The quest for long lashes is a constant and sometimes expensive one. If you don’t want to go the lash lift or lash growth serum route, the other option is false eyelashes. Falsies require careful application and even more careful removal.

Many people (including Meghan Markle on her wedding day) opt for individual lashes to boost the fullness of their own with more control than you get with full strip lashes. Individuals give subtle but effective results, but there are extra steps that need to be taken to not damage natural lashes in the process. We enlisted the help of eyelash expert Loreta Jasilionyte to find how to remove individual lashes without ripping out all your precious real ones.

“The safest method is to use a micro swab or cotton bud, wet the swab slightly with water, and gently brush across the bonding area,” she said. The individual falsies should lift and slide away from your natural lashes quite smoothly; follow this with an oil-based cleanser to melt away any remaining glue.

Of course, individual false lashes are very different than pro-applied lash extensions. In those cases, Jasilionyte suggests visiting a lash technician to get those removed safely.