Not all lashes are created equal -- and neither are their false counterparts. To get the right fit, hold the lash strip against your upper lashline. It should start about a quarter-inch in from the inner corner of your eye, but not any wider. (If you go wider, your eyes will look like they're droopy.) Snip any excess off the outer corner with small scissors. (Note: Never snip from the inner corner. That area is usually tapered to blend with your natural lashes.)
Image via Imaxtree
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Golden lash glue rule: Be patient
Always wave your lashes in the air after applying lash glue to give the strip a little tackiness before applying. (I like to use Duo Eyelash Adhesive, $8.) Since lash glue takes about a minute or two to dry (don't worry, it will turn from white to clear), you have that time in which to set the lashes correctly on your lid. Use your tweezers or application tool to tap them gently from above and below if you need to tilt them uniformly before the glue dries.
"To ensure the hairs look wispy and light like natural lashes," says Babaian, "do not apply mascara on top of false lashes." If you look in the mirror and think your false lashes are crying out for a coat of mascara, go for a heavier or thicker set of lashes next time instead.
Bonus: Keeping false lashes makeup free helps them last for multiple uses.
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Curl your lashes afterward
Once the glue has dried, use a lash curler to fuse your false lashes and your natural ones together. This helps blend them so you don't see two sets of lashes -- "a dead giveaway that you're wearing falsies," says Babaian. (Try Maybelline Eye Lash Curler, $4.99.)
If you tend to be less than neat with your glue, it can end up all over the place -- including your cute outfit. For easy removal, it's best to wipe off what you can, then soak the rest of the area with an adhesive remover like Goo Gone (check fabric directions first). Wait until the stain breaks up, wipe with a damp cloth, then wash the area with laundry soap and water. If the stain remains, get to a dry cleaner as soon as possible.
Now that you know your way around a set of falsies, let's take a look at some of the ones we like best.
Do you despise Kim Kardashian -- but secretly find yourself coveting her eyelashes? (And hating yourself for it?) Join the club. There's something undeniably alluring about long, lush, come hither eyelashes that leaves those of us who have short, stubby ones feeling a whole lot less than.
Of course, we live in exciting times -- times that have us putting botulism in our wrinkles, silicone in our breasts and, yes, even realistic-looking false eyelashes on our lids. Today's eyelash options are pretty far-reaching. You can get different sorts of extensions (if the $300+ price tag doesn't scare you off), or spend a few extra minutes each morning applying coat-after-coat of your mascara du jour. Or, you can become a master false eyelash applier, MFEA for short, and flaunt your long lashes with the greatest of ease.
Now, we're not talking those spiderific Nicki Minaj style falsies; those throwbacks to the 1960s are so over. These days there are myriad real looking options to chose from. To prove this and to help you achieve the gorgeous, glamorous look we all crave, we've compiled a list of the best false lashes and talked to pro makeup artists to get the techniques that help make them look more believable. Go ahead, try them on for size and you'll never have to covet anything Kardashian again!
