As a professional makeup artist, almost all makeups that I apply to women involve the use of false eyelashes.  Whenever I work with a client who has never worn fake lashes, I am usually met with the same questions and concerns.  Many people are intimidated by the thought of wearing fake lashes and don’t try it because they think the application process is much more difficult than it really is.  I am going to simplify the process for you.  Here is your step-by-step guide that will show you How To Easily Apply False Eyelashes Like A Pro.

Warnings:

Important:  Please do NOT follow the advice and instructions on how to apply fake lashes found on YouTube or other sites.  Most of the information is just plain wrong and even dangerous.  Your eyes are nothing to mess with and proper procedures must be followed to avoid contamination and infections.  I have seen more wrong and bad advice related to false eyelashes than any other makeup or beauty item.  If you care about your eyes, PLEASE heed my warnings.

• If you have never worn false eyelashes before, please be advised that some lash adhesives contain latex. If you have a latex allergy, make sure you buy only latex-free glue.  (You can message me and I’ll recommend some good brands for you.)
• If you are sensitive to dyes, buy the white or clear adhesive and not the black. I use the white because of my hypersensitivity.

Step-By-Step Instructions On How to  Easily Apply False Eyelashes Like A Pro:

These application tips, tricks and instructions are for removable strip upper lashes, not eyelash extensions or individual lashes.

• Sterilize your hands before beginning the eyelash application.  Eye infections are not only ugly, but extremely dangerous.  Your eyes are precious and priceless, so take caution when applying eye makeup.
• Begin by curling your natural lashes with an eyelash curler.  (If you heat the curler slightly with a blow dryer it will work even better but be careful and don’t get it too hot.)
• Keep your eyelash curler clean, sterilized, and replace the rubber strip every few months.
• Apply all of your other eye makeup first–primer, eye shadows, eyeliner, and apply mascara to your lower lashes only.
• If you apply the false lashes before your other eye makeup, you’re likely to get eye shadow on them and then you may knock them off when trying to clean the fallout.
• If you are a first-time user, synthetic lashes are stiffer than natural human-hair lashes and they will be easier for you to practice with, but they won’t look as natural. A cheap, thick, dramatic synthetic pair is the best thing to practice with until you get the hang of it.
• Remove the eyelash from the tray from the outer corner moving inward.
• Measure the eyelash to see if it is too wide for the width of your eye and needs to be trimmed.
• If it needs to be trimmed, trim from the outer edge, not the inner edge.  (The outer edge will be closer to your temple and the inner edge will be closer to your nose.)
• If the lashes need to be trimmed, sterilize the scissors first that you are going to use.  (I like to use a very small pair of cuticle or embroidery scissors that I keep sterilized and only use for lashes.)  If you don’t have any scissors, you can sterilize some nail clippers.
• Bend the eyelash to match the curvature of your eye. (Move them back and forth like a Slinky to get them to bend.)  Eliminating this step is what gets most people in trouble and the lashes don’t look right or the ends pop up because they are too straight.
• If the lashes are synthetic, feel stiff and won’t bend to match your eye shape, place them back onto the tray and gently heat them with a hair dryer on low heat for about 30 seconds.  This will make them much more flexible.
• Apply glue with a sterile toothpick, not from the tube.
• If you apply glue from the tube, you will get too much glue on the eyelash.
• Use as little glue as possible.
• Let the glue dry for about 15-30 seconds before applying. (depends upon brand and thickness)
• Don’t blow on the lash to dry it; your breath contains bacteria.
• It is easier if you look down in a mirror and place the false lashes on your eyelid in a downward motion rather than coming straight in to your eyelid.
• Apply the lash from the inner corner where your lashes begin to the outer corner.
• Don’t get the lashes too close to your tear ducts.
• Place the false lashes on the edge of the eyelid next to your natural lashes.
• Don’t glue the fake lashes onto your natural lashes.  Doing so may pull out some of your own natural lashes when you remove the false lashes and you want to avoid that at all costs.
• If your eyes are downturned, you can place the outer edge of the lash just above your natural lash line to give the eyes more of an upturned look.
• After application gently press the lash onto the skin to secure the adhesion.
• You can sterilize the blunt end of a pair of tweezers to press the lashes to your eyelid.
• If you don’t have any tweezers, you can use the stick of a clean cotton swab to press the false lashes to your lid.  Make sure to remove the cotton ball at the end first or you will end up with cotton fibers stuck to your lashes. (That won’t look or feel good.)
• Blend your lashes into your own with a dry spoolie or a mascara made for false lashes. (I like Ardell Lash Magic and I wrote an in-depth review of it if you want to learn more.)
• Preferably, don’t use regular mascara on your false eyelashes.
• If you do use regular mascara on your false lashes, make sure it is a water-based formula.
• If you use waterproof mascara on your false lashes they will only be good for one use.
• Once the lashes are on and the glue has dried, you may need to touch up your eyeliner.
• When it is time to remove them, carefully lift up the outer edge and slowly peel them off in the direction from your temple to your nose.
• Carefully remove the old adhesive with tweezers.
• Store them on the tray and in the package that they came in for re-use.
• When it is time to reuse the lashes, make sure there is no residue of old adhesive before applying new adhesive.
• You can reuse a pair of lashes 10-20 times.  The thinner and more natural the lash, the more delicate they are.  A thick heavy lash is likely to last longer than a light delicate lash.  A synthetic lash is likely to last longer than a human-hair lash but a synthetic lash will not look as natural.

If you have never tried false eyelashes and don’t wear a lot of makeup, begin with a natural look and don’t get frustrated.  It takes a few tries to get the routine down.  I can now apply them start to finish in about a minute each.

I hope you found these step-by-step instructions on How to  Easily Apply False Eyelashes Like A Pro helpful.  If you are still having trouble, please message me.

HELP:  For help on selecting the right lashes, more tips and tricks, and a review on my favorite brand of false eyelashes, please see my post about Kiss False Eyelashes.

Give it a try and go get glamorous!