Becoming an expert in our field can’t happen without learning all there is to know about the tools and techniques that make our work possible. The more familiar we become with our lash extension tweezers, the quicker they’ll become an extension of our fingers, allowing us to work with both precision and ease. You would never handle your lash extensions with anything other than the utmost delicacy, so why should your tweezers be any different? There are tons of things you can do to protect these delicate tools- with a little bit of effort, you can ensure that your lash extension tweezers remain as useful to you as their first day on the job.

Clean off any excess lash glue before storing them away

As soon as you’ve finished with a client, you’ll want to tuck away your lash products so they don’t get dusty or dirty, throw out any disposable tools like lash wands and eye pads, and clean off your tweezers. Your tweezers can pick up all sorts of excess adhesive which can damage the delicate plating on the inside of the tip, and if the adhesive cures, you’ll be stuck with sticky tweezers that trap extensions. If excess adhesive on your tweezers is a recurring problem for you, it means you're either using too much adhesive or not isolating long enough before letting go. Cured adhesive on your tweezers should chip right off with a fingernail, or you can use a nail file to carefully wear down the adhesive to a point where you can chip it off. Never use lash extension remover on your tweezers- that can wear on the finish. 

Sanitize and disinfect your tools effectively 

After every appointment, you’ll need to sanitize and disinfect your tweezers properly so that they’re safe to use with your next client. Every eyelash extension certification program should have taught you the basics of sanitizing your tools, but a quick refresher never hurts. First, sanitize your tools by wiping off all visible debris. Then, disinfect them with barbicide.  You’ll need to use 2 oz of barbicide concentrate to every 32 oz of cold water -- any less will not properly sterilize your tools. Your tweezers will need to be in contact with the liquid for 10 minutes in order to be considered fully sterile. Gently place the tweezers in the barbicide solution- watch those delicate tips- and make sure they’re not bumping into each other in the jar. Once ten minutes have elapsed, pull them out, and place them on a clean paper towel so they can air dry.

Store them in a case 

Your tweezers are one of the most important tools out of your entire stash of lash extension supplies- their fine points are the only thing that can manipulate delicate lash extensions and get them exactly where you need them to go. The best way you can protect the fine pointed tips of your lash extension tweezers is to store them in a protective case. There are tons of different options for every price point -- this sleek case is cushioned on the inside to protect the fine points of up to six of your tweezers at a time, and has a magnetic closure which ensures that it stays closed even in transit. It’s a simple investment that protects your most useful and hardest working tools. 

Have an extra pair around, just in case

Accidents happen. Lash extension tweezers are by nature, delicate objects, and although most pairs are made of stainless steel, even a simple fall can damage delicate tips and cause them to warp, or scratch their exterior. If you don’t make a point to always store your tweezers in a case, you should definitely keep a spare pair around at all times. You don’t want a split-second fall to ruin an appointment, and you definitely don’t want to have to go out and find another pair if your favorite tweezers bend. Once you find a pair that works for you, order one or two more just to have around. It may seem unnecessary, but trust us, you’ll be glad you planned ahead.

Avoid hand sanitizer when handling your tweezers 

Many lash extension training programs teach their students to use hand sanitizer liberally during client appointments in order to practice good habits of self-sanitization. While sanitization is an incredibly important process, you should be careful with most widely available hand sanitizers around your lash extension tweezers. If your favorite tweezers are finished in gold, you should make sure your hands are completely dry after putting on hand sanitizer, before picking up your tweezers. The hand sanitizer can strip away the lovely gold finish. 

Make sure the tension works for you 

Getting a brand-new pair of tweezers is thrilling if you can find the right pair that works for you. Lashes from different eyelash extension companies vary in size and texture, so make sure whatever tweezers you buy works with your favorite brands. At Lash Affair, all of our tweezers are handmade with super-light tension which is designed to prevent fatigue. If you find a pair of tweezers you like, but the tension isn’t quite right, you can gently pull the two sides apart to create a larger gap, which will give you more tension. Our tweezers make it easy to customize the tension to your liking. Just be careful- using too much force can damage them.