Especially considering our eyes are now the one thing that people focus most on since everything else is behind the mask.

Instead of ditching the one thing that elevates and enhances your appearance and makes you feel more confident and more put together, I think there's a simple solution. If you wear a mask for a few hours a day like me, use one that seals around the top of your nose. Whether it's a paper mask, a cloth mask or an electronic mask like I use.. just make sure it has a snug fit over the nose.

The masks that I've found for a really good fit over the nose are these KN94 masks made in Korea. I've bought a few boxes from Amazon for my daughter while attending school and although no mask is perfect, they are pretty comfortable for all day wear.

I really hope this helps!