How to Fix Eyelash Extensions That Are Too Long

Co-authored by Erica Coates and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: September 6, 2022 References

Eyelash extensions can elevate your style by making it look like you are wearing mascara or falsies when you have no makeup on at all. However, there is a chance that you’ll get lashes that are too long, which can cause annoyance or irritation. You should never try to cut your eyelash extensions while they are on your eye, because you could cut your own eyelashes and damage them permanently. If your lash extensions are too long and you’d like to fix them, try asking for a different length at your next appointment or removing your lash extensions at home.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Talking to Your Technician

1
Ask your technician to switch out your lashes. If you notice that your lashes are too long immediately after your technician installs them, ask your technician to switch out the length of your lashes. They may have to schedule you for a separate appointment, since lash extensions take a couple of hours to install.^{[1]
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- Don’t be afraid to ask for a fix if your eyelashes aren’t how you wanted them.
2
Ask for shorter lashes in your next appointment. If you notice that your lash extensions are too long as you go about your daily life, ask for shorter lashes when you go in for your next appointment. Make sure to tell your technician that the lashes they installed last time did not work for you.^{[2]
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Tip: If your lashes were touching your glasses, make sure you get ones that are shorter than 12 millimetres (1.2 cm).

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3
Tell your technician what “shorter” means to you. If you ask for shorter lashes, your technician might only go one size shorter, which may not be what you want. Show pictures and use descriptive words to explain exactly what you want your eyelashes to look like.^{[3]
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- Say things like, "I'm going for a natural look that isn't too extreme," or, "My friend has lash extensions and I really like how they look. I brought a picture to show you an example."
4
Request that your technician remove your lash extensions. If you really don’t like the way your lashes look and you just want to take them off, go back to the salon where they were installed and request that your technician remove them. They will usually be able to do this quickly and might even be able to fit you in without an appointment.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Taking Off Your Lash Extensions at Home

1
Steam treat your face and remove your lashes with olive oil. Boil a 2 cups (470 mL) of water and hold your face over it for 30 seconds. Wet a cotton ball with olive oil and gently swipe your eyelashes until your extensions come off.^{[5]
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- Eyelash extensions are not reusable, so you will have to pay for new ones to be installed.
- It is not ideal to do this at home, since you may accidentally pull out your actual lashes. If you can wait, go back to see the technician who installed the lashes to have them removed.
2
Use eyelash glue remover to take off your lash extensions. Purchase eyelash glue remover at your local beauty store and saturate a cotton ball with it. Rub the cotton ball on top of your closed eye in circular motions until your lash extensions come off.^{[6]
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- If you are having trouble removing the extensions, use tweezers to gently tug at them until they come off.
3
Soak your lashes in coconut oil, then gently pull them off. Saturate your lashes in coconut oil and let them soak for 10 minutes. Use a pair of tweezers to gently pull at your individual lash extensions one at a time until they come off.^{[7]
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Tip: Coconut oil works well if you don’t have lash glue remover.

Warnings

Never cut lash extensions while they are on your eyes. You could cut your own eyelashes or damage your eyes.

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