YES. However, it is best not to get them wet for the first 24 hours. Nowadays most lash technicians will use a nano mister (among other methods for curing) which will cure the glue instantly but for good measure I suggest not getting them wet for at least 12-24 hours. After that, washing your lashes with a proper lash extension cleanser is probably the single most important thing you can do to take care of your lashes.

Not only will washing your lashes get rid of any excess oil, sebum, sweat, dirt, dust, dead skin cells, allergens and bacteria that may accumulate throughout the day but it will actually help them stay on longer. The glue itself is broken down by oil which our skin naturally produces. By rinsing away those oils at least once a day (depending on how oily your skin is) it will improve the retention.

 Now, there are people who still don’t believe this so they don’t wash their lashes. Then a lash technician will inform them of how dirty their lashes are and how damaging it can be, so they start to wash their lashes but they seem to be losing more lashes than if they didn’t wash them and here’s why: they have so much build up coating their natural lashes from not washing them in between fills that when they do get a fill the glue can’t properly bond. Even though most lash technicians will wash their clients lashes before they start applying it might not be enough, depending on how dirty they were to begin with.

The other reason why they could be falling out when they start washing them is because their natural lashes are damaged by skin mites. Yes, you read that correctly, MITES. We all have microscopic skin mites (Demodex folliculorum) that live in our hair follicles and eat away dead skin cells and sebum all over our bodies. If we never wash our lashes properly or often enough we will get an overproduction of dead skin cells and sebum in the lash line, perfect skin mite food. They work so hard eating away all the dead skin cells and sebum that is built up in the lash line that they actually eat away the base of your natural eyelash which causes them to become frail, damaged and eventually prematurely fall out.

 Another condition that can be caused from not washing your eyelash extensions is Blepharitis. Blepharitis is when the tiny oil glands near the lash line become clogged and cause inflammation and soreness. They can become clogged by too much oil and sebum not being washed away and also from lash mites. Either way, the cause is from not washing.

 The best way to get around all this yucky stuff is to properly wash your eyelash extensions everyday at least once a day from the first day (ok, maybe second day) you get a full set put on. That way the glue can always properly bond, your lashes will stay healthy and strong, your retention will be ideal and your lashes will stay clean!