By Tawnya Fornerod, founder of Just The Strip and a licensed esthetician of almost 25 years who owns multiple waxing studios.
The short answer: wait 24 to 48 hours after a lash lift or brow lamination before the first application of oil, then condition every night, with Lash Conditioning Oil on the lashes and Brow Conditioning Oil on the brows. Good lash lift aftercare starts with keeping the lashes dry and untouched for the first 24 hours while the new shape sets, and from day two onward a nightly sweep of oil is the single most important thing your client can do to keep lifted lashes and laminated brows soft, flexible and looking beautiful until their next appointment. If you are the lash or brow artist, your timing always comes first, so tell every client exactly when to start.
I have spent almost 25 years in this industry, and some of my favorite moments still happen at the treatment table, right when a client sits up, looks in the mirror and sees their lashes lifted for the first time. That moment is a gift, and the aftercare we send home with them is how we protect it. Both of our oils are made by us in small batches in the hills of Southern Oregon, by our family, for the pros who trust us with their clients.
What is the best lash lift aftercare for the first 24 hours?
For the first 24 hours after a lash lift, the lashes need to stay dry, untouched and away from heat, because the lash is still setting into its new shape. That means no water, no steam, no humidity and no sweaty workouts, and it also means no sleeping face down or pressing the lashes into a pillow.
I always encourage pros to explain the why behind each step, because a client who knows that a steamy shower on day one can relax the curl they just fell in love with becomes very careful in the bathroom. A Korean lash lift follows the same aftercare as a standard lift, so one conversation covers every client on your books.
Why does lash oil matter so much after a lash lift?
A lash lift is gentle, yet it still takes the lash through a chemical change, and a lash that has been processed loses moisture more easily than one that has not. Nightly conditioning keeps the lifted lashes hydrated, soft and supple, which means they are less likely to break and the curl keeps looking its best for weeks.
Lash Conditioning Oil is the at home aftercare we recommend after every lift. Castor oil leads a short, beautiful formula with sweet almond, jojoba and vitamin E, and it goes on with a wand just like mascara. Your client removes their makeup at night, sweeps one or two coats from root to tip along the upper lashes, keeps the oil out of the eye itself, and lets it work while they sleep.
When can I use brow oil after brow lamination?
Start Brow Conditioning Oil 24 to 48 hours after a brow lamination, or on the timing your brow artist gives you, and then use it every night. For that first day, brows should stay dry, free of makeup and brow products, and away from rubbing, so washing the face carefully with a washcloth is the easiest way through it.
Lamination softens the brow hair so it can be reshaped, and that same softening leaves the hair more porous, which is why laminated brows can start to look dry or frizzy when they are not cared for. Brow Conditioning Oil is what I like to call a spa in a bottle for your brows. It rolls on right where you want it and keeps brow hairs hydrated and flexible so they hold their shape. A quick brush with a spoolie each morning helps the brows settle, and skipping sun and exfoliation around the brows for 24 to 48 hours gives the skin a gentle start.
Can I use brow oil on my lashes, or lash oil on my brows?
Keep Brow Conditioning Oil off the lashes, because the geranium in the brow formula is too strong for the eye area. Lash Conditioning Oil is the gentler sister, made without geranium and with lighter amounts of essential oils so it feels comfortable along the lash line.
The two share the same conditioning base, so many clients happily keep both on the bathroom counter and use each one where it belongs.
Can I wear mascara after a lash lift?
Yes, your client can wear mascara after a lash lift, and the only rule is to wait 24 hours so the lift has its first full day to set. After that, choose a regular formula rather than a waterproof one, because removing waterproof mascara takes a lot of rubbing, and that rubbing is what wears a beautiful lift down early.
How do I recommend lash and brow oil to my clients?
Present the oil as part of the service rather than an add on, because that is exactly what it is. A simple line at checkout works beautifully: "I am sending you home with the lash oil we recommend, and starting in a day or two, sweep one coat along your lashes before bed." Keep a bottle on your station where clients can see it, and curiosity will often start the conversation for you.
Licensed lash and brow artists and estheticians can stock the Lash Conditioning Oil 3 pack and the Brow Conditioning Oil 3 pack at half of retail through our PRO program, which gives you one bottle for the room and two for the shelf. Our Lash Lift and Brow Lamination Aftercare Cards send the same instructions home in writing, so you are not repeating yourself at the front desk, and our free Lash Lift Protocol and Brow Lamination Protocol live in the PRO Resource Center for you to keep at your station.
Our Lash Lift and Brow Lamination Kit covers both services with one system, made for us by a trusted manufacturing partner for now while we move more of our line to US manufacturing. We are a product company rather than a trainer or certifier, so we ask every pro to be fully trained before ordering it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use lash oil with eyelash extensions?
No. Oil can loosen the glue that holds eyelash extensions, so save Lash Conditioning Oil for natural lashes and lash lifts.
Will lash oil or brow oil make my lashes and brows grow?
Our lash and brow oils are conditioners, not growth treatments, and we do not promise growth. They keep the hairs you have soft, hydrated and flexible, and hairs that break less look fuller over time.
How often should I use brow oil after a brow lamination?
Use Brow Conditioning Oil every night, starting 24 to 48 hours after the lamination or on your brow artist's timing, and keep it up between appointments so your brows stay soft and hold their shape.
How long should I wait between brow laminations?
Wait at least six weeks between brow laminations, and eight to ten weeks is better for long term brow health.
Can I use lash or brow oil if I have a nut allergy?
No. Both Lash Conditioning Oil and Brow Conditioning Oil contain sweet almond oil, so skip them if you have a tree nut allergy.
Bring lash and brow aftercare into your studio
Every lift and every lamination you do is a little act of care, and the oil your client takes home is how that care keeps going long after they leave your treatment table. Clients can find both oils in our Lashes and Brows collection, and pros will find every PRO 3 pack in For the Pros Only, with no application and no login. If you would love to try our oils before you stock them, reach out to us at hello@justthestrip.com about pro samples, because nothing makes me happier than hearing how these little bottles show up for your clients.
