Why You Should Ditch the Primer and Use Hypochlorous Acid
If You’re Still Using Lash Primer, It May Be Time to Stop
If you're still reaching for primer before every set, I want to make a case for stopping altogether.
Not using it less. Not saving it for “certain clients.” Stopping.
Because when we’re working around the eyes, the standard should be higher than, “It helps retention.”
Many lash primers contain ingredients such as polypropylene polymer, oxidized polypropylene resin, water, and other solvents or film-forming agents. These types of products are often labeled with warnings to avoid contact with the eyes or skin.
And yet, in lash services, they’re being used directly at the lash line.
That should give us pause.
Because what’s around the eye can easily end up in the eye. Product can migrate. Eyes can water. Clients can blink. Vapors, residue, and excess product don’t always stay exactly where we place them.
For a long time, primer has been treated like a normal part of lash prep. But I don’t believe it should be.
I don’t think lash primer should be used around the eyes, and I don’t think it should be sold to lash artists as something they need for every set.
What Primer Was Supposed to Do
Primer was designed to remove oils and residue from the natural lash and help adhesive bond better. And yes, primer can work. But “works” is not the same as “belongs near the eye.”
Repeated primer use can dry out the natural lash, irritate sensitive clients, and introduce ingredients into a very delicate area that should be treated with more caution. As lash artists, we have to think beyond retention. We have to think about the long-term comfort and health of the eye area.
The Eye Area Deserves a Higher Standard
The skin around the eyes is delicate. The eye itself is vulnerable. And our services happen incredibly close to both. Prep products should not be judged only by whether they help adhesive bond. They should be judged by whether they are appropriate for repeated use near the eye, whether they support client comfort, and whether there is a better, gentler option available.
And in the case of primer, I believe there is.
That option is hypochlorous acid, commonly called HOCl.
Why Hypochlorous Acid Makes More Sense
Hypochlorous acid is a gentle compound naturally produced by the human immune system to help defend against bacteria. In lash prep, HOCl is used as a cleanser. It helps remove oils, makeup residue, debris, and bacteria from the lash line without stripping or drying the natural lash.
It’s gentle, non-toxic, comfortable for sensitive clients, and a much better fit for the delicate eye area when used correctly.
That makes it a better option for lash prep than traditional primer because HOCl supports what lash prep should actually be about: clean lashes, a clean lash line, better hygiene, better client comfort, and strong retention without unnecessary irritation risk.
Primer Is Not the Foundation of Retention
This is where I think the industry has gotten it wrong.
Primer has been marketed like it’s the secret to retention, when really, retention comes from proper cleansing, correct adhesive use, good attachment, natural lash health, and client aftercare.
If lashes are dirty, cleanse them. If lashes are oily, cleanse them thoroughly. If retention is poor, look at adhesive amount, placement, attachment, direction, cure, aftercare, and lash health.
Primer should not be the default answer.
And in my opinion, it should not be part of the modern lash prep routine at all.
Why This Matters Even More with UV Lashing
One of the biggest benefits of UV lashing is that it simplifies the entire adhesive process. Traditional adhesive depends heavily on temperature, humidity, timing, and extra products. UV adhesive cures with light, not moisture, which removes many of those variables.
So when you pair UV lashing with HOCl instead of primer, the workflow becomes cleaner, simpler, and more eye-health focused.
Fewer harsh prep products. Less irritation potential. No unnecessary primer at the lash line. Just clean lashes, proper technique, and consistent curing.
HOCl is part of why the UV lashing workflow feels so much simpler once artists make the switch.
How to Use HOCl Instead
To use it, spray or apply HOCl to a microfiber brush or lint-free applicator and cleanse the lash line before the service. Let it dry fully, then proceed with your set as usual.
That’s it.
No primer. No pH manipulation. No harsh prep step near the eye. No product that says to avoid contact with the eyes being used directly beside them.
Why We No Longer Sell Primer
And this is exactly why we, as a lash brand, no longer sell primer.
As we’ve grown, tested more products, studied ingredients more closely, and moved deeper into education and eye-health-focused lashing, our standards have changed.
We don’t want to sell products just because the industry says lash artists “need” them. We want to sell products we truly believe belong near the eye.
For us, primer no longer meets that standard.
HOCl gives lash artists a gentler, cleaner, more eye-health-conscious way to prep the lashes without relying on a product that can be drying, irritating, or unnecessary. So we made the decision to stop offering primer altogether.
Because our goal is not to sell every product possible.
Our goal is to sell the right ones.
As an industry, we should be moving toward products and practices that protect the eye area, not just products that promise retention.
Because retention matters.
But eye health matters more.
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