False Lashes 101: 13 Tips and Tricks
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Did our review of Ardell’s amazing range of false lashes have you ready to pull out some lashes and add some glamor to your look? Everyone looks better with a full, thick lashes – but getting them ‘just right’ takes some practice.
For the novices and pros alike, here are 13 tips and tricks for flawless lash application:
1. Do your makeup first and apply eyeliner thick enough to hide any gaps.
2. Cut the band to the correct size. A little too short is much better than too long. Plus shorter lashes are easier to apply and more comfortable too. Celebrity makeup artist and owner of The Lash Effect Elle Leary taught Stef to trim from the outer edge of the lashes, rather than the interior.
If you don’t want to trim, Demi lashes (like Ardell’s Accent Lashes) are a good choice. They’re half-sized lash strips to place on the outer corner of your lid. It’s crazy easy and creates a more natural look.
3. Curve the band. Too curved is better than not curved enough! This tip has helped me TONS.
4. If the lashes are not self-adhesive, use a good quality adhesive. Cheap glue is a recipe for a bad time.
5. Don’t use too much glue! Make a very thin line (or dot the glue along the lash and run a finger or Q-tip over it to create a solid line) and put a bit extra on the ends.
6. Count to fifty, not thirty, to let the glue get tacky. I found this tip on False Eyelashes Blog and it’s the perfect amount of time to create the best hold.
7. Here’s a tip Tyna picked up from a makeup artist: do not look straight into your mirror when applying lashes. Instead, place a mirror on a flat surface and look down your nose into it when applying the lashes. It really helps!
8. Apply your false lashes as close to your lash line as possible. Some people attach the outer corner first; some people attach the middle first. It’s really personal preference. You can use tweezers or your fingers to press them into your lashes and to adjust the placement.
9. Allow glue to dry, and then use a clean spoolie to blend your real lashes with the falsies. Apply mascara if needed.
10. Apply a bit more eyeliner if needed to cover any mistakes. Cream and liquid liners work best because they don’t tug at the lash strip.
11. To remove, gently pull off the lashes, or soak a cotton pad with oil free makeup remover and leave it on your lash line for a bit before gently pulling them off. Be VERY gentle!
12. Clean extra adhesive off the lashes and put your lashes back in the case. Remove lash glue stuck to your natural lashes with an oil-based eye makeup remover or just some oil (like coconut or EVOO). Don’t pull at your lashes!
13. As always, practice makes perfect. So practice, practice, practice – and you’ll be applying falsies like a pro in no time!
If you’re not used to wearing lashes, you may feel pretty awkward wearing them at first. But it’s like wearing red lipstick – be confident, and no one will mind!
we heartsters – are you a false lash newbie, pro or somewhere in between? Share your tips in the comments!
Marilyn is a makeup maniac and slow but stubborn runner. She loves color coding her day planner, reading celebrity gossip and drinking good wine. Marilyn blogs about makeup and fitness over at her blog, Lipgloss and Spandex.
Love these tips! Just got a new haircut & color – ordered some smokin’ hot cowgirl boots, and bought a new dress for my husband’s 40th birthday dinner – I think I may need to tackle some false lashes following these tips -for some extra glamour! Thank you!
Thanks for leading the way! I really think these tips are going to make me want to put on some of my lashes more often!
Practice is the keyword here.. I can still see my mom’s lashes when years ago and thinking.. I’ll never wear those… well, times have sure changed!
Great tips–I would actually be ok with wearing a subtle style of false lashes everyday except for one problem–my lash glue always unsticks at the inner corner. There is nothing worse than glancing at yourself and seeing that half of your lashes are curling right off off your eyelid. I’ve tried different glue brands—Ardell, Revlon, and Sonia Kashuk–and continue to have this problem. However, I usually only wait 30 seconds, so I’m going to try the 50 second tip and see if that helps!
@amity –also, curling the band more really helped me when it came to the inner corner staying stuck (bend it and bend it and bend it so it’s not as straight). Then the glue isn’t “fighting” with the lash strip as much.
Great, great tips even for a “falsie” veteran like me, @lipglossandspandex ! I can’t wait to try your “curve the band” and @tyna ‘s “looking down” tricks.
I was once helpless at applying false lashes on my own @turboterp! Then I picked up the looking down tip from a makeup artist at the Shu Uemura Lash Bar and my skills drastically improved. Hope it helps you as well!
I’ve been wearing falsies a lot more often these past few months, after finally getting fed up with mascara (nothing will stay on these oily lids). I used to have problems with the inner corner unsticking, but I’ve figured out that it either is because the band isn’t curved enough, or I’m placing the lashes too close to the inner corner of my eye.
I actually rarely follow my lash line when positioning my falsies. I usually glue them down a little further out past the outer corner of my eye, and place the outer portion of the lashes a little higher than my lash line. My eyes are on the small side, so lashes can be overwhelming and by doing this it makes my eyes look bigger/more elongated, balancing their size with the length of the falsies.
I totally agree–those two tips almost totally eliminated my issues with the inner corner coming unglued! Playing with the placement is a really good tip as well. :)
@lipglossandspandex –Excellent instructions! I love how you break it down step by step. I do not think most people think of doing their makeup first. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Thanks, @hao9703! Really, these tips are just a good starting point. It’s all about practicing and finding what works for you.
I recommend putting makeup on first not just because the eyeliner hides the gap, but also because that way if you’re short on time, you still have the rest of your makeup on. Not that I suggest doing false lashes when you’re running late, but sometimes the lashes don’t cooperate and you gotta cut your losses. Just gently remove the lashes, re-apply eyeliner, and you’re good to go.
I love the tip about counting to 50! I get impatient and slap them on too sonn, which spells disaster!
I am printing your step by step list for my next venture into falsies!
Thank you so much!
I hope these tips help you too! The instructions on the package make it seem so simple, I had convinced myself that I was just hopeless with false lashes. Well, then I found out it’s not just me–lashes do require some simple additional steps to make it work :P
I need each and every one of these tips for the lashes I’m about to purchase (I would be clueless about curling the band). You’ve been a busy diva–great job!
You can do it! :) I’d heard about curling the band before, but just hadn’t curled them enough. You want the band to be REALLY REALLY curved.
Oh, I so wish I’d had these tips when I was trying out my Arden lashes! I think these would have had a much better time applying and have gotten better wear out of them! I’m pinning this for future use, thanks @lipglossandspandex!
Great tips @lipglossandspandex! 50 seconds seems so long when you’re sitting there waiting to put your lashes on, doesn’t it? But it really does create a perfectly tacky surface that grips like a champ.
I was pretty amazed when the MA trimmed the lashes from the outer corner rather than the inner. You’d think you’d want to keep all that fabulous flair at the end. But I guess too much flair can look too drag-y and you get a more natural look trimming from the inside.
So much good information and helpful tips here @lipglossandspandex – thanks! Applying false lashes is an art, but with these tips most anyone can do it – and the effort is always worth it. I love the look of a nice pair of falsies – so dramatic and they really draw attention to the eyes.
I think the hold for 50 seconds rule is fab and kind of reminds you to take the whole process slowly. Spending just a few minutes and taking your time to perfect the application is key. It’s when I rush that it leads to problems.
love it!