How to remove your own eyelash extensions

Q: Can Vaseline remove eyelash extensions?

I can confidentially say, no — and please dont try to cocktail an eyelash extension remover from your kitchen cupboard. Using Vaseline, baby oil or coconut oil might create slip between the adhesive and your lash, but it could also lead to infections and damage to the natural lash.

If your once full, eye-opening lash extensions are starting to tangle and fall off piece by piece and you can't get to the salon for a touchup, you might start to wonder if you can remove them at home. And—hey—if you can give yourself an at-home mani and pedi, wield a waxing kit, and touch up your roots with drugstore dye, your practically a beauty expert... so why not, right?

Table of Contents Show

The truth: You shouldn't remove eyelash extensions at home.
So what can you do?
And if you're really desperate, break the usual rules.
Use oil-based makeup remover.
Go heavy on the eye cream.
Apply coconut or castor oil before bed.
Take a hot, steamy shower.
Can I remove my lash extensions myself?
How do you remove full eyelash extensions at home?
Can Vaseline remove eyelash extensions?

Brace yourself for some bad news: Unfortunately, there's no safe way to remove eyelash extensions yourself. That's right. Though a quick search on YouTube may yield an abundance of methods for removing eyelash extensions on your own using things like Vaseline, coconut oil, castor oil, baby oil, and even tweezers (yikes!), lash experts say these techniques aren't recommended.

The truth: You shouldn't remove eyelash extensions at home.

As tempting as it is to pluck those extensions off one by one, it's just not good for your natural lashes. "Unfortunately, there is no over-the-counter or any DIY oil-based products that can safely remove lash extensions," says Clementina Richardson, a celebrity lash expert and founder of Envious Lashes. "Removing them yourself can pull out your actual lashes, since the extensions are attached strand by strand and can lead to bald spots that may never grow back."

So what can you do?

In a nutshell: Wait it out. Your extensions will eventually grow out and shed with your natural lash cycle—a process that typically takes about six to eight weeks, says Richardson.

Instead of giving in to temptation and picking at those extensions, focus on taking care of them. Applying a lash conditioning serum and brushing them with a spoolie each day will help prevent tangles that can irritate and increase the urge to pick, says Richardson.

And if you're really desperate, break the usual rules.

Lash extensions are relatively high-maintenance—to avoid premature breakage, there's tons of guidelines for proper care. But if your goal is to get those falsies off, stat, you can try the opposite approach. Just remember: The following habits are by no means overnight solutions, but they can help speed up the process, says Richardson.

Use oil-based makeup remover.

One of the top rules when caring for eyelash extensions is to skip oil-based makeup remover, since it can loosen the glue. But if you want to break the bond, swipe off your makeup with an oil-based remover. And—P.S.—you can totally do this to reap the benefits even if you don't have any makeup on.

Kopari Coconut Melt WipesCredit: Sephora

Clarins Instant Eye Makeup RemoverCredit: Sephora

Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing BalmCredit: Sephora

Neutrogena Ultra Light Face Cleansing OilCredit: Walmart

Go heavy on the eye cream.

Moisturizers that contain oils—argan, rosehip, sunflower, jojoba, and squalane, for example—will also help break down eyelash glue over time, plus deliver bonus skin benefits.

Apply coconut or castor oil before bed.

For a similar effect that's a bit more targeted, dip a clean spoolie in a small amount of coconut or castor oil, then swipe onto your lashes before hitting the hay. Over time, the oil may help loosen up the glue holding your extensions on.

Take a hot, steamy shower.

Turn your shower on as hot as it will go and let the steam build up. Then, adjust to a comfortable temperature and hop in. Go ahead and linger a little bit—all that steam can help dry out and eventually loosen stubborn glue.

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Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in creating SEO and e-commerce content across a range of lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She also has significant experience creating native and branded content.

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Can I remove my lash extensions myself?

You can remove eyelash extensions at home on your own. The most common method is using coconut oil or olive oil to break down the lash adhesive. That being said, it is always best to have your lashes removed by a professional to avoid any damage to your natural lashes.

How do you remove full eyelash extensions at home?

Apply castor oil to your lashes — before and after removal — with your fingers before bed. Castor oil is one of those things you just need in your beauty regime. In this case, it will slowly break down the bond of the adhesive while you sleep, loosening the extensions so it's easier for them to fall out on their own.

Can Vaseline remove eyelash extensions?

'I can confidentially say, "no" — and please don't try to cocktail an eyelash extension remover from your kitchen cupboard. Using Vaseline, baby oil or coconut oil might create slip between the adhesive and your lash, but it could also lead to infections and damage to the natural lash.