Fake eyelashes can be a girl’s best friend. They add a little extra something to any makeup routine, and make you feel as though your look is on par with beauty gurus. Honestly, if I could, I would wear falsies every single day.
Besides the fear of being seen as more “extra” than I already am, there are a few catches that stop my lash dreams from becoming a reality. The first is that they’re expensive. For some of the popular pairs you see on celebrities and Youtubers, you need to be earning a Kylie Jenner-sized salary. The second reason is that they don’t last forever. While they may look stunning the first few times you wear them, soon they start looking worse than the makeup that you wake up with after a night out.
Luckily, there are ways to ensure that your lashes stay beautiful and selfie-worthy for a long enough of amount of time that you don’t feel bad spending your hard earned money on them.
1. Check to see how long the lashes are supposed to last
Just like makeup, not all lashes are created equally. Trust me when I say that there is a significant difference in the quality of lashes that is usually correlated with the price. Theres a good chance that the lashes you get at the dollar store are going to behave like they’re only worth a dollar, meaning they should only be worn once. Quality is a huge part of the cost, so pay the price for lashes that last you through a few wears.
Here’s a quick breakdown of typical lash timelines:
Synthetic lashes: 3 - 8 wears
Animal (like mink!) lashes: 20 - 30 wears
Of course, these numbers depend not only on the quality and cost, but how you treat them… so listen up!
2. Lay low on the glue
Personally, I find that an excessive amount of glue not only makes lashes harder to put on, but harder to take off and clean. If you mess up during application and overuse the glue, wait for the glue to dry on the lashes completely, and then clean them so that you don’t experience any build up (trust me, its visible!). When it comes time for you to take off your lashes, the more glue you have, the harder it will be to remove them, meaning that you run a higher risk of tearing the lashes when using excessive amounts of force.
My favorite lash glue is the Duo Eyelash Adhesive ($9 at Sephora). The clear formula is perfect for an everyday look, while the black one is great to give the added effect of eyeliner, and a darker, bolder eye. No mess or damaged lashes here!
3. Use tweezers or a lash applicator
I prefer to use a lash applicator, such as this one from the Sephora Collection ($12 at Sephora). This is simply a personal preference because I like to keep the tweezers I use on my brows away from eyelash glue. Use your applicator or tweezers to gently hold the lashes, and then place them along your lash line. Wait until the glue has dried completely before removing them. The main reason behind this is that it takes your hands out the the equation. If you’re anything like me, lashes are one of the last steps in my makeup routine, meaning that my hands have already been touching products like foundation, concealer and powder. By using an applicator, I don’t run the risk of dirtying my lashes with other products, or my body’s natural oils.
4. Avoid mascara
A common piece of advice from other blogs is to avoid mascara. I typically agree that adding mascara to your lashes only creates additional buildup and will decrease the wear time of your new pair. However, I also think that it's also important to note that sometimes this tip simply isn’t possible.
After I’ve worn some of my lashes quite a few times, I find that I’m unable to get them to fit perfectly to my lash line. This small amount of separation is sometimes noticeable enough for me to see the difference between my fake lashes and my real ones. Thus, a bit of mascara is necessary in order to blend the two together. If you are in this situation, I would recommend that you don’t use an excessive amount of mascara, only work on the lash part that needs to be fixed.
5. Clean your lashes immediately after use
I can be the first one to admit that this step is sometimes harder for me to complete than anything else. After a night out, the last thing that I want to do is sit down and meticulously clean my lashes. For a lazy-girl alternative, you can soak your lashes in makeup remover, however, this technique does waste a lot of remover and shouldn’t be done regularly. My preferred method is to first gently (with the tweezers!) remove any of the larger bits of glue from the lash band. Then, using a Q-tip soaked in makeup remover, I rub the lash band, and any part of the lash that may have gotten dirty. Clean, simple and worth it!
6. Put them away
Some pricier brands sell their lashes in hard containers that are reusable, and this is my preferred way to store the lashes I buy. A great tip if you keep your lashes in the original containers is to mark directly onto the packaging how many times you have worn the pair. That way you can track to see if they are living up to the company’s suggested number of wears. If they’re not, it could be time for you to reevaluate whether the lashes are actually as good as you thought they were, or if there's something wrong with the way you're caring for them.
If you choose not to keep the lashes in their original packaging, keep them all in one place with a lash organizer, like this one ($18 at House of Lashes).
7. Choose your lashes carefully
I am a huge false lash fan, with a ton of experience wearing and using them. I’ve come across a lot of real duds, and have had some horror stories to tell because of them. Trust me, you don’t want to have a faulty lash fall off during the middle of a date! Here are some of my favorite lashes that have lasted me through thick and thin (with proper maintenance, of course) and that always look great.
Iconic by House of Lashes ($12 at House of Lashes)
The thick band on these lashes makes application easy even for beginners. These were one of the first pairs of falsies that I was able to put perfectly on during the first try.
Sasha by Huda Beauty ($20 at Sephora)
You can’t go wrong with any of the lash styles designed by beauty influencer Huda Kattan.
Eye Da Hoe Premium 3D Faux Mink Lashes by Violet Voss ($10 at Violet Voss)
Not going to lie, I first picked up these lashes because of the punny name, however, they have quickly become one the best pairs in my collection!
Miami by Lilly Lashes ($29.99 at Lilly Lashes)
This style is a favorite among celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian!
Bella 3d Mink by Nubounsom ($34.99 at Nubounsom)
Fair warning, these lashes are big, bold and perfect for making a statement.
Vespertine by Unicorn Lashes ($29.82 at Unicorn Lashes)
These lashes are my current obsession, and absolute favorite go to. They have the power of making even the most simplistic of makeup looks seem amazing. Honestly - they’re my cheat card for looking like I know anything about makeup!