How To Avoid Embarrassment With False Eyelashes

With most models, celebrities, Michelle Obama (and even mascara ad models) wearing them on a regular basis, I bet you've been tempted (or have already tried) to apply your own false eyelashes.

I'd love to say: "Just don't do it.  Please don't 'DIY' your false lashes."  But in the true spirit of Kiwi independence, here are my top tips for avoiding the pitfalls of self-applied false eyelashes.  Seriously, get it wrong and you can ruin your whole look.  Badly applied false lashes can embarrass, distract and get you remembered for the wrong reasons.

Here are two tricks most makeup artists know but everyday women don't, about applying false eyelashes:

Tip #1: Trim the lashes.  Most bought lashes are too long for anyone's eyes.  Hold the strip lashes up to your eye.  Try to sit them on top of your natural lashes and check how far they extend past the outer corners.  It may just be a millimetre or two (often 5), but cut the excess length off from the OUTER corner (The inner lashes are usually shorter and you want to keep these).  If you find you've trimmed them too much, just make sure you place them toward the outer edge of your eyes - it's not so important to have longer/fuller lashes toward the inner corners.

Tip #2:  Secure the corners with a little extra glue.  Apply only a thin line of glue along the lashes, but add a little more at each end. It makes me cringe when I see photos of women at up-scale parties who look amazing apart from the fact their lashes have peeled from the inner corners.  This happens easily because the eye is curved and the lashes haven't been glued enough to make them curve with the eye.

Other problems you might encounter include:

• The glue that came with the bought lashes being too runny to be useful
• The glue taking a loooong time to become tacky (which is when you want to apply the lashes)
• Discovering the new glue tube is empty/dried up - happens more than you'd think!
• Using too much glue or sticking your upper and lower lashes together, i.e. gluing an eye shut
• Using the wrong type of glue (Latex glue is best here but there are other types of lash glue available. The wrong kind can sting while drying and be difficult to remove)
• The glue not drying clear or being visible on your lashes once dried
• The band of the lashes being too thick to shape to your eye, and pulling away once glued. 

Don't use your next night out as an opportunity to try applying your own false lashes.  Practice before the occasion, preferably on a bare face so if something goes wrong you don't ruin your makeup.  You can re-use the same strip lashes if you clean off the glue with makeup remover after your practice. 

If that fails, call in a professional.  I simply charge $15 to apply false lashes of any style with a makeup booking - and that includes the lashes too, whether they're bold, subtle, spiky, glittered, or even with foil inserts.  See if you can spot where I've used false eyelashes in my makeup portfolio.