Eyelash extensions are totally underrated. I got a fresh set of natural-looking lashes just before Christmas, and they completely transformed my beauty routine. Not only did I no longer have to worry about applying mascara every morning, but I also found that I didn’t need much more than a thin layer of tinted moisturiser and a touch of blush regardless of where I was heading.
But when I was showing off my lash extensions (read: bragging) to a friend, she freaked out about eyelash lice and mites and demanded I go home immediately and clean them. And that’s when I realized I had no idea how to clean my eyelash extensions, let alone what eyelash lice were. So I went straight to the experts – Dr. Sophie Shotter, medical director and founder of Illuminate Skin Clinic in Kent; Dr. Michelle Green, cosmetic dermatologist and chief resident in dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City; and Natalie Piper, international training manager at British eyelash extension company Lash Perfect – and asked them to share their insights on all things eyelash extensions hygiene. Read on to see what they said.