How To Make Lash Shampoo
We all have our tried-and-true shampoos for our hair, but how many of us have found a shampoo for our lashes? While you might think that lash shampoo is just an eye makeup remover, it is actually a product that is specifically formulated to cleanse the lash hairs as you would cleanse your actual hair.
Lash shampoo is an ideal cleansing product for individuals with lash extensions, as they require specific maintenance and care to ensure they last as long as possible between appointments.
Unlike eye makeup remover, lash shampoo is a gentle cleansing formula designed to remove excess makeup, dirt, and oils from the lashes that regular cleansing and even eye makeup remover may miss.
It is an oil-free formula that keeps the lash bond of your extensions in place while thoroughly removing any buildup on or between the lashes.
When used with the proper tools, such as a disposable mascara spoolie or a small brush, the solution can get as close to the lash line as possible, providing a thorough clean that can often be missed with a single swipe of an eye makeup remover.
Lash shampoo is a cleanser designed to gently and thoroughly remove makeup, dirt, and oils from your lashes. While anyone can incorporate lash shampoo into their routine, it works particularly well for those with lash extensions, as it helps maintain their care while not breaking down the lash bond at a quicker rate.
So, how do you make lash shampoo?
You can make your own lash shampoo at home by mixing one tablespoon of baby shampoo, one teaspoon of baking powder, and distilled water together in a bottle with a foam pump top.
Lash shampoo is a product that can be easily made at home using only baby shampoo, baking soda, and distilled water; details are provided below.
What Is Lash Shampoo?
Much like shampoo for your hair, lash shampoo is a cleanser specifically made for your lashes and lash extensions.
While it might seem like your regular facial cleanser or eye makeup remover is doing the job of ridding your eye area of excess makeup or oil, those products can often leave bits of makeup behind or a coating of oil on the lash extensions.
Lash shampoos are designed to be gentle on the eye area, deeply cleansing to remove dirt, oil, and makeup, while nourishing your lash extensions and preserving the bond from breaking down too soon.
Why Should You Use Lash Shampoo?
It may seem like an unnecessary step, but using a lash shampoo can benefit your skincare routine, especially if you frequently have lash extensions applied.
With lash extensions in particular, proper care and maintenance help ensure the extensions stay intact, preventing them from falling out too early and requiring a refill appointment sooner than necessary.
Not only will lash shampoo help to thoroughly cleanse the lashes, but it will also nourish the lashes and extensions.
While there are countless eye makeup removers on the market, most of them are oil-based, which helps remove stubborn, long-wearing mascara and eyeliner.
However, any skincare product that is oil-based is more likely to break down the bond that adheres to lash extensions, causing the extensions to shed earlier than usual.
Having lash extensions shed at a faster and earlier rate will result in needing refill appointments more frequently.
Oil-free makeup removers can also leave a film or greasy feeling behind, even after it is washed away. It can be challenging to rinse completely, which may also leave residual eye makeup behind.
While facial cleansers and eye makeup removers, whether oil-based or not, can seem like they completely rid your lashes of makeup, oil, or debris, they often do not thoroughly cleanse the lash down to the root, leaving behind a buildup of residual eye makeup or oils.
If you want to care for your lash extensions or your regular lashes to keep them feeling nourished and deeply cleansed, and want to add an extra pampering step to your skincare routine, lash shampoo is easy to DIY at home or can be purchased the next time you go to a lash extension appointment.
How To Use Lash Shampoo
Using a lash shampoo is similar to using an eye makeup remover; however, to achieve the most thorough clean, a few extra items are required.
A brush or a disposable spoolie will be helpful in getting the cleanser as close to the lash root as possible and will also work to grab and cleanse between each lash.
It is also helpful to avoid using woolen cotton rounds to swipe across the lashes, as the cotton can often become stuck in the lash extensions and cause irritation.
After cleansing your face as usual, use a disposable spoolie or a small, soft makeup brush to gently apply the solution to your lashes, starting to remove any excess makeup or oil.
A tip for ensuring you get to the root is to take a folded piece of tissue or a small makeup remover towel and place it under the lashes while your eyes are closed.
Then, take the lash shampoo on the disposable spoolie and gently comb the product through the lashes. Alternatively, use the solution and the small brush to gently wipe across the lashes.
By combing the lashes through with the spoolie and the cleanser, or swiping across with the small brush, the makeup and oils on the lashes are broken down and able to be easily rinsed or wiped away.
Make sure not to rub aggressively against your lashes, extensions or not, when using a lash shampoo because they are delicate hairs that need to be cared for gently.
It is also helpful to swipe the spoolie or brush in downward motions, rather than back and forth, to avoid tangling the lash extensions or being too harsh on the natural lashes.
Recipe For At-Home Lash Shampoo
The most popular way to create your own lash shampoo at home is by using baby shampoo, baking soda, and distilled water in a foaming pump bottle.
This solution is gentle, yet works as a cleanser to rid any residue from the lashes. It calls for one tablespoon of baby shampoo, one teaspoon of baking powder, and the rest with distilled water mixed together in a bottle with a foam pump top.
If you are creating the lash shampoo with baby shampoo, look for one that is sulfate-free. While baby shampoo is gentler than typical shampoo or certain cleansers, those formulated with sulfates can be too drying for the lashes and may not provide the proper amount of moisture.
It is also important to make sure that it is gentle enough to prevent tearing or eye irritation, as baby shampoos are not ophthalmologist-tested for the eye area.
If you want to try another method that doesn’t include baby shampoo, using an oil-free micellar water can help to deeply clean the lashes.
Micellar water is a gentle cleansing water that can be used to clean lashes with the same technique mentioned above. It is key to look for oil-free options to avoid breaking down the bond of the lash extensions.
Conclusion
Lash shampoo targets each individual lash to provide a deep and thorough clean, while also cleansing as closely as possible to the lash line.
While it might seem like your regular cleanser and eye makeup remover is doing the job, if the lashes are not completely cleansed of excess makeup, dirt, or oil, it can cause buildup to occur, which could lead to eye irritation.
Especially with lash extensions, the buildup of product or general irritation can cause your extensions to shed sooner than usual, resulting in more frequent refill appointments.
Because lash extensions require their own type of care, you have to be mindful of how you are cleansing your face and what products you are using to remove makeup.
It is recommended to avoid wetting lash extensions, especially soon after a new set is applied, as this can alter the way you wash your face to prevent soaking your extensions.
By avoiding getting the lash extensions too wet, it becomes more challenging to remove any eye makeup products, as well as any debris or oil that is naturally produced throughout the day, leading to product buildup and irritation.
Lash extensions also require oil-free products, as oil can break down or loosen the bond that adheres the extensions. Most eye makeup removers are oil-based, as they are meant to break down stubborn or waterproof eye makeup products.
Not only can the oil-based product lead to shedding of lash extensions sooner, but it can also leave an oily residue on the eye that is difficult to rinse away completely.
Whether you have lash extensions or not, or you just want a change from your regular eye makeup remover, lash shampoo is a gentle cleanser that can be a DIY product you can make at home to try out for yourself!
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