How To Apply Fake Eyelashes ...

A Cautionary Tale? Call it what you like, but when you start applying fake eyelashes, it's exceptionally important to be 'very careful' indeed. I learnt the 'hard way', so please don't make the same mistake as I did trying to get long beautiful fake eyelashes to stay on.

The first time I tried was Halloween in 2004, when I was going as Barbie. I bought some cheap ones and accidentally glued my eye shut! It was rather horrific and made me not want to try fake lashes again anytime soon, having wished that I had learnt how to apply fake eyelashes properly.

My first mistake, was that I tried applying them for the first time the morning I needed to wear my 'falsies'. I was in high school and had to ride the bus to school back then, and I didn't have time to peel my eyes open several times until I got it right. Worst of all, after a try or two the fake eyelashes were ruined and I ended up giving up.

My costume turned out fine, but if I had bought more than one pair of them and put some time into learning how to use them, I might have been able to go to school with a slightly more complete costume. At the very least, I didn't spend too much money on them. If I had purchased them at the mall, instead of a local convenience store, I might have wasted serious money on my first failed fake eyelashes experiment.

Some people prefer to cut the fake eyelashes into sections (or buy the type that come in pieces rather than one long strand), so they will only have to apply a bit at a time, rather than trying to get a long string of wet glue to line up on their eyelids. The one drawback to separated eyelashes is that you will often get more intense and fuller results from applying the entire strand at once.

If you buy a few sets of fake eyelashes from a cheap convenience store, you can experiment and decide what works best for you. Most come with some kind of adhesive or glue to help you attach them. When attaching any adhesive to your skin, the skin must be clean and dry. Even the oils from an oil-based makeup remover can thwart your mission, so proceed with caution.

Once your skin is ready, and you have your glue and lashes, it's a good idea to double check that the fake eyelashes are the length you want them. If not, trim them BEFORE you attach them to your face (simple scissors will do) and make sure to trim them a bit unevenly. Fake eyelashes do not naturally grow in a straight, blunt line. If you bought multiple pairs of them, as recommended earlier, you'll be in no trouble if you make mistakes on the first pair.

Once you get a pair ready to go, be very careful with the glue to avoid making the mistake I did. I was young and naive and applied too much adhesive and probably applied a bit to my eyelid. Both of these are bad ideas. The glue should only be placed on the fake eyelashes themselves, and only the smallest amount should be used. A toothpick covered with a paper towel or a small Q-tip should be able to carry as much glue as you'd need. Place a fine layer of glue on the fake eyelashes and start applying them at the inside corner of your eye first.

The application process should be a slow one. Touch the lash to your skin and hold it for a few moments before moving on to the next piece. This will ensure that the fake eyelashes stay where they need to be, and don't slide around and glue themselves where you don't want them. Once the eyelashes are on, they can be curled with an eyelash curler or colored with mascara or liquid liner. I recommend not using fake eyelashes with mascara, because it can create a rather fake and trashy look. With any eyelash makeup, use just enough that the lash matches and looks natural with yours and be careful to avoid clumping.

To remove the fake eyelashes, BE GENTLE. I cannot stress this enough. The skin on your eyelids is delicate, but this is an easy fact to forget if you are in a hurry. Use eye makeup remover to help soften and ease up the glue before you try to pull them off.

Best of luck.

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Fake Eyelashes