Why Eyelash Extension Glue Turns White?

Have you ever noticed a time when the eyelash extension glue turns white? Not sure why it occurs, or how to avoid it? Read up until the end so that you do NOT miss any detail or tips that we are about to share with you! Ready to become an expert on why eyelash extension glue turns white?

The main ingredient ofeyelash extension adhesive is cyanoacrylate (CA). Features of cyanoacrylate adhesive that make it favourable for use in this industry include strong bonding, speedy setting time, and the fact that it requires little to no solvent. Although cyanoacrylate has many benefits, let us chat today about something unfavorable that can sometimes occur! 

WHY eyelash extension glue turns white? 

Did you know? Cyanoacrylate adhesive does not “dry” by solvent evaporation like many other adhesives. Rather, the adhesive polymerizes when in contact with humidity in the air. To put it simply, a chemical reaction occurs where cyanoacrylate molecules link up and harden. 

Eyelash extension glue turns white when it gets exposed suddenly to very high humidity or directly with moisture. This causes the adhesive to shock cure, instead of curing at normal speed. When this happens, the appearance of the adhesive becomes white. The term for this is calledshock polymerization. When eyelash extension glue turns white due to shock polymerization, not only does the bond look unpleasant, but the strength of the bond is also compromised. This is because curing too fast causes a“shrinking process of the adhesive layer, which leads to less bond strength”. The bond becomes brittle, weak, and has a frosty white appearance. 

Common causes and ways to problem solve.

The most common reasons why eyelash extensions glue turns white include watering eyes, cleansing the eyelashes before the adhesive is fully cured, nano-misting the eyelashes too close, and improper removal of eyelash extensions. 

1. Watery eyes.

If you notice that your client’s eyes are getting watery, quickly address this matter. This is one of the most common reasons why eyelash extension glue turns white on the outer corners of the eyes. The tears can come into contact with the adhesive on the eyelashes and cause shock polymerization.

Problem Solve ➡️First, determine the reason why your client’s eyes are watering. Is it because their eyes are open and the adhesive fume is irritating their eyes? Could it be that the gel pad is shifting into their eyes, causing irritation? Is it because their eyes just tear easily? Are your lights too bright for your client? Are you causing discomfort for your client? Once you nail down the cause of teary eyes, remove the culprit. 

Pro Tip💡 A little trick is to cut ourlint free nozzle wipes and tape them to the outer corners of your client’s eyes. This is a life-changing hack for your naturally teary clients. The wipes catch and absorb the tears. It is HIGHLY important to use lint-free wipes rather than tissue or cotton because lint can react with the cyanoacrylate, creating a very hot chemical reaction. 

1. Nanomisting too close to the eyes.

Nanomisting the eyelash extensions at the end of the appointment increases nearby humidity. Lash artists do this to speed up the curing speed of the adhesive in low humidity situations. However, the nanomister should not be held too close to the lashes. The eyelash extension glue turns white when there is moisture overload, disrupting proper cyanoacrylate curing. Misting very close causes too much moisture, and can lead to shock polymerization. 

Problem Solve ➡️Hold the nanomister about 30cm (1 ft) away from the client’s newly applied eyelashes when nanomisting. This will prevent eyelash extension glue from turning white. 

1. Improper lash removal.

Are you noticing that eyelash extension glue turns white after a lash removal? This is a sign that you did not thoroughly remove all the adhesive residue with your lash remover. The lash removing product works by breaking down the adhesive. When the adhesive that remained on the eyelashes gets reexposed to too much moisture (ex. due to cleansing the remover off), the eyelash extension glue turns white. 

Problem Solve ➡️It takes time for thelash remover to break down the adhesive. If you did not let the remover sit for long enough, it can be difficult to swipe off all the extensions and adhesive. 

Ensure that you are following the instructions for proper lash removal. For example, ourUndo remover takes 3-5 minutes to properly break down the adhesive bond. If any adhesive residue remains, re-apply the remover on the bond and wait another 3-5 minutes. The adhesive residue will then easily slide off the natural lashes. Always confirm that all adhesive residue is completely removed prior to cleansing the eyelashes after a lash removal. 

1. Cleansing the eyelashes too soon after application.

Many lash artists now prefer to cleanse the client’s eyelashes at the end of the appointment. This is to wash away any extension adhesive fumes that may have landed on the client’s skin. However, cleansing immediately after applying the last extensions could be too soon! Depending on how quickly your eyelash adhesive cures, the amount of adhesive used, and the humidity in your lashing room, it can take some time for all the adhesive to be cured. When you cleanse before the adhesive cures, the eyelash extension glue turns white because of shock curing. 

Problem Solve ➡️Wait 5-10 minutes after the application of the last extension before cleansing. This is so that you do not expose the adhesive to too much moisture before the adhesive cures, or else you may see that the eyelash extension glue turns white. During the time that you are waiting, take your time in checking for“stickies”, removing the gel eye pads and tape, and fan away the adhesive fumes from your client’s eyes. 

The eyelash extension glue turned white. How to remove it?

When eyelash extension glue turns white, the best way to deal with it is to fully remove it. Firstly, the white residue is very unappealing as it contrasts with the black lashes. It is very obvious if it is not removed. Secondly, because of shock polymerization, the bond is very weak. The extension will likely shed early on after a couple days’ wear. Therefore, removing it fully and replacing it with a fresh new extension is the best method to handle this situation.

Although the banana peel lash removal method is simple and quick, it unfortunately is not the best option when eyelash extension glue turns white. This lash removal method typically does not remove all of the white residue. To fully remove all the white residue, alash remover should be used. Isolate the lash extensions where the eyelash glue turned white, and spot treat the lash withUndo.

Before you go.

If you ever notice that your eyelash extension glue turns white, do not freak out! Determine the most likely cause of shock curing, and prevent it from happening again during the appointment. An easy removal with theUndo lash remover will do the trick of undoing the frosty white adhesive bond! 

We hope that this blog covered everything you needed to know about why eyelash extension glue turns white, and how to solve it! You are now an expert 🥳🤓 

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