Are eyelash extensions and lash perms bad for my eyes?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Eyelash extensions and lash perms (matsu-ege pāma) are popular in Japan for making the eyes look bigger. What many visitors do not know is that in Japan the person applying extensions must hold a cosmetologist licence, and consumer bodies receive a steady number of complaints about eye problems. Here are the points to check before you book.
Figures and rules worth knowing
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Eyelash extensions count as "cosmetology" under Japan's Cosmetologists Act, so a cosmetologist licence is required (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notice, 2008) |
| Injury complaints | The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan recorded 599 reports of harm from eyelash extensions in five years (fiscal 2010–2014, published 2015). Mostly eye pain, redness, swelling and itching |
| Adhesive | Most are cyanoacrylate-based. Fumes released as the glue sets can sting the eyes, and there are reports of eyelid rashes (contact dermatitis) |
| Lash perm lotion | No quasi-drug perm lotion (a Japanese category between cosmetics and medicines) has been approved for eyelashes. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has warned against salons using products meant for head hair |
| How long it lasts | Extensions: 3–4 weeks, falling out as your own lashes are replaced. Perm: 1–2 months |
| Your own lash cycle | Lashes are replaced roughly every 3–5 months; average length about 6–8 mm |
- Ask for a patch test: at a new salon or with a new adhesive, one method is to apply a small amount to the inside of the arm and watch it for 48 hours. It is wise to avoid a salon that refuses.
- Keep your eyes closed throughout: if you open them, the glue fumes reach the cornea and cause pain and redness.
- Many products say to keep the lashes dry for 24 hours after application. Oil cleansers dissolve the adhesive, so use oil-free products around the eyes.
- Do not apply or remove extensions yourself. Removal should be left to a technician using a remover.
- If something goes wrong: if redness, pain, discharge or eyelid swelling persists, go to an ophthalmology clinic (眼科, ganka — covered by Japanese health insurance). For a rash on the eyelid skin, go to a dermatology clinic. See a doctor before you go back to the salon.
[Verify] The number of harm reports (599 in five years) and the figures for lash cycle and length vary with the edition of the source document. Check against the latest statistics before publication.
Misunderstanding 1｜I can get this done at a beauty salon (esthetic salon) or someone's home salon
The person applying them must hold a cosmetologist licence. When something goes wrong at an unlicensed provider, the response is often inadequate, and local authorities have issued warnings about unlicensed operators. Look for the salon's registration as a beauty establishment and the cosmetologist licence on display.
Misunderstanding 2｜"Low-irritation glue" is safe
"Low-irritation" (低刺激, tei-shigeki) is not a term with a legal definition. Cyanoacrylate adhesives all give off fumes to some degree, and some people react to them. A patch test is the only way to check.
Misunderstanding 3｜A lash perm is fine because the lotion does not go in the eye
No lotion approved for eyelash perms exists, and the government has warned about the practice of using head-hair products instead. The eyelid skin is thin, and complaints of eyelid dermatitis and conjunctivitis from lotion contact have been reported.
Misunderstanding 4｜I can pull off extensions that are coming loose
Your own lash comes out with it. Repeated damage to the lash root can make the lashes that grow back thinner and shorter. Have them removed with a remover.
Misunderstanding 5｜My eyes are red, but it will settle in a few days, so I will wait
If there is pain, discharge or blurred vision, see an ophthalmologist the same day. A scratched cornea can get worse if left. "Wait and see" is only for mild itching on its own.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "On Thorough Prevention of Harm from Eyelash Extensions" [まつ毛エクステンションによる危害防止の徹底について] (Notice Ken-ei-hatsu No. 0307001, 2008)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/kenkou/seikatsu-eisei/
- National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, "Harm from Eyelash Extensions Continues" [後絶たないまつ毛エクステンションの危害] (2015)
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/news/data/n-20150604_1.html
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "On Perm Lotions for Eyelash Perms" [まつ毛パーマ用のパーマ剤について] (warning on quasi-drug approval)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.
Sources
Tell us if this has changed
Approved contributions keep the contributor's name, shown in five languages.
Related questions
Other languages：日本語 ／ 简体中文 ／ 繁體中文 ／ 한국어
Value Village is not a government body. Always confirm procedures on the official site.
Written by Value Village from public sources. Nothing here is reproduced from another site.