Lash Lift Aftercare: How to Keep Lashes Healthy, Strong & Beautiful
Table of contents
A lash lift can instantly open the eyes and elevate your client’s entire look — but the real results depend on what happens after they leave your salon. The lotions you use during the lash lift, the condition of the client’s natural lashes, and the home care they follow all influence how the lift holds and how healthy the lashes stay.
In this post, we’ll walk you through:
- What lash lifts actually do to the hair
- How to assess the need for aftercare
- What to recommend based on the client’s goals (hydration, strength, growth, etc.)
- Which products to avoid and which ones to trust
Lash Lift & Lash Lift with Lami Juice by our ambassador Mingma
What Happens to Lashes During a Lash Lift?
Lash lift lotions work by softening the disulfide bonds inside each lash hair and then re-hardening them into a new shape. This is a chemical process — and how aggressive or gentle it is depends entirely on the formula you use.
Some lotions are strong and alkaline, which lift quickly but can leave lashes dry, brittle, or weakened. Others, like our cysteamine-based lifting lotion, work more slowly but leave the lash structure and cuticle much more intact.
That’s why aftercare isn’t always optional.
- If you use strong lotions, aftercare is essential to avoid breakage, dehydration, or poor retention.
- If you use gentle lotions, lashes may not need extra support — but home care can still improve the overall result.
Step 1: Assess the Lash Lift Lotion Used
Before you recommend anything, ask yourself:
- Was the lift done using a TGA-based formula (e.g. ammonium thioglycolate)?
- Or was it a purely cysteamine-based system like Ruthie Belle’s?
Both are alkaline, but they impact the hair very differently. TGA-based lifts tend to be more aggressive, while cysteamine systems are gentler on the lash structure and cuticle — which directly affects the type of aftercare needed.
This makes a huge difference in what kind of lash lift aftercare your client will need.
If the formula was aggressive:
- The hair was stripped of moisture and likely lost elasticity.
- Recommend hydration + repair.
If the formula was gentle (like cysteamine):
- The lash remains intact, but aftercare can still improve shine, flexibility, and health.
- Recommend hydration or strengthening, depending on the client’s condition or goal.
Step 2: Choose Aftercare Based on Goals
Every client has a different reason for wanting lash lift aftercare. Some want their lashes to feel softer. Some want them to last longer. Some want to fix damage from previous lifts.
Here’s how to match the product to the actual need:
✅ Goal: Hydration + Shine
Recommend: Lami Juice
Lami Juice is a pro-grade lash mask that deeply hydrates with hyaluronic acid and adds a soft, glossy finish. It’s ideal after aggressive lifts or for anyone who wants a healthy, polished lash look.
Bonus: If left unbrushed after application, it creates the trendy anime effect — lashes look more voluminous without mascara.
✅ Goal: Repair, Strengthening & Growth Support
Recommend: Lash & Brow Filler
This EGF-based formula helps strengthen the lash follicles and support healthier, more resilient lash growth over time. It’s ideal for clients whose lashes have become weakened from aggressive lifting products or past overprocessing. It also helps activate dormant follicles, making it suitable for clients with thinning or sparse lash lines. It’s perfect for clients with:
- Previously damaged lashes
- Sparse or thinning lash lines
- Long-term goals to improve lash density
✅ Goal: Lash Length
Recommend: A peptide-based lash serum (if no gaps in the lash line)
Peptide serums can support keratin production and visibly improve length and resilience within 30–45 days. Ideal for clients who already have good density and want longer lashes without irritation.
Also consider: Lash BFF Volume
This product gives the immediate look of a volumizing mascara while delivering peptides and panthenol to support lash health. While it’s not as efficient at penetrating follicles as serums — due to its mascara-like viscosity and surface-level application — it’s an excellent supporting product to use alongside a peptide serum.
It’s ideal for clients who want more visual impact right away, especially if their lash lift result came out more subtle than expected. It’s also a great choice for clients with over processed or damaged lashes, thanks to its nourishing ingredients like panthenol. Additionally, it works well for customers who use prostaglandin-based serums, as it helps counterbalance dehydration by adding hydration and softness to the lash shaft.
Bonus: Lash BFF Volume visually lifts outgrown lashes, prolonging the visible effect of the lift between treatments.. Ideal for clients who already have good density and want longer lashes without irritation.
If a client has gaps or post-damage — skip the serum and go straight to Lash & Brow Filler instead.
✅ Goal: Low-cost maintenance
Recommend: Castor oil
Castor oil is a well-known natural oil often used in DIY lash and brow routines. Based on observed effects, it is:
- Somewhat effective at improving volume/thickness
- Effective at increasing lash strength and elasticity
- Not effective at hydrating lashes after lamination
It does not impact follicles or help repair damage. But for clients who aren’t ready to invest in advanced products like Lash & Brow Filler, castor oil can offer mild support in overall lash/brow texture.
It’s best recommended for:
- Clients looking for a budget-friendly option
- People wanting to experiment with a natural routine before upgrading
- Anyone who wants a basic maintenance oil but has no serious concerns like sparseness or damage
What to Avoid
- Prostaglandin serums: While effective for length, they can cause irritation, pigmentation, and are not ideal after chemical treatments. These should never be a default recommendation.
- Heavy oils immediately after lifting: Oils like castor oil may be too occlusive and interfere with the lash structure in the first few days.
-
Wait 24h after treatment before using any serums
Example Client Scenarios
Client type |
Best product |
Benefits |
Just had a traditional TGA-based lift |
Lami Juice + Lash & Brow Filler |
Hydration + repair from chemical stress |
Had a cysteamine-based lift, wants shinier lashes |
Lami Juice |
Adds gloss + hydration without buildup |
Wants lashes to grow longer but has no gaps |
Peptide serum or Lash BFF Volume |
Supports length with or without visible pigment — Lash BFF also boosts instant visual impact |
Sparse lash line, wants regrowth |
Lash & Brow Filler |
EGF helps awaken follicles and strengthen hairs |
“My lashes are so weak after extensions” |
Lash & Brow Filler |
Restores strength and encourages healthy regrowth |
“I was hoping for more WOW effect from the lift” |
Peptide serum & Lash BFF Volume |
Instantly defines and darkens lashes while supporting growth — great for underwhelming lift results |
“I want to get a lash lift but my lashes are too short” |
Peptide Serum |
Supports natural lengthening to prepare lashes for lifting |
“My lashes are over-processed” |
Lash & Brow Filler |
Deep recovery and follicle support post-damage |
“I love the anime effect” |
Lami Juice |
Creates a voluminous, glossy look without mascara |
Final thoughts
The secret to long-lasting, beautiful lash lifts isn’t just your technique — it’s the care your clients take afterward. Helping them understand their lashes’ real needs — and recommending the right product — is what sets great artists apart.
Educating clients on personalized lash lift aftercare also opens the door to passive income through retail. When you recommend the right products:
- You elevate your treatment results
- You build trust and authority in your clients’ eyes
- And you add to your bottom line without needing to upsell — because the recommendation feels like expert advice, not a sales pitch
Whether you’re working with damaged lashes, healthy lashes, or something in between, there’s no such thing as “just use a serum.” Now you know how to guide your clients with confidence.
💬 If you have any questions, please write to us at info@ruthiebelle.com
