False Eyelashes - How Hard Is It?

[Carolyn Marie]

When I first started going out, I bought and tried to use mascara. I quickly discovered an important fact:

In order to use mascara, you have to have eyelashes to put it on. Shocking, I know. Unfortunately, my original equipment eyelashes are microscopic.

So I've been thinking about false eyelashes, but I am a bit daunted by the thought that they are really hard to apply. I've seen those metal poker-looking things that look like torture devices.

So, thou experienced and knowledgeable ladies, what's the 4-1-1 on this? Can I do it, how much will it cost, what are good brands, and do I need to buy the poker thingy?

I keep thinking about what my mother would say; "You'll poke your eye out!!"

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Jenny C]

Hi Carolyn Mary,

I'm not an expert... looking forward for the advice's of others...

The ones I know are too obvious... It's like : too much... for a special evening it could do, but usually it shows... For during day, I'm not sure it is a good idea... it takes practice... But i'm not an expert... Mine are miles long already...

But lot's of women have very small ones... with a pencil, being very close to the eyelid, you can do miracles... you put a thinner line starting at the middle of the eye and when you get to the side, make it a little more coarser (larger)...

After applying the mascara (with a very small and repetitive movement from right to the left), push on your lashes on the corner of them with a finger... It will give them a nice curve... and then do it again...

Lancome makes a mascara that is suppose to have a special product in it to increase the length of your lashes... I've used it for a few months... I think it worked... but difficult to evaluate... but it is quite expensive...

My 2 cents...

Love,

Jenny

[Guest Jenny C]

Hey Carolyn Marie !!!

I've seen a girl today and her false eyelashes were incredible !!! The only way I could know they were false is that they were about 1 inch long... (!!!)

So it's possible to do it well... You have to look more into it ;-)

Love,

Jenny

[JJ]

Carolyn why didn't you ever mention this to me? I have allergies in my eyes and my ophthalmologist ordered me to start wearing false eyelashes when I was 16.! I was waking up and having to soak my eyes to get them open because the allergies were causing them to seal shut overnight, Worked too-so I wore them till a year ago. That's almost 50 years experience.

Never use those metal things or applicators. They lack the sensitivity of fingers. Your best bet is to go to a salon and have permanent-really semi-permanent -lashes applied. They last a long time and look great without the pitfalls of the glue on daily ones. There are DIY kits for the more permanent but they really don't work well, take a great deal of skill, and pose a real risk of getting a caustic glue in your eyes. If they accidentally clump and you have to remove them your own will also come with them and the resulting look is not good.

I never could do the salon one because of the eye allergies. I'm not allergic to the lashes or anything but it means I rub my eyes a lot -too much stress and they do come off. Also I am a picker and pick at things like that so I'd soon get distracted and find a pile of lashes on my desk and naked eyes. I do know many women who have done salon lashes and were happy with them for years.

Putting on the glue on yourself is an art and takes lots of practice. First thing is go to Wally World or a place like that and get a half dozen pair because you'll ruin some learning and it is stressful if it's your only pair. The wispy look best on everyone except for someone going to a formal party in a dark room. Or a performer. The glue is important and the ones in the package are almost always either old or out of date. Worth going to Sally's or a beauty supply and getting a tube. Very important-Be sure to get the surgical adhesive kind.

I used a toothpick then to put the glue on and run that along the band. I started with the corner of my eye putting the lashes as far down against the base of my lashes as possible. If there is a gap it will come lose so you can either pull it lose to the gap and use a toothpick to reapply glue or pull it off and gently take the old glue off. (It peels easily but be gentle or the lashes separate on the band etc) If there is glue on your lid or lashes gently peel it there too. When wearing them I always apply over liner because it disguises the band but in learning it will be easier to skip it at first.

Hold the lash in place a minute when you do get it. The glue needs to set. If you don't hold it long enough you can end up with a lash on your eyebrow. Not a good look. I've even gone out that way from being in a hurry. Hilarious to my friends but I'd rather make them laugh with me than at me.

If those lashes get wet -like it's a hot day or you are crying or it rains-they are going to start coming off. They have a tendency to peel first at the corners so I always carried a magnifying compact mirror and a tube of glue for quick fixes. You can use the pinky nail in a pinch to apply the glue.

When you take them off always very gently peel the glue from them. Otherwise they look weird and don't stick properly the next day. There are waterproof glues and instantly sticky glues. They both can leave you with eyelids that stick together when you blink. And they don't come off without heavy scrubbing. I hate them and would advise avoiding those glues. BTW the white glue dries clear and I'd recommend that-especially for a beginner.

They are a pain to learn to apply and to maintain but they do make your eyes pop like nothing else. As I said my recommendation is the ones applied in the salon. Worth a try anyway. Any more questions? Just ask and I'll be happy to do my best to help.

Hugs

Johnny

[VickySGV]

Johnny mentioned Sally Beauty supply, they do have a pack of about 12 sets of lashes that is inexpensive. For training purposes, and not outdoor wear, do get a couple sets of the Drag Queen specials (3/4" to 1" long) to learn about the glueing technique on the eyes. Do use a mangnifying mirror if you have one. (Bed, Bath, Beyond for $35.00 for a lighted one, or $15 for an un lighted). Put the cap SECURELY on the tube of glue after you dispense it.

You may have to shorten the lashes, do it from the nose side edge of the lash.

[Guest Donna Jean]

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When I first started transition back in Ohio......I bought some "Fake Eyelashes".....

The first time I wore them....I went in the Ladies room and one of them was loose on one side and was hanging down crooked...

I tried to apply the glue junk but made a total mess.....

I figured it wasn't worth the mess/trouble and that night I left them out on the coffee table....

That night, the cats thought they were "spiders" and killed them....

I never looked back!

Dee Jay