A Guide to Fake Eyelashes
Welcome my inquiring reader! I have noticed that false eyelashes can be quite baffling to many people and as the mask debate rages on, one thing is clear. A full face of makeup isn't necessary but fun eye looks are always a win. False eyelashes are a quick, easy way to make it look like you've got your $hit together, unless the thought of lashes makes your eyes water and eyelid twitch. I am here to break it down and offer different steps to eyelash wearing from beginner to advanced! You can also jump down to the end for a basic how-to guide in applying eyelashes.
Stage 1: I want to look like I am wearing false lashes but there is no way I can apply them
For total beginners, I recommend a really good curler and bomb mascara. If you can couple that with eyelash serum and are dedicated about applying it, you may see results similar to false eyelashes. She Umera's eyelash curler has never, ever pinched my eyelid and I love the KissMe Heroine Long & Curl mascara is my number one, favorite mascara.
Stage 2: Alright, I feel ok with mascara but what are the next steps if I am still not ready to put in false lashes?
Lash extensions and lash lifts are both options for you to choose from.
Lash lifts are essentially a perm for your eyelashes. They give you the look of an eyelash curler even when you first wake up. These are fantastic for those who have long lashes but maybe they point downward and give the impression of sparse lashes. You can DIY this but I have not taken that step because I have also seen some results where the lashes were too curly or ended up being damaged.
Lash extensions are where lashes are glued individually to your lashes. Depending on your after care and natural lash cycles, these can last a few weeks before need a fill. I did try lash extensions before my destination wedding but every time I lost an extension, I felt like I was losing money. I have done my own extensions and will like back here with the post on how I did it.
Recently, however, I have given my lashes a break from the extensions and been using eyelash serum. I switched to a vegan formula to prevent orbital fat loss and am super impressed by how thick and long my lashes are. For me, this has been the best option because I can still put lashes in if I want but growing my own lashes is so much easier.
Stage 3: I hate putting things near my eyes but I really want to try wearing lashes
If the thought of a finger approaching your eye makes you squirm, congratulations! You never had to wear contacts and my middle school self is very envious of you. But it can be a challenge if you are trying to achieve a long, fluttery look with false lashes. If this is you, consider using an eyelash application tool. This can help stabilize the lash to get it near your eye and avoids getting glue all over your fingers.
You can also try magnetic lashes. I was hoping these would get my eye makeup down to 10 seconds or less but these were a bust for me. I prefer a cat-eye wing which means that my eyelashes at the end would stick on farther away from my natural lash line and come up near my inner corner...not cute. Plus, when I used the non-magnetic liner, the ones that click together, it would look insanely weird because they were akin to wearing double lashes...one above and one below my natural lashes. They did make the process easier but I was never going to wear them and ended up returning both versions.
The best solution has been to cut strip lashes in half. These give a much smaller lash but are so much easier to blend in and you don't have the dreaded flapping off that happens with longer lash bands. Plus, putting lashes only on the outer corner gives you a very cat-like look.
Stage 4: Ok, I can handle putting lashes in...but I don't want to look crazy
I love this lady's energy but more importantly, I need the name of her lash glue!!
There are a wide array of lashes and you can get a totally glam look or a wild, festive look, depending on your mood. But perhaps, you are in the beginning stages of your lash game and just looking to enhance your natural lashes without screaming to the world "I GLUED FALSE LASHES TO MY EYELIDS, WANNA SEE?"
For a customized but slightly more involved application process, I love cluster lashes. For me they are easier to apply because if you don't put enough glue...it doesn't stick and there is little to no chance of it coming out before you are ready. Plus, they blend in the best with your natural lashes and can be used to fill in any sparse patches. Cluster lashes are better for volume looks (so making it look like you have more or thicker lashes) as opposed to length.
To use these, I simply take the length that is closest to my own natural lashes, apply glue on the end and bury them in my lash line. The knotted ends are easier to apply the glue but can be a bit more noticeable if you get closer to your water line.
If you are not ready for cluster lashes but are looking for strip lashes that still look like your own, here are some things to look for:
- look for lashes with tapered ends. Kiss makes very economical lashes that taper just like natural lashes. Mink lashes do that natural but they tend to be more expensive, less animal-friendly and usually are very voluminous.
- look for thinner lash bands. If your strip lashes have thick lash bands, they will be noticeable and they may need liner to blend them in, which usually means you are going to have a more glam look. A thin band will look more like your own lashes and less stark.
- select B or J curl lashes. This is more often seen in lash extensions but the curve of eyelashes are graded depending on how they curl. B and J are the most natural and mimic our own natural curvature. D curls tend to be more dramatic and noticeable.
- use a glue that dries clear. Some people swear by black eyelash glue but for me, it becomes very noticeable, especially since dark brown tends to be more natural and black can be too harsh. My favorite is Kiss eyelash adhesive. This bad boy is less than $3 and has more than 70,000 reviews. I have purchased extra bottles in case it ever goes out of stock because it really is that good.
Stage 5: I love putting on lashes! I am ready for the most natural results regardless of what style of lash I use!
I saved this tip for the last stage because it really changed my lash game but it felt the weirdest and took the the most practice. To truly blend in your lash band, I recommend putting the lashes on under your natural lashes. Yes, you read that right, instead of putting them on top and on your eyelid, putting eyelashes underneath your eyelashes makes the band invisible, lifts your natural lashes up and makes it look like you are not wearing lashes...unless of course you opt for a more voluminous and crazy look!
This technique takes practice and I prefer to use my fingers as opposed to any tools for full control but be careful so you don't scratch your eyes or anything. My advice is to start with strip lashes cut in half and as you get better at maneuvering those, apply longer lashes.
**Your Basic How-To Guide in Applying Strip Lashes**
You love the look of long, fluttery lashes but have no idea where to start. I will break down the steps to help you get the doe-eye look of your dreams!
1. Pick your tools
When selecting your eyelashes, do not feel you need to spend top dollar to get the best look. You can get eyelashes anywhere from $30 - $1. The lower end ones tend to have plastic bands which can hurt and the higher ends ones just hurt my soul when they get damaged and cannot be reused. I have found that Ardell and Kiss are both fantastic brands for any type of wearer and have a wide variety of styles so you can experiment. Ardell Demi 110 are great beginner lashes and can be found online and retailers like Target or Walmart.
Get good lash glue, like the Kiss lash from above or Duo Strip Lash. Personally, I like the brush applicators because it is so much easier to control the amount of glue and go back if I need to reapply more. The tube tends to get clogged and then I apply too much pressure, releasing an ungodly amount onto my lashes.
A 10x magnifying mirror is optional but along with good lighting, can make it much easier to see where your lashes are going.
2. Curl your natural lashes first and apply mascara.
This makes it easier for the false eyelashes to blend in and prevents damaging them with mascara as well. Additionally, curling lashes first and then applying mascara acts as hair spray and keeps your lashes curled longer.
3. Apply glue to the full length of the band
I especially like to make sure I have enough on the ends because this is where I see lifting when I have not applied enough and it is a dead giveaway that your lashes are fake. Plus it is much harder to apply glue to the ends after putting on your lashes. After applying glue, wait a couple seconds until the glue is tacky. With the Kiss lash, this is about 10 seconds and a little longer with the Duo lash glue. While you are waiting, curve the lash back and forth a bit, bending it into a C shape. This helps form the lash band into a natural curve to match your own eyelids. Additionally storing eyelashes in a curved tray helps keep them from becoming straight which makes it harder to apply.
4. Apply lashes as close to the lash line as possible.
This is the step that makes me cherish the Kiss glue so much. If you mess up, the glue is tacky enough that you can readjust and move the lashes closer. Clear glue is also nice because it means you aren't leaving visible glue patches on your eyelid if your aim is less than perfect. I usually apply it as best as I can and then re-adjust any ends that need to come in closer.
5. Apply liner to blend in the lash band
If you are applying eyelashes underneath you do not need this step but applying liner after you put lashes on can help hid any shine that may be on the eyelash band. Some cheaper brands, like E.L.F, really stand out because eyeliner dries down matte and a shiny band sticks out like a sore thumb.
6. Brush through with a spoolie
Sometimes eyelashes can get squashed or glue may get stuck to them. A clean spoolie can be used to make sure your eyelashes are facing the right direction, are glue-free and serves as a check that your eyelashes are on securely.
7. Removing eyelashes
At the end of the night, make sure you remove your lashes gently. Pulling them off can damage your natural lashes so try to peel them off by starting at one end. You can also re-use lashes by soaking off glue using rubbing alcohol. Do not pick glue off of the lashes. You may end up damaging the lashes and tearing them off as well. Store eyelashes in a rounded container like the tray they came in to keep the lash band in a natural shape. Eventually, you will have to replace them but with these steps, you can get a few wears out of each pair.
Lastly, use an oil based cleanser to get all the glue residue off you eyelids. If you still see mascara remnants, a Q-tip soaked in makeup remover can help get more stubborn stains out. Avoid tugging or pulling at the skin around your eyes because it is sensitive and can cause premature wrinkling.
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