Every lash tech, every brand and every lash blog on the internet will give you the exact same two rules:
- You must clean your lashes every single day
- Never, ever rub your lashes
And that is it. No further information.
And you sit there staring at your mirror like okay. Great. What the hell else am I supposed to do? Blow on them really hard?
This is the biggest unspoken catch 22 in the entire lash industry. 90% of all lash loss happens for one of two reasons: either you don’t clean them, gunk builds up at the base and they fall out after 5 days. Or you try to clean them, you rub them, and they fall out after 5 minutes.
Almost no one will tell you there is a third option. This is the exact method that almost all professional lash techs use on their own lashes. It takes 5 minutes, you do not rub anything, and it will remove 100% of oil, glue residue, makeup and dead skin.
And it works exactly the same for salon extensions, DIY cluster lashes and strip lashes.
First: All The Methods That Do Not Work
Let’s get these out of the way first. Every single one of these will make your lashes fall out faster:
- Rubbing them back and forth with a cotton pad
- The viral “spoolie brush when wet” trick. This rips out more lashes than any other method.
- Spraying lash shampoo and then blowing on it
- Those expensive little lash shampoo brushes. They are just fancy rubbing tools.
- Splashing water at your face. This does absolutely nothing.
If you have ever done any of these and wondered why your lashes only last a week, this is why.
The 5 Step No Rub Lash Cleaning Method
Do this once per day, ideally in the morning. You will need three things: a gentle foaming lash cleanser, a clean disposable mascara wand, and a paper towel. That is it.
- Pump one single pump of lash cleanser onto the back of your clean hand.
- Dip the spoolie into the cleanser, then wipe most of it off on the edge of your hand. You want the spoolie to be damp, not soaking.
- Close your eye. Hold the spoolie completely flat against the base of your lashes. Do not push. Do not scrub. Do not move it back and forth.
- Very gently roll the spoolie downwards along your lashes. One single slow roll from root to tip. That is it.
- Blot dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub. Do not use a cotton pad, the fibres will get stuck.
That is the entire method.
✅ Industry secret: This removes 100% of all residue. The rolling motion lifts gunk out from between the lashes without pulling or applying any sideways force at all. Most people who start doing this immediately double how long their lashes last.
The 3 Rules You Must Follow
There are only three rules, and if you break any of them this will not work:
- Never ever move the spoolie side to side. Only roll downwards.
- Never brush your lashes for any reason until they are 100% completely dry. This is the single most common mistake almost everyone makes.
- Do this before you shower or wash your face, not after.
Extra Pro Tips For Maximum Lifespan
These tiny changes will add at least 3-4 days to every set of lashes you ever wear:
- Clean them in the morning, not at night. Oil from your night cream and pillowcase builds up while you sleep. Cleaning them first thing removes it before it can dissolve the glue.
- You do not need expensive lash shampoo. Unscented baby shampoo works exactly as well.
- If you wear makeup, remove all of your face makeup first before you clean your lashes.
- Once every 3 days you can very gently roll the spoolie upwards from underneath as well, to get any gunk stuck on the underside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Optimized for Google People Also Ask boxes:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How often should I clean my lashes? | Once per day. Any more than that and you will start to break down the glue. |
| Can I use micellar water? | No. Even oil free micellar water has ingredients that will dissolve lash glue in 24 hours. |
| Is it normal to lose lashes when cleaning them? | You will lose 1-2 lashes per day. That is completely normal. If you are losing more than 3, you are rubbing or moving the spoolie side to side. |
| Does this work for strip lashes? | Yes. You can even do this while you are wearing them. It will make a good pair of strip lashes last 10+ wears. |
| Can I use a reusable spoolie? | No. They grow bacteria after 2 days. Disposable spoolies cost 1 cent each, just throw them away. |
Final Note
The craziest thing about this method is how obvious it is once someone tells you. And yet almost no one knows about it. The entire lash industry has spent 10 years telling you to clean your lashes and never once told you how.
If you are still going through a set of lashes every week, this one little change will save you so much time and money.
And if you are looking for a gentle lash cleanser that won’t break down glue, we have one here that we formulated specifically for this method. But honestly, this trick works exactly as well with whatever you already have.