Lash extensions on holiday: by the sea, in the pool, and in the sauna

Lash extensions are a fantastic thing for a holiday — you don't need to wear make-up, you look rested in photos, and nothing smudges in the sea. It just pays to know what's good for them in the heat and water, and what isn't.

When to get your lashes done before you leave

Three to five days before you fly. Not the day before, and not two weeks before.

• The day before isn't ideal because you need 24 hours without water or steam, and because sometimes a lash might come loose and you'll want to pop in for a re-application.
• Two weeks before is unnecessarily early — the set will already be halfway through its lifespan by the time you're on holiday.

Three to five days is a good compromise, ensuring your set is full, cured, and tested.

Salt and Chlorine

Neither will destroy your lashes. However, both will slightly shorten their lifespan because they dry out the bond.

Practical minimum:

• After every swim, rinse your lashes with clean water. That's the whole trick — salt and chlorine are harmful when they remain on your lashes and dry.
• Then let them air dry and brush them through with a spoolie. Wet lashes clump together, and if they dry like that, they'll stay that way.
• Don't rub them with a towel. Towel fibres can catch on your lashes.

Sun Cream is a Bigger Problem Than Water

Most sun creams contain oils, and oil dissolves adhesive. What's more, cream doesn't stay exactly where you apply it on your face — with sweat and swimming, it can run towards your eyes.

What to do:

• Choose an oil-free cream for your face, ideally a gel or mineral-based one.
• Do not apply it to your upper eyelid close to the lash roots.
• Wear sunglasses and a hat. Physical protection is more beneficial here than another layer of cream.

Sun and Sauna

Direct sun and hot steam gradually stress the bond. This doesn't mean you can't go to the sauna — just be aware that intense daily sauna use will shorten their lifespan.

In the sauna, don't sit directly under hot steam, and cool down with a shower, not by jumping into cold water and submerging your head.

Consider the UV Method

If you're going to be by the water and want maximum peace of mind with your lashes, the UV method makes sense. The bond is cured with a lamp, making it more flexible and durable, and better able to withstand water, sweat, and oilier skin. The 24-hour rule also doesn't apply — so you can even get your lashes done the day before you leave.

Or, alternatively: lash lift

For a holiday by the water, a lash lift is often the most sensible choice. Your natural lashes are curled and tinted, so:

• there's nothing to come unbonded,
• oil in sun cream isn't an issue,
• nothing needs refilling and nothing needs monitoring,
• it lasts six to eight weeks, easily covering your entire holiday.

The only condition is that you have sufficiently long natural lashes. If you don't, a lift won't add length.

What to Pack

• Lash spoolie. The only essential.
• Oil-free make-up remover, if you wear make-up at all.
• Sunglasses.

Nothing else is needed. Don't bring serums, oils, or special preparations — most of them actually harm your lashes.

What to Do if Something Happens

If a lash comes loose on holiday and starts irritating your eye, do not pull it. You would pull out your natural lash too. Gently press it down with a spoolie and bear with it; we'll remove it in a minute when you return.

If your set thins out significantly after the first few days, that's information for us — get in touch after you return, and we'll go through what might have happened. Sometimes it's due to cream, sometimes to the lash cycle, and sometimes to something that needs to be changed in the method.