Lash Lift Aftercare: Your First 24 Hours Explained
Brenda Cammo Team
A lash lift is designed to enhance the curl of your natural lashes, creating a more open, defined look without extensions. The appointment may be relaxing, but the first 24 hours afterwards need a little planning. This is the period when simple habits, from a hot shower to removing evening make-up, deserve extra attention.
If you are booking a lash lift in Malta before a dinner, beach day, gym session or early flight, it helps to know the practical rules in advance. The goal is not to make your day difficult. It is to give your freshly lifted lashes a quiet start, without unnecessary heat, steam, friction or product build-up.
Aftercare instructions can differ slightly according to the professional system used and your individual service. Your lash artist’s advice should always come first. As a sensible general rule, plan to keep the eye area free from direct water, steam, make-up and rich skincare for the first 24 hours, unless your artist has specifically told you otherwise.
Why the first 24 hours matter after a lash lift
A lash lift works with your own lashes. During the professional service, the lashes are carefully positioned to create a lifted appearance from the root. Once the appointment is complete, leaving them alone for the rest of the day is the easiest way to avoid disturbing that fresh shape.
Think of the first day as a low-maintenance window. You do not need complicated products or extra steps. In fact, less is usually more. Avoiding heat, moisture, rubbing and make-up around the eyes means you are not weighing down the hairs or repeatedly touching the lash line when it has just been worked on.
Professional brands can give different guidance on water specifically. For example, Elleebana’s aftercare guidance explains that water contact itself does not necessarily undo a lift, while still advising clients to avoid heat, steam and rich eye products in the early period. Many studios also ask clients to avoid getting lashes wet for 24 hours as a simple, cautious aftercare routine. This is why the instructions supplied after your own appointment are the ones to follow.
The simple rule: protect the eye area for 24 hours
For the first 24 hours, avoid deliberately wetting your lashes and keep products away from the eye area. That means no long hot shower with water running over your face, no sauna, no steam room and no swimming. It also means skipping mascara, eyeliner, eye cream and make-up remover on or very close to the lashes.
You can still get on with your day. The key is choosing gentler alternatives until your 24-hour window has passed.
- Wash around the face carefully rather than splashing the eye area.
- Choose a lukewarm shower and keep your face away from the direct stream.
- Skip a steam room, sauna and very hot bath.
- Leave eye make-up off, even if the rest of your make-up is minimal.
- Do not rub, pull or repeatedly brush the lashes.
- Avoid sleeping face-down if possible, especially on the first night.
Can you get your lashes wet after a lash lift?
The clearest answer is this: follow the specific instructions from your artist. If you have been asked to keep your lashes dry for 24 hours, take that literally and organise your shower and skincare around it. It is a short wait and removes the guesswork.
There is a useful distinction between accidental contact and deliberately soaking the eye area. A few raindrops on the way home or a brief accidental splash is not a reason to panic or scrub at your lashes. Gently pat the surrounding skin dry with a clean towel and leave the lashes alone. Do not rub them with the towel, cotton pad or your fingers.
What is best avoided is repeated exposure to hot water, splashing, prolonged moisture or cleansing products around the lashes before the aftercare period is over. If you are unsure after an accidental splash, contact the studio that performed your service rather than trying an online remedy.
How to wash your face on the day of your appointment
It is easiest to wash your face before your appointment, arriving with clean lashes and no eye make-up. Afterwards, use a careful approach until the next day. You may cleanse the lower face, cheeks and forehead while avoiding the eye area. A damp cloth can help you work precisely, but do not sweep it across your lids or lashes.
If you normally use a full evening skincare routine, keep it simple for one night. Avoid applying facial oils, rich moisturisers or eye cream close enough that they can travel onto the lashes while you sleep. Apply only what you need, keeping a clear space around the eyes.
Steam is the rule that is easiest to overlook
Steam does not only come from a spa. It can build up in an everyday shower, over a pan of boiling pasta or in a bathroom after a long hot bath. In Malta’s warmer months, you may also notice humidity and perspiration more quickly after being outdoors. You do not need to stay indoors, but it is wise to avoid situations that leave your face hot and damp during the first day.
Showers, baths and saunas
A quick lukewarm shower is easier to manage than a long, hot one. Keep the water away from your face and try not to linger in a steamy bathroom. If you wash your hair, tilt your head back carefully and rinse without allowing shampoo or conditioner to run over the eye area.
Save the sauna, steam room, hammam and very hot bath for another day. They are not ideal immediately after a lash lift because of the heat and moisture around your face. The same applies to facial steaming at home.
Exercise and sweaty plans
There is no need to cancel ordinary daily movement, but consider postponing a high-intensity workout if it will leave you very hot or sweaty around the eyes. A gentler walk, light stretching or a relaxed day is easier on freshly lifted lashes. If exercise is unavoidable, do not wipe or rub your eyes with a towel. Let the skin cool, then carefully blot around the face without dragging across the lashes.
Cooking and busy evenings
You do not have to avoid cooking, but give yourself a little distance from strong steam. Open a window, use an extractor fan where possible and avoid leaning directly over boiling water. This is especially useful if you have booked an afternoon appointment and are preparing dinner that evening.
When can you wear make-up after a lash lift?
For standard make-up, wait until the first 24 hours have passed, unless your artist has recommended a specific product that is suitable for immediate use. This is a good time to let the lift be the focus. Many clients find their lashes already look more noticeable without mascara because the natural hairs are more visible from the front.
The make-up rule includes more than mascara. Avoid applying or removing products that sit on the lashes or require pressure around the eye area. That includes eyeliner, eyeshadow fallout that needs wiping away, false strip lashes and rich eye products.
Why mascara is best saved for tomorrow
Mascara can add weight and makes you more likely to use cleanser or make-up remover before bed. Both create extra handling around lashes that have just been lifted. Waiting one day is the simpler option.
Once your artist’s aftercare window has passed, use mascara gently and remove it without aggressive rubbing. A water-based formula is often more convenient than a waterproof one because waterproof formulas can require more persistent removal. If you have been given product-specific guidance by your artist, use that rather than choosing solely by marketing claims on the packaging.
Can you wear foundation and lipstick?
Base make-up can be possible if you can apply it without touching the eye area. For example, foundation, concealer away from the eyes, blusher and lipstick may fit into your plans, but leave a generous gap around the lids and lashes. Keep in mind that a full glam look often involves eye make-up, setting spray or makeup removal later, so a make-up-free evening can be the easiest choice.
If you have a wedding, event or photo session on the same day, book your lash lift with enough time before the occasion. That way, you can enjoy the lift without having to decide between aftercare and a full eye look.
Your first-night routine
The first night is straightforward. Keep your lashes dry if that is part of your artist’s instructions, do not apply eye make-up, and avoid rich skincare around the eye contour. When you go to bed, try to sleep on your back or side rather than pressing your face firmly into the pillow.
If a lash sits slightly out of place in the morning, resist the urge to pull it. After the advised waiting period, a clean spoolie can be used very lightly to guide the lashes into a tidy position. Ask your artist which brushing routine is appropriate for your service.
The best first-day aftercare is calm aftercare: no heat, no steam, no eye make-up and no unnecessary touching.
A practical 24-hour lash lift timetable
| Time after appointment | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Immediately afterwards | Enjoy the fresh lift and keep the eye area untouched. | Rubbing, mascara, eye cream and hot steam. |
| That evening | Cleanse the rest of your face carefully and keep your shower lukewarm. | Direct water on lashes, sauna, swimming and full eye make-up removal. |
| First night | Sleep with as little pressure on the lashes as possible. | Face-down sleeping and rich products near the lash line. |
| After 24 hours | Return to your usual routine gradually, following your artist’s product advice. | Harsh rubbing or using products you have been advised against. |
What not to do if you are worried about your lift
It is normal to look closely at your lashes after an appointment, particularly if this is your first lift. However, do not try to correct their position with oils, home remedies, heated tools or frequent brushing. Do not attempt to re-curl them with an eyelash curler. These steps can create more stress for natural lashes and make it harder for your artist to assess what is happening.
If you notice discomfort, unusual redness, swelling or irritation around the eyes, do not apply more products in an attempt to settle it. Contact the studio promptly for guidance and seek appropriate medical advice if symptoms are significant or persist. For any purely cosmetic question, a clear photo taken in natural light can help your lash artist advise you.
Planning a lash lift around life in Malta
In Sliema, Swieqi and across Malta, plans often involve sun, sea, dining out and active days. The easiest strategy is to book your lash lift when you can give yourself a quieter first evening. An appointment before a work-from-home day, a relaxed dinner without eye make-up or a low-key afternoon can make aftercare feel effortless.
If you know you have a beach day, a swim, a gym class or a steam room session planned, schedule the lift for after it rather than trying to fit both into the same 24 hours. It is also sensible to tell your artist about an upcoming event so you can plan the best timing for your desired look.
Frequently asked questions
Can I shower after a lash lift?
Yes, but keep the shower lukewarm and avoid directing water or steam onto the eye area during the first 24 hours if that is your artist’s instruction. A shorter shower is usually easier to manage than a long, hot one.
Can I wash my face after a lash lift?
You can clean the rest of your face carefully, but avoid the lashes and immediate eye area during the initial aftercare window. Do not rub with a flannel, cotton pad or towel.
Can I wear mascara after a lash lift?
For ordinary mascara, wait until 24 hours have passed, unless your artist has advised that a particular lash-safe product can be used sooner. When you restart make-up, apply and remove it gently.
Is steam from a shower really a problem?
It is worth avoiding during the first day. Steam is easy to forget because it is part of an everyday routine, but a cooler, shorter shower helps you follow your aftercare without complication.
Can I go swimming after a lash lift?
It is best to wait until your artist’s advised aftercare period has passed. Plan pool and sea time before your appointment or for the following day, so you do not need to worry about direct water exposure.
What if I accidentally get my lashes wet?
Do not panic and do not rub them. Carefully pat the surrounding skin dry, leave the lashes alone and contact your artist if you would like personalised advice.
Give your lift a calm first day
The first 24 hours after a lash lift are mostly about making small, sensible choices. Avoid direct water, steam, eye make-up and rubbing. Keep skincare light and away from the lash line. Then, once your artist’s aftercare period has passed, you can return to your usual routine with a naturally lifted look that needs far less daily effort.
If you are considering a lash lift at Becammo, choose the appointment time that works with your plans, then book the service at the Sliema or Swieqi location that is most convenient for you. If you have a specific question about aftercare, an upcoming event or your natural lashes, ask before your appointment so your service can be planned with confidence.
