Can I Get My Lashes Wet After a Lash Lift?

If you've ever had a lash lift—or scrolled through TikToks of artists rinsing lashes right after the service—you might’ve had that moment of confusion: Wait... I thought you’re not supposed to get them wet?

Let’s clear it up once and for all, based on real chemistry—not lash myths.

TLDR: Yes, you can get your lashes wet. However, be careful not to mess up the direction of the lashes in the first 24-48 hours. While water is okay, avoid steam (saunas, hot yoga, hot showers) for up to 48 hours after the lash lift service. 

Why Do Some Artists Say “Don’t Get Them Wet for 24–48 Hours”?

You’ll hear a lot of lash artists tell their clients to avoid water for an entire day (sometimes two). But I personally only ask clients to wait four hours—and here’s the reason why.

It all comes down to understanding what actually changes the shape of the lash.

Water Alone Doesn’t Break the Curl

In the chemistry section of my course, I explain that a lash lift works by breaking and reforming disulfide bonds, which give lashes their natural shape. These can only be changed using chemical reducing agents like thioglycolate or cysteamine.

Water doesn’t have the ability to break these bonds. However, it does affect hydrogen bonds—a secondary, temporary bond in the lash. When hair gets wet, hydrogen bonds soften, which is why you can style head hair differently when it’s damp. The same goes for lashes.

So, in short: cool water touching the lashes after a lift won’t drop the curl.

But that doesn’t mean anything goes right away...

Why I Still Say “Wait Four Hours”

While water won’t chemically reverse the lash lift, I still recommend avoiding it for the first four hours—not because of bond disruption, but because of lash styling.

Right after the lift, lashes are still being set into place. The product used at the end of the service (often called a coating essence) helps lock in direction and shape. If water hits too soon, especially if lashes are touched or rubbed, it can shift the styling—not the curl itself, but how the lashes sit.

Steam vs. Water: What’s the Real Concern?

Here’s where things get more serious: steam.

Steam is different from water because it combines moisture and heat, and that heat speeds up absorption. Let’s break this down:

During a lash lift, the cuticle layer of the lash is opened so product can penetrate.

After the treatment, the cuticle begins to close, but it takes up to 72 hours to return to its natural state.

While the cuticle is still partially open, the lash is more porous, and anything that penetrates—like steam—can cause swelling.

Swelling means too much water gets inside the lash, disrupting the setting process. This can weaken the curl or even cause the lash to feel brittle or over-processed.

What Happens to the Lash Cuticle After a Lift?

Here’s a breakdown of the lash’s porosity:

Before lift: Cuticle is about 5–10% open

During step one (reduction): Cuticle opens up to 40–60%

After step two (neutralization): Cuticle drops to 20–30%

72 hours after lift: Cuticle returns to 10–15%, back to a healthy state

The takeaway? The lash is most vulnerable right after the service, especially during that 72-hour reformation window.

Why Steam Is More Damaging Than Water

Steam isn’t just hot air—it’s water in vapor form that carries a lot more energy than liquid water. When that vapor hits the warm surface of a lash, it condenses back into liquid quickly and deeply penetrates the still-porous cuticle.

This combination of sudden heat and moisture can:

✧Disrupt the lash’s structural reformation

✧Soften the shape before it fully sets

✧Cause premature weakening of the curl

So while a cool face splash or shower after a few hours is totally fine, hot showers, saunas, and steamy facials should be avoided for at least 48–72 hours.

In summary:
You can get your lashes wet after a lift, just not right away—and it’s not about water ruining your curl. It’s about giving your lashes time to set, allowing the cuticle to close, and avoiding steam that could cause swelling.

Stick to cool water, skip the steam, and your lift will last beautifully.