How To Apply False Lashes

Who doesn't love false lashes?  They can amp up any look and can draw attention to your eyes.  False lashes also come in many different styles with varying lengths and thicknesses for endless possibilities. Because there are so many options available, choosing the right lash for you can be a daunting and overwhelming task.  Keep in mind that we all have different eye shapes, and not all types of lashes look good on all shapes.  If you browse through the false lash section at Walmart, you'll find some lashes that are longer at the outer corners and shorter on the inner corner (my favorite), lashes that are longer in the middle and shorter on both ends, and some with the same length throughout (best for girls with round, Katy Perry-like eyes).  If you've never used false lashes and don't know where to start, I would recommend getting one of each kind and trying them all to see which one you like best.  My favorite brands are Ardell and Salon Perfect (a cheaper Walmart version).

Once you get the hang of it, applying false lashes is easy, but it is hard in the beginning, so don't get frustrated!  Practice makes perfect.  Also, it is a good idea to practice when you're not in a hurry and don't have anywhere to go.  You don't want to be trying this out for the first time right before a big date or special event!

Now that you have your lashes, you will also need a pair of tweezers (any cheap kind is fine), lash glue, mascara, and some sort of black eyeliner.  Glue comes in two variations: one that dries clear and one that dries dark.  I prefer the dark.  Some come in squeeze tubes, but I like the Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive because it has a brush that allows you to easily paint the glue onto the lash band.  The lashes pictured here are the Salon Perfect Perfectly Natural 53s, found at Walmart.  I love these because they're one of the most natural looking ones I've seen, and they don't make you look like you're wearing falsies--they just make you look like you have naturally amazing lashes.   If you want a slightly more glamorous lash, go with the Ardell 120 Demis.  I used these on my wedding day.

Prep:  Apply your liner (I used L'Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Liquid Liner) and one coat of black mascara (Maybelline The Falsies).  The liner is absolutely necessary--it helps to hide the lash band.  The mascara helps to blend your real lashes with the false ones.  You can also do mascara after your false lashes.

*I would like to apologize in advance for the quality of some of these pictures.  I did the best with what I have.  I need a setup with better lighting and an HD camera.

Step 1:
Gently remove one lash from its packaging, and grab it in the middle with your tweezers.

Step 2:
Apply a thin layer of the lash glue to the band only (try not to get it on the actual lashes) with the most product going on both ends of the lashes.  They shouldn't detach from your skin throughout the day, but if they do, they would lift at one of the ends.  This glue is black but looks blue in my weird lighting!  Clearly, I need a better setup.

Step 3:
Wait 45 seconds before applying the lash to your eye in order to let the glue get a bit tacky.  If you try to put it on too soon, it'll just fall off.

Step 4:
Ok, the tricky part begins.  What you want to do here is bring the lash up to your eye with the tweezers and line the outer edge of the lash with the outermost part of your eye.  Don't worry about the inner part--if the falsies don't cover your whole lashline, just make sure they line up with the outer part.  Now, lay the lash down right on top of your lash line in the center of your eye.  Try to get the lash as far down as you possibly can!  Having the lash band too far up is a dead giveaway that you're wearing falsies. 

Step 5:
Now that you've got the lash attached to the center part of your eye, grab the outer part of the lash with your tweezers and do the same thing--get it down as close as you can to your lashline, and once the glue is in tact with your skin in the right place, keep a little pressure on it for a few seconds to make sure it really adheres, then release the tweezers.

Step 6:
Grab the inner corner of your lash and do the same thing as you did in step 5.

Step 7:
If the lash isn't exactly where you want it, you have a little time to fix it.  Once they're in the right place, press down on the band to make sure every part of it is in tact with skin.

Step 8:
Blink onto your finger to help the lashes dry in a nice, upward position.

Step 9:
The glue will take a few minutes to dry, so leave the lashes alone for a few minutes as you finish up your makeup.  When you're done, look to see if any glue is visible.  If so, go over the band with your eyeliner to hide it.  You can use any eyeliner, but liquid liner seems to work best for this step, even if you used a different kind to prep.  You can also add more mascara if it looks like your real lashes aren't completely blended with the false ones or if you just want a little extra oomph.

And... you're done!

Lashes are easy to remove.  Usually, you can just lift up on the outer corner and peel them right off.  If that freaks you out, or if you're having a hard time, put some eye makeup remover on a Q-tip and gently run it along the lash band.  It should come right off.  You can use one pair of falsies multiple times, so don't throw them away when you're done.  Just try to peel as much of the glue off as possible, and store them in the original container.

Feel free to leave any comments or questions below.  Thanks for reading, and good luck!