How to Remove Eyelash Extensions Safely: Your Guide to Removing Eyelash Extensions 

If you’re wondering how to remove professional eyelash extensions without damaging the natural lashes, you’re in the right place! No matter what your reason for removing the eyelash extensions, you need to make sure you know how to remove eyelash extensions to achieve the results you want to keep their natural lashes intact, healthy, and strong. 

Here, we’ll show you how to remove eyelash extensions, talk you through step by step removal, what to use to remove eyelash extensions, safely removing eyelash extensions, and how to avoid common mistakes that many make trying to remove eyelash extensions.

The Importance of Proper Eyelash Extension Removal

If you are the one wearing eyelash extensions and wondering how to remove eyelash extensions at home, the first thing we will tell you to do is see a licensed professional. Licensed professionals know the best way to remove eyelash extensions safely and properly. Removing eyelash extensions improperly can result in harm to your natural lashes, meaning you may end up with thinner, sparser, and broken lashes. With any of the many home eyelash extension removal remedies circling the interweb, you will end up picking, pulling, or rubbing the extensions off, which will damage your natural lashes.

We want to help. In this blog we’ll go over how to safely remove eyelash extensions, and what you can expect from a professional eyelash extension removal. 

For our professionals, this is your guide for how to remove professional eyelash extensions.

Preventing Natural Lash Damage

As a professional lash artist, you know the adhesive used in professional lash extension application is specifically created to last. (For more on this check out lash retention tips). While most lash artists and lash clients want the best staying power and best retention they can get, it’s often those lash sets few and far between that we hope for the lashes to come off easily, that they seem to stick… well, like glue.

If your client tries forcibly removing eyelash extensions from the natural lashes, they can end up shedding prematurely, resulting in a lash line that’ll take longer to grow back to natural, healthy fullness. Encouraging your clients to seek safe, professional eyelash extension removal  before they ever even think about needing a removal, will help them make the right decision about safely removing eyelash extensions if it ever comes down to it. 

Avoiding Eye Irritation and Infections

Feel free to share this information with your clients before an eyelash extension removal is ever needed.

• What to use to remove eyelash extensions matters.

• Using the wrong kind of remover can cause stinging or irritation.

• Using questionable or off-brand remover can cause more extreme consequences, like irritation and burning sensation of the eyes, the skin around the eyes, eyelid irritation, redness, swelling, or flakiness following removal.

• Not following directions during the eyelash extension removal process matters, too.

• If the remover isn’t left on long enough for the adhesive to be fully dissolved, your lashes may look and feel clumpy, rough or stuck together.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Removing Eyelash Extensions

• DIY eyelash extension removal  - Always see a professional for the best and safest lash removal process.

• Picking and pulling your lash extensions off – This can weaken the hair follicles and damage the natural lash line.

• Using the wrong products – what to use to remove eyelash extension is important. Some removers can contain harsh chemicals that may cause harm. Others may not work effectively, causing a longer eyelash extension removal time, and leading to picking or pulling of the extensions to completely remove them.

• Skipping lash and eye cleansing after – Not cleaning the lashes thoroughly afterward can lead to discomfort, build-up and irritation, you might even want to teach your client how to do a lash bath.

Can You Remove Eyelash Extensions at Home?

The short answer? No. While there are countless DIY hacks floating around online, removing eyelash extensions at home can seriously damage your natural lashes and irritate the delicate eye area. When in doubt, always book an appointment instead of reaching for a quick fix.

In this section, we’ll break down safely removing eyelash extensions.

Risks of DIY Eyelash Extension Removal

If you ever get the call from a client asking how to safely remove eyelash extensions at home, remind them that the use of at-home DIY removal ingredients never ends well. While this is common among lash lovers, trying this at home will leave them with irritated eyes, frustration, and a damaged lash line.

On the other hand, the improper use of professional eyelash extension remover for removing professional eyelash extensions at home can lead to eye discomfort, redness, irritation, or an impromptu trip to the doctor. It’s best to get it right the first time around. Be kind, but firm, that the best way to remove eyelash extensions, is for them to be removed by a professional.   

When to Visit a Lash Technician

Every single time. Not only do professionals know how to remove eyelash extensions, they are also trained in it. Whether you're experiencing irritation, your lashes are growing out unevenly, or you simply want to take a break, removing eyelash extensions should always be handled by a licensed professional. They are trained to safely dissolve the adhesive with the proper eyelash extension supplies and removers, without tugging or pulling, keeping your natural lashes healthy and intact.

When At-Home Eyelash Extension Removal is Safe

Never, really. Safely removing eyelash extensions should not be done at home, and always done by a professional. It doesn’t matter if it’s a water-based, alcohol-based, or oil-based product, only professional remover is going to provide a safe way to dissolve eyelash extension adhesive properly. That requires the use of a professional-grade lash extension remover. If a client is dead set on removing professional eyelash extensions on their own, whenever they want, we’d suggest a DIY lash that is for at home use. TAD Lashes are our go-to choice for safe, washable, and comfortable DIY at home lashes. 

Start By Choosing What to Use to Remove Eyelash Extensions

When it's time to remove extensions, the products you use matter—so if you’re wondering what to use to remove eyelash extension, you’re in the right place. It’s also important to trust a professional when removing professional eyelash extensions. Licensed lash techs work with professional-grade removers specifically formulated to break down lash adhesive quickly and safely.

This section will walk you through how to remove eyelash extensions, what to use to remove eyelash extension, so you know what to expect during a safe and proper lash removal session.

Oil-Based Removers

Oil-Based removers are not typically used by professionals, and are not effective in removing eyelash extensions as many lash extension adhesives are now also considered oil resistant, or oil safe. Natural oils, such as olive, coconut or castor oil, can eventually help loosen the bond between natural lashes and extensions over time break down lash glue over time, but this process is not to be relied on. Oil doesn’t actually break down the adhesive itself, and will not melt it away the way mascara is melted away by oil based products. 

Lash Adhesive Removers

Professional grade lash extension removers are the best way to remove eyelash extensions quickly. These removers are typically acetone-based and come in the form of liquids, gels, or creams. These are designed to dissolve lash glue without harming the natural lashes. They are still not meant to get in the eye, or be used on the skin around the eye area. Cream-type removers are often the safest to use due to their thicker texture that won’t warm up and run into the eye or onto the skin. They are for professional use only, and need to be respected as such for your own safety. 

What Not to Use for Lash Removal

Not all products are safe for your eyes, or your lashes. In fact, using the wrong remover can lead to stinging, breakage, and even long-term lash damage. Below are a few types of products you should never use for the best way to remove eyelash extensions.

Water-Based Makeup Removers

While these may sound gentle, water-based makeup removers are not designed to break down lash extension glue. They’re ineffective at best and can encourage rubbing or pulling, which puts your natural lashes at risk. Skip these and trust a professional instead.

Alcohol-Based Products

Alcohol-based products can be incredibly drying and harsh on the sensitive eye area. They won’t dissolve lash adhesive properly and may cause irritation or redness. Always avoid these when it comes to anything near your lash line—especially removal.

Set Yourself Up For Success With Our Lash Extension Remover!

If you’re wondering how to safely remove eyelash extensions, using the right products make all the difference. Our PLA Lash Extension Remover is formulated for professional use, designed to gently and efficiently dissolve lash adhesive without damaging the natural lash.

How to Remove Eyelash Extensions: Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Removing Eyelash Extensions

When it’s time to remove those lash extensions, safety and technique are everything. A professional lash artist will follow a careful, step-by-step process to protect the health of the natural lashes while thoroughly breaking down the adhesive. Here we’ll walk you through how to remove professional eyelash extensions.

Step 1: Prep Your Client for a Eyelash Extension Removal

When you see a client for removing eyelash extensions, the first thing they can expect is a comfortable place to lay down and rest during their service. Many times lashes need to be removed because they were improperly applied and the lash-wearer may be uncomfortable, or because they are unhappy with the set of lashes they currently have on. Either way, ensuring they are as comfortable and at-ease as possible will help the service go well. 

Start by analyzing your client’s lash extensions — the placement of them, the amount of adhesive on them, and the distance between the extensions and eyelid. If there is excessive adhesive used, the process can take longer than if a small or moderate amount of adhesive was used during lash application. In rare cases, we’ve seen some full sets with lots of adhesive take as much as 45 minutes to an hour to remove safely and completely. Usually, a lash removal with proper adhesive usage will only take about 15 minutes from start to finish with PLA’s Cream Adhesive Remover. 

Then, the service should start like a lash extension application - by taping your client’s lower lashes down with a gel pad or foam tape. We like to place some tape directly on the eyelid as well to help encourage the client to keep their eyes closed throughout the service. 

Step 2: Apply Lash Adhesive Remover

Next, apply professional grade lash extension remover to the lashes, focusing on getting all of the lash bases covered and surrounded by the remover. This will take about as much as a large pea-size amount per eye. We stand by our PLA Cream Adhesive Remover as it’s been developed to be more effective and comfortable than others. We recommend avoiding liquid or gel removers as they can seep into the client’s eye while they are laying down and cause discomfort and irritation to the eye itself. 

Step 3: Gently Wipe Away the Extensions

After that, test to see if the remover has done its job after about ten minutes. Do this by using a micro swab or flock-tipped applicator to gently push the extensions away from the eyelid, starting at the base of the lashes. If they push away easily and glide off the naturals, keep removing them across the rest of the eye. You may find some areas aren’t fully dissolved. In that case, apply more remover to those lashes and let them sit for a few minutes again as you check on the other eye. 

Step 4: Cleanse and Condition Your Natural Lashes

Finish safely removing eyelash extensions on both eyes, then use fresh micro swabs to continue removing any additional remover that remains on the lashes. It’s important to do a thorough job with this step, as the cleansing step will liquify any leftover remover left on the lashes. 

Remove gel pads or foam tape carefully, then cleanse the lashes and eye area with a lash cleanser. PLA PURE cleanser is perfect if you don’t have a go-to lash shampoo. We recommend a double cleanse after a removal, especially if you plan to apply a new full set immediately after. 

Final Words on How to Safely Remove Eyelash Extensions

Now that you know how to remove eyelash extensions (if you’re a professional, of course), it’s clear that safe removal is all about using the right products, techniques, and judgment. Trying to remove extensions at home can lead to serious lash damage and irritation—so leave it to the pros. Whether you’re refreshing a client’s set or doing a full removal, always prioritize the health of the natural lash. And remember: a gentle hand and the proper tools go a long way.

You can check out our whole collection of professional eyelash extensions, eyelash accessories and learn more about our wholesale options and private label lash suppliers to get the best value for your lash supplies.