Stupid Questions (there's no such thing): Lashes and brows

No. Lash extensions applied by a trained professional sit on your natural lashes without harming them. Each extension is attached to a single natural lash and chosen to suit its strength, so your lashes keep growing and shedding on their usual cycle.

What keeps your lashes healthy is a good match of length and weight, gentle daily cleansing and professional removal. Leave the picking and pulling alone, and book your infills on time. Your lash artist will look at your natural lashes first and choose a set they can carry comfortably.

In most cases, yes. Brows usually start to come back within a few months once you put the tweezers down. Eyebrow hair has a growth cycle of around three to four months, so patience really does pay off.

Give them a full break from plucking, waxing and threading while they recover, and fill any gaps with a brow pencil or powder in the meantime. A brow professional can help you shape them as they grow. If there is still very little regrowth after about four months, speak to your GP or doctor, as some health conditions can slow brow growth.

Yes, you can get them wet straight away, so there is no need to skip your shower. Cleansing is actually encouraged, because it keeps the lash line free from oil, makeup and debris, which helps your extensions stay looking fresh.

Let the water run down your face rather than straight into your eyes, then pat your lashes dry and brush them through with a clean spoolie. Very hot steam, saunas and long soaks can soften the bond over time, so enjoy those in moderation. Your lash artist will give you aftercare to match the products they use.

Extensions are designed to stay on until your natural lash sheds, so they fall out gradually rather than all at once. Losing a few each day is completely normal, roughly one to five per eye, because each natural lash takes its extension with it when it sheds.

Most people book an infill every two to three weeks to keep their set full. If you notice a lot more falling out in the first week, let your lash artist know. They can look at your aftercare, your set and your lash cycle and help you get the most from every appointment.

No, this one is a myth. Shaving does not change how thick, dark or fast your brows grow. A hair naturally tapers to a fine tip, and a razor cuts straight across it, leaving a blunt end. As it grows back, that blunt end can look coarser for a little while, but the hair itself is exactly the same.

If you would love fuller looking brows, a brow tint, lamination or careful shaping from a brow professional are lovely ways to get there.

You can, though you will probably find you don't need it. Extensions already give you the length and depth that mascara would, and going without keeps your set looking its best for longer.

If you would love a little extra for a special occasion, choose an oil free, water based mascara that washes off easily, and sweep one light coat from the middle of the lashes to the tips, away from the bond. Remove it gently the same day with a lash cleanser and a soft brush. Ask your lash artist first, as volume sets are best left mascara free.

No clinical trials have shown that castor oil makes lashes or brows grow. It is a thick oil, so it coats the hairs, which can help them look glossier and break a little less. That is probably where its reputation comes from.

Take care using it near your eyes, as it can cause stinging, redness or blocked glands along the lash line. Keep all oils away from lash extensions, as oil softens the bond. If your lashes or brows are thinning and you are worried, have a chat with your GP, doctor or pharmacist.

Some do. Serums with a prostaglandin type ingredient (look for names ending in "prost") can make lashes longer, thicker and darker over a few months, and lashes return to normal once you stop. And yes, these ingredients can permanently darken the iris. They can also darken eyelid skin and cause hollowing around the eye.

Rules differ around the world. Some countries ban these ingredients in cosmetics and others make them prescription only, so check your local rules. Peptide serums carry less risk but have less evidence behind them. If you are unsure, speak to your pharmacist or doctor first.

A lash lift curls your own lashes, and lash extensions add new ones. A lift works a little like a perm for your lashes: it lifts them from the root so they look longer and more open, and it usually lasts six to eight weeks with no infills. Many people pair it with a lash tint.

Extensions are single fibres attached to your natural lashes to add length, fullness and darkness. They need infills every two to three weeks and daily cleansing. A lift suits a natural, low maintenance look, and extensions suit anyone who wants more drama. Your lash artist can help you choose.

No, lash extensions shouldn't hurt. You lie back with your eyes closed, and many people find it so relaxing they drift off. You may feel light touches as each lash is placed, and that is about it.

If you notice stinging, burning, pulling or poking, during or after your appointment, tell your lash artist straight away so they can check and adjust. If you have redness, swelling or irritation that doesn't settle, have your lash artist remove the extensions and speak to a pharmacist or doctor.

Yes, that's completely normal. Tint always looks at its strongest straight after your appointment, and it usually softens noticeably within a day or two.

From there, brow tint fades gradually over the following weeks. If after a couple of days it still feels darker than you would like, pop back and chat to your brow professional. They have gentle ways to lift a little colour, and they can adjust the shade next time so it's just right for you.

Yes, in most cases they do. Eyelashes grow in cycles, and a lash that has been pulled out will usually regrow from the same follicle, although it can take a little longer than one that sheds naturally. Each lash lives for several months, so give them time.

Repeated pulling can damage the follicle, so being gentle helps them come back. If you are losing lots of lashes for no clear reason, or you find yourself pulling them out and finding it hard to stop, speak to your GP or doctor. Both are common, and help is available.

Yes, please do. Cleansing your lash extensions every day keeps the lash line clear of oil, makeup, dust and dead skin, which keeps your natural lashes healthy and your set looking fresh. Washing them won't make them fall out faster.

Wet your lashes with lukewarm water, apply a lash cleanser with a soft brush, and work from the base towards the tips. Rinse well, pat dry and brush through with a clean spoolie once they're dry. Your lash artist can show you exactly how at your appointment.

Professional removal is the gentlest way. Your lash artist uses a remover made for the job, which dissolves the bond so the extensions slide off and your natural lashes stay put. It's quick and comfortable.

Picking or pulling extensions off can take natural lashes with them and can damage the follicle, which may leave gaps for months. If you can't get to a salon, use only a remover made for lash extensions, follow its instructions carefully and take your time. If any natural lashes come away, stop and contact your lash artist.

This is usually down to the side you sleep on. If you sleep mostly on one side, that eye rubs against the pillow all night and loses more extensions over time. Natural lashes also shed at slightly different rates on each eye, so a little difference is normal.

Sleeping on your back where you can, or wearing a contoured sleep mask that sits away from your lashes, can help a lot. If one side still looks sparse, booking your infill a few days earlier keeps both eyes looking even.

It's best not to. Extensions are attached to your natural lashes, so it's very easy to snip your own lashes by mistake, and scissors near your eyes are never worth the risk. Extensions are also made with a soft tapered tip, and cutting them leaves a blunt end that changes the look.

If they feel too long, give them a few days, as many people grow to love the length. If they still don't feel right, contact your lash artist. They can take them off and apply a shorter set that suits you.

Yes, you can cry with lash extensions, whether it's a sad film, happy news or a wedding speech. Tears won't make them fall off.

Tears do contain salt and natural oils, so once you have finished, give your lashes a gentle cleanse with your lash cleanser and a little water, then pat them dry. Dab your eyes with a tissue rather than rubbing, which looks after both your extensions and your natural lashes. A quick brush through with a clean spoolie and they're back to their best.

Yes, and it's perfectly normal. Tiny mites are a natural part of human skin and live in hair follicles, including around the eyelashes. They are far too small to see, they feed on dead skin cells and oil, and for most people they cause no trouble at all.

Problems only tend to start when there are too many of them. Cleansing your lashes and eyelids every day helps keep things balanced, whether or not you wear extensions. If your eyelids feel itchy, burning or crusty, or you notice flaky build up at the base of your lashes, see an optician, pharmacist or doctor.

Take a breath: it will grow back. Shaved brow hair regrows from the same follicles, and a brow usually takes around three to four months to grow back fully.

In the meantime, a brow pencil, powder or tinted gel can fill the gap so it blends with the rest of your brow. Let the hairs around it grow too, and leave the other brow as it is. A brow professional can shape and tint around the area so it looks balanced while it grows, and guide it back to its full shape.

Yes, absolutely. Just let your lash artist know, and take the glasses you wear most to your appointment so they can check the space between your lashes and your lenses.

They'll choose lengths and curls that lift upwards rather than reaching forward, so your lashes don't brush the lenses when you blink. Keep your lenses clean, as skincare and oils on the glass can transfer to your lashes, and take your glasses off by the arms rather than the front. An infill every two to three weeks keeps everything looking lovely.

Most people find they can barely feel them. Extensions chosen to suit your natural lashes should feel light and close to weightless. You might be a little aware of them for the first day or so, just as with anything new, and then you'll simply forget they're there.

If you feel heaviness, pulling when you blink, or anything poking or scratching, that's a sign something needs a small adjustment. Contact your lash artist, who will be happy to check and sort it for you.