Summer is just around the corner and to me that means Universal Studios with my daughter, going to the beach, campfires and spending as much time as possible outdoors enjoying the sunshine. If you and your clients are anything like me, summer is a great time to take a break from everyday life and recharge.

When it heats up, we have to take extra precautions to care for our skin and our bodies like drink more water, apply more sunscreen and wear protective clothing. But it’s also the time when clients tend to experience premature lash shedding. So it’s important that we, as lash artists communicate what precautions our clients should take to care for their lash extensions when it heats up so their lashes always look flawless.

The first thing to be aware of when summer approaches is that hotter days = more sweat. Whether your clients are working out, at the beach or just laying out in the sun, it’s normal to sweat a lot more when it’s hot outside. Sweat contains natural oils from the skin that keeps our skin looking glorious but when it’s hotter than usual, that natural oil can run into the lashes and cause lash extensions to detach from the natural lashes and shed prematurely. To combat this, advise your clients to wear a headband while working out and after a big sweat, it’s ideal to wash their lashes with an aftercare cleanser such as Chrissanthie Foaming Wash but at the very least, to rinse their lashes with cool water to remove the sweat.

Use an oil-free sunscreen

Sunscreen is a must to protect your skin all year round and its commonly used more during the summer however, many brands of sunscreen contain oil which breaks down the adhesive that keeps lash extensions attached. To help keep your client’s lash extensions intact, suggest they use sunscreen with an oil-free formula. And when applying sunscreen, advise them to avoid using spray versions and to make sure their sunscreen is fully absorbed into the skin so it’s less likely to move into their lash line, causing premature lash shedding.

My favorite sunscreen is Dr. Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 | PA ++++. It is an oil free, lightweight SPF moisturizer which instantly minimizes the appearance of pores by 54% and delivers 10 hours of oil, shine and pore control. It’s great for balanced, oily, combination and sensitive skin and it mattifies, smooths and blurs imperfections. I love this sunscreen and I use it all year because it not only protects my skin from sun damage, but it also gives my skin a baby smooth appearance.

Keep lashes clean

Spending more time outside working in the yard or exercising can lead to increased dirt and debris collecting in the lashes. That additional dirt and debris can irritate the eyes and your clients may be tempted to rub their eyes. The friction from rubbing the eyes however, can cause the extensions to detach from the natural lash and lead to premature shedding so your clients should avoid it altogether. Instead they should keep their lashes clean by washing with an aftercare cleanser or again, at the very least, gently rinsing out the debris with cool water.

Maintain Regular Touch Ups

For many people, summer is the perfect time to take trips away from home. While planning those summer trips however, remind your clients to schedule their touch up appointments on time so they don’t have to start over with a new set. They should also keep in mind that summer is when most people have lash extensions applied so they don’t have to fuss with mascara while on vacation. So to keep their lashes looking fresh all summer long, they should pre-book their touch up appointments to avoid being placed on a wait list. And if while on vacation they plan to swim more frequently, they may need to schedule touch ups more frequently as chlorine and excessive water can affect the longevity of their lash extensions.

Lash extensions are a convenient way for clients to look and feel their best while enjoying summer activities. Share these tips with your clients so they know what to do to keep their lashes looking amazing in the hotter months. I put together a free, customizable email template that you can use to send to your clients or you can print it out and give to them before summer arrives.

To get the free template, click the button below.