Beauty How To: Applying Strip False Eyelashes

One of my most favorite things to do is to wear false eyelashes.  Yes, I am a drama queen (only on the outside, where it is ok).  The most important thing to know about strip eyelash application is that you *ain’t* gonna get it right the first time.  If you keep practicing, not only will they go on quickly, they will stay on better. 

False Eyelash Strip Application:

1. Remove your lashes from their holder, and wrap them around a pencil, and let them sit there til you need them.  This will give them more of a bend and will help keep them from popping off at the ends of your eye.

2.  Prepare your skin as you normally would, and apply your foundation, blush, and eye shadow.

3. Apply a fairly heavy coat of eyeliner, make sure to get it right on the base of your lashes, and smudge it well. This will help cover the false eyelash line, and make it blend with your own. You can put one coat of mascara on if you wish, but I recommend that you wait until the end to apply mascara if you are not well practiced at applying false eyelashes.

4. Put a drop of eyelash adhesive (Shu Uemura’s is great, and inexpensive) on your finger, pick up one of the eyelash strips, and lightly drag it through the drop of adhesive on your finger, then wipe the adhesive off of your finger with a tissue (so you don’t get it into your eyes!).   Make sure you have adhesive on both ends of the lash strip.

5. Starting at the outer corner of your eye, lay the strip as close as you can get to your natural lash line, being very careful not to get it tangled up in your natural lashes, and let it dry for a few minutes. You can press carefully on the ends of the strip (at the same time) to get better adhesion across the whole strip. Also, close your eye and gently push the lashes so that they are as in line with your natural lashes as possible.  I use my fingers for this, because I just know that I will poke the heck out of my eyeball with a pair of tweezers, and a big wound on your eyeball is NOT pretty.  Shu Uemura also has a tool for eyelash application that you can check out – I’ve not tried it yet, but probably will before long.

6. With any luck at all, your false eyelash line is within that nice smudged eyeliner line, and you have got it goin’ on now. If not, then you have to start over. We do not want TWO visible lash lines. Either keep practicing until you can get the strip within the eyeliner, or, make your eyeliner a little thicker. We are indeed going for drama here, so don’t be shy about wearing pretty thick eyeliner.

7.  Give the glue 5 good minutes to dry, then to blend the whole kit and kaboodle together, use an eyelash curler and a coat or two of mascara. Be sure that your eyelash adhesive is nice and dry before doing this, or you will ruin the whole thing! You may find you need to shorten the length of your strip eyelashes (either the strip itself, or the actual length of the individual lashes)- do NOT do this while they are on your eye! Either remove them and snip them, or just wait until the next time and do it before you start.

There are so many great lashes on the market these days.  I have a particular fondness for Shu Uemura’s Tokyo Lash Bar, and MAC, .  But quite honestly, the drugstore brands are awesome too.  And you won’t find any greater drama for your money.