How To Keep Your Korean Lash Lift & Brow Lamination Looking Fresh For Weeks!
As a beginner lash artist, my biggest fear of all was my client’s retention. I always thought that if my client’s Korean lash lift or brow lamination didn’t last the average 6-8 weeks, I for sure did something wrong that caused it. But that’s not always the case! I took in soo many models and clients at a super cheap price for one whole month to get all the practice I can get. I re-read my Korean lash lift training manual, and even took an additional online course to make sure my rod placement, solution timing & shield choice per client was correct.
Even after all this I still had a few of my clients reaching out to me saying that just after a couple weeks, their lashes/brows were crinkled, felt dry, pointing in all sorts of directions or didn’t look as “lifted” anymore, or the tint was already faded from their brows. I asked these clients the exact same question, to which they all had similar answers to. Can you guess what I asked them? If you guessed “have you been following proper aftercare?” then you got it right. These clients had answers that were basically the same– “I accidentally rubbed my eye/eyebrow shortly after”, “I lost the little spoolie brush you gave me so I haven’t really been brushing them out”, I even had a client say “I’m supposed to brush them out everyday?!?”. After every appointment with me, I always send a quick text to my clients with the proper aftercare specifically for their service they had done.
THE FIRST 24-48 HOURS (After your service)
The first 24-48 hour period after your service is the most important when it comes to aftercare. This is the period when your lashes/brows are setting into its new shape, and the tint is still developing its full depth and intensity.
What to keep in mind for the first 24-48 hours:
Keep your lashes/brows DRY! This means no swimming, no sauna, no facial treatments.
No steam/sweat. Make sure to schedule hot yoga, pilates, spin classes, or any other workouts that can make you sweat a lot for another day.
Hands off! As tempting as it is to touch your fresh brows/lashes, we need to make sure to not touch or rub them while the lifting bonds are still locking into place. You can still obsess over them without touching them!
Sleep on your back (if possible!). Sleeping on your side or on your face can make your brow hairs and/or lashes flat or point in all sorts of directions.
KOREAN LASH LIFT + TINT AFTERCARE
While we can’t directly alter our natural lash cycle and prevent lashes from shedding, there are other things we can do to help keep our lashes healthy which will help the lash lift last longer. The more you keep up with proper aftercare, the longer you’ll see your results last. This is why I always tell my clients how important aftercare is with Korean lash lifts & brow laminations. Once you incorporate these little things in your daily routine, you’ll see why everyone calls lash lifts & brow laminations low maintenance beauty!
In the last section I talked about how the first 24-48 hours are the most important. That doesn’t mean when the 24 hours is up, you can forget about aftercare and only opt to do it once a week. Especially if you want your lift to last the average 6-8 weeks between appointments!
Aftercare rules to incorporate into your daily routine (after the 24 hours):
Gentle cleansing: When washing your face or removing make-up, just be a little gentle around your eye area. While the lift won’t really drop, being rough while washing or cleansing your face can cause some lashes to point in all sorts of directions.
(Some say to avoid oil cleansers, but personally I use an oil cleanser and have had zero issues. During a lash lift, we literally break down and reshape/reform the disulfide bonds in your lashes. A little oil cleanser definitely isn’t going to make it drop!)
Brush daily: Be sure to use a spoolie brush (I always give one to my clients at every appointment!) to brush out your lashes daily. I always do this after I wash/cleanse my face or after my shower, whenever my lashes get wet.
Lash serum: Apply a nourishing lash serum at least 3x a week. Many people will say to apply it daily, but realistically if a Korean lash lift is truly done right, no serum at all is typically needed. Lash serum helps hydrate & restore your lashes after chemically altering their disulfide bonds, which can alternatively lead to longer lasting results.
Just like the first 24 hours, if you’re able to sleep on your back as much as possible that definitely helps.
The one thing people are unsure about is using mascara after getting a lash lift. You can absolutely use mascara, as long as the 24-48 hour period is over. I usually say to opt for non-waterproof mascara to prevent tugging on the lashes when removing them, but waterproof mascara won’t really hurt the lash lift itself. Once the lashes have gone through the chemical process of lifting & its done correctly, a little waterproof mascara won’t hurt it.
BROW LAMINATION + TINT AFTERCARE
Korean lash lifts & brow laminations work basically the same way, they chemically break down and reform the disulfide bonds in the hair. But, the aftercare for each one is a little different. Brows need way more hydration after a lamination compared to lashes after a lift, this is because with our brows, we style them everyday. After a lamination, you’ll be brushing them out into a certain shape that you like, so we need the hairs as hydrated as possible so they’re not all stiff and crunchy.
Things to keep in mind after the 24 hour period:
Use a nourishing oil/conditioner everyday: Your brow hairs after a lamination can easily dry out, so applying a lightweight nourishing oil such as argan oil or jojoba oil (or a combination of both) helps keep the hair soft and hydrated. Any brow serum/conditioner works as well.
Brush daily: Laminating your brows makes the hairs flexible, but it doesn’t glue them in place permanently. Every morning just give them a quick brush (with a spoolie!) after your skincare routine with the nourishing oil to whichever shape you like.
Avoid heavy oils: Try to stay away from heavy oils such as castor oil or coconut oil. These oils can potentially cause irritation or clogged pores due to its thickness.
HYDRATION AND NOURISHMENT
Right after a lamination or lash lift, your lashes/brows can feel a bit dry and stiff. This usually happens because during your service, we break down the disulfide bonds of the hair. When we do this, we can easily manipulate the hair and reshape it into any direction we want. This whole procedure draws out moisture from your lashes/brows, which is why the last step is always a nourishing serum.
The main thing to do to keep your hairs flexible, hydrated and healthy is to condition daily with a lash/brow serum or a nourishing oil blend. Using this at night and/or in the morning is perfect for preventing dryness, brittleness and will help keep your lift and lamination looking fresh.
Make sure to not over-use the nourishing oil. Just a couple tiny drops on the top of your hand will do, then brush the spoolie through it and brush your brows into its desired shape!
KEEP IT LIFTED, KEEP IT FLUFFY
Keeping your lashes lifted and your brows fluffy for as long as possible, all comes down to taking proper care of them and protecting the health of your natural lashes and brows. The more you keep up with long term maintenance/aftercare, the longer your results will last week after week. Always remember to hydrate them, brush them & treat them with a little love to enjoy your lifted new look for weeks!
Now that you’re basically a pro at the aftercare, it’s time to try it out for yourself & get booked in!
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