Fake eyelashes were once reserved for theatrical performers and special galas, but today they are available to anyone at any time. As a society, we have normalized wearing fake lashes to the point where you can even wear them while you’re out doing your errands.
We love the false eyelash trend because it gives everyone the ability to look awake and doe-eyed. Let’s face it: long eyelashes can elevate your look without looking overdone.
They’re a beautiful way to make yourself look more put-together, more youthful, and more flirty. That being said, fake eyelashes come with some questions – can you sleep with fake lashes on? Will they damage your natural lashes? And, the most common question:
How long can you wear fake eyelashes? The answer depends on the type of lashes and application. Some can be worn for a day, while others can last weeks. If you wear them too many times, the lashes will begin to deteriorate.
We want to demystify these questions for you, so keep reading for a full guide on different types of false lashes and how long they can be worn.
Types of False Lashes And Their Longevity
The main difference between different fake lashes lies in the application process. Some lashes are glued to your eyelid, others are magnetically attached, while some can only be added by a professional at a salon.
Depending on the application, the wear time may vary. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular lash types and how long you can wear them.
Glue-On False Lashes
By far the most popular and most widely-available type of fake lashes are glue-on lashes.
These lashes are attached with a special glue to your upper eyelid, directly above your natural lash line, allowing them to blend in with your lashes to create a fuller longer look.
Glue-on lashes can be made out of different materials: synthetic fibers, natural human hair, or animal hair, like mink or horse. Some of them come as a full strip of lashes, while others come in clusters or even as individual hairs.
What they all have in common is that you are supposed to use a special glue that enables them to stick to your eyelids. These types of lashes can usually be worn for no more than 12-24 hours.
This makes them a great choice for big events like weddings, proms, and birthdays, but they may not be ideal for everyday wear since you’d have to reapply them every morning, and that can be a hassle.
The reason they only last 12-24 hours is that the glue will eventually lose its adhesive power, the edges will start to lift off, and they will come off.
Magnetic Lashes
Magnetic fake lashes don’t use any glue. They take advantage of the power of magnets to adhere to your eyelid.
Each strip of magnetic lashes has tiny magnets at the base of the strip. They stick to your lids by sandwiching your actual eyelashes between two strips of magnetic lashes and snapping into place.
Some magnetic lashes have a different mechanism: they come with a special magnetic eyeliner that you have to draw on your eyelid and snap the magnetic lash strip to it.
Both types of magnetic lashes can be worn for about 12 hours, although the magnetic eyeliner option may not last as long because the eyeliner fades and loses its strength after a few hours.
As with glue-on lashes, magnetic lashes are ideal for single-day wear. However, they are much easier to reapply than glue-on eyelashes, so they are more convenient to wear every day.
Salon Eyelash Extensions
Lash extensions that you can get at a salon last much longer than glue-on and magnetic false lashes. Salon lash extensions are individual false lashes that a professional meticulously applies to your natural lashes.
Instead of attaching to the skin on your eyelid, they are actually applied directly to each eyelash hair, using a permanent glue solution.
As you can imagine, the process is quite tedious and can take a couple of hours (and a couple hundred dollars). But the results are well worth it.
Since the extensions are attached with permanent glue, they can be worn for weeks. In most cases, up to 6 or 8 weeks, eventually shedding along with your natural eyelash growth cycle.
These types of lashes are ideal for those who like wearing fake lashes every day without the hassle of actually applying them every morning.
Can You Sleep With Fake Eyelashes?
Whether or not you can keep your fake lashes overnight depends on the type of lashes you’re using. Since salon lash extensions are attached to each lash hair with permanent glue, they are designed to be worn overnight for several weeks.
However, the glue-on and magnetic fake lashes are designed to be removed before bed. Still, some people wear them overnight.
It’s possible for them to last throughout the whole night, although tossing and turning in your sleep can make them come off. But if you’re a calm sleeper, you should be fine.
That being said, we don’t recommend wearing them overnight. The adhesive glue can collect germs and bacteria the longer you wear it, which sometimes leads to eye infections. Magnetic lashes don’t gather bacteria as easily, but frankly, they are not just comfortable to sleep with.
Ideally, we’d recommend taking false lashes off before bed (other than salon lash extensions, of course) and re-applying in the morning if you want them to last several days.
Do Fake Eyelashes Ruin Your Real Lashes?
Fake eyelashes themselves don’t ruin your real lashes. It’s the applying, removing, and re-applying process that can hurt your real lashes, in some cases.
Ideally, fake lashes sit just above your lash line so they’re not supposed to interfere with your real lashes. But in reality, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes the glue can drip down onto your natural eyelashes, getting stuck and pulling them out. Other times, you might accidentally pull on your real lashes while trying to pull off your magnetic strips.
So even though fake lashes don’t technically ruin your real lashes, it’s the activities surrounding them that might cause damage.
Can You Weaken Fake Lashes Every Day?
There is nothing inherently wrong with wearing fake lashes every day, but over time you might notice that your natural lashes aren’t loving it.
The adhesive from fake lashes can stick to your natural lashes and cause them to be pulled out when you remove your falsies. Over time, your lashes may begin to look more sparse.
You can also cause irritation to your eyelids by always having something attached to them. As we mentioned earlier, this can result in bacteria build-up and cause eye infections.
While it’s possible to wear fake lashes every day, we would not recommend it. You should at least aim to take some breaks to let your eyelids breathe.
If you do plan on wearing false lashes every day, consider getting semi-permanent extensions, which are much easier on the lids. If extensions are not in the cards for you, magnetic lashes are less damaging than glue-on lashes as long as you take care during removal and avoid pulling on your natural hairs.
How Long Do Fake Eyelashes Last?
Fake eyelashes can be reused multiple times if they are cleaned properly and stored in a safe container. Depending on their material, some can last more times than others.
For example, synthetic lashes are usually good for 4-5 uses before they begin to degrade and come apart. Lashes made out of human or animal hair last longer – up to 20 wears as long as they are handled with care.
To make your false lashes last longer, make sure to follow these steps:
- If they are glue-on lashes, make sure to remove any glue residue after each wear, using tweezers and an oil-based makeup remover.
- Clean the false lashes of any mascara, dirt, and makeup that may have ended up on them during wear. This can be done with micellar water or alcohol on a cotton pad.
- Store fake lashes in the container they came in to retain their shape and protect them from damage.
Following these steps will help your false lashes last through more uses and look their best as long as possible.
As you can see, the amount of time you can wear fake eyelashes is dependent on many factors like material, adhesive type, and how careful you are with the application and removal.
A few rules of thumb we like to follow are:
- Temporary fake lashes should be worn for the day and taken off at night. This includes magnetic and glue-on lashes.
- Salon lash extensions can be worn for weeks and allowed to shed naturally.
- Temporary fake lashes can be re-applied multiple times as long as they are cleaned after every use and stored properly
- Damage to natural lashes is possible but can be avoided with careful application and gentle removal.
And remember, it’s okay to veer away from these recommendations once in a while. It is not the end of the world if you wear your glue-on lashes for two days straight one time. Your eyelids will not fall off if you go to bed with them on. Just be mindful of how your eyes feel and you’ll be fine!
Up Next: Can You Use Hair Glue For Lashes?
