Why Do Lashes Tangle, Twist, or Droop?

Let’s break down why extensions sometimes droop or flip over and what can be behind it. It doesn’t happen for no reason, it comes from mistakes in technique, and there are 4 main causes.

5 reasons lashes twist

1. Overloading the natural lash. If you chose material that’s too heavy, the natural lash simply can’t handle the load. This can happen right after the service if the overload was significant. Under the weight, the lash starts to droop or flip over.

2. Stickies. When several natural lashes get glued together, the problem doesn’t show up right away. As they grow out, natural lashes grow at different rates: the faster-growing ones pull on the slower-growing ones, creating tension. That makes the extensions twist and lose their direction. This is exactly why it’s so important to avoid stickies while you work.

3. Poor geometry of the volume fan. If the lashes in a volume fan sit too far apart, with the outer ones pointing sideways instead of reaching upward, that can cause flipping.

Here’s why it happens: fans like that easily catch on neighboring lashes. As the natural lash grows out, the direction is lost, and the fan can flip over. It’s especially likely if there’s been mechanical stress on the lashes, for example, the client rubbing her eyes or washing carelessly.

4. Working the lashes wrong at the early growth stages. Lashes, like all body hair, live in a cycle: they emerge, grow, and shed. When we attach extensions to the natural lashes, we leave only a small margin from the lid, and overall the direction of both lashes lines up. But over time the natural lash grows, the margin between the fan and the lid increases, and under the weight of the fan the lash can droop or twist.

5. Too large a margin. Per lash technique, the margin from the lid should be 0.5 mm whether you’re doing classic or volume, and it should be the same across the whole eye. Too large a margin is the same as an overgrown natural lash, which will start twisting quickly.

If your lashes are tangling

Check yourself against the 5 main mistakes listed above. Also watch your direction and keep your rows even. If everything’s fine and the lashes have started tangling, it just means the natural lashes have grown out and it’s time for either a fill or a fresh set.

How to prevent lashes from flipping and drooping

Choose the right fan weight so the natural lash isn’t overloaded.

Make sure there are no stickies. They lead to pulling and twisting of the lashes.

Watch the geometry of your volume fans. The lashes in a fan should be evenly spread and pointed upward to keep the direction you set. Learn how to work with baby (anagen-stage) lashes in this article.