Once you learn how to put on fake eyelashes, it's hard to go back to the basic mascara look. Luckily, applying them is easier than you think (and you won't have to stand in front of the mirror for 10 hours). Susan Sterling, international makeup artist for Chanel, explains how to do it -- even if you're a total spaz.
SUBTLE
If you aren't psyched to wear a full set, start with a few individual lashes. They'll look thicker and longer, but in a natural way.
Lashes stick better to clean lids, so first wash your eye area with oil-free makeup remover. Put on a coat of mascara and use your eyelash curler so your natural lashes will blend in with the fake ones -- which are long and curly. Before you do any gluing, have your remover close by. Then squeeze a small blob of glue onto the side of your hand. Grab one lash with a slanted tweezer and lightly dip the end into the glue. Next, stick the tacky tip of the hair at the base of your lash line, between two of your own lashes. You want the fakes to look as real as possible, so attach them at the same angle as your own lashes, and at the outer corner of your eyes where lashes tend to be longer. Hold each lash in place for a few seconds daydream about how gorgeous you are, and let the glue set. Three of four lashes on each eye will make a subtle difference.
Once you've had enough of your new lashes (which should be before they start to look mangy), resist the urge to pluck them off, because you could pull out one of your own lashes or a chunk of skin. Instead, soak a cotton pad with lash-glue remover and dab your lid until the glue gets soft and the lash slips off.
DRAMATIC
Strips of fake lashes look most convincing when they are similar in length and fullness to your own. Peel them off the package with your tweezer and trim the band to fit the width of your eye. Dip a skinny eyeliner brush in lash glue and lightly paint the back of the strip. The thin coat of glue dries in about three minutes, so speed it up or the lash won't stick. Starting at the outer corner of your eye, apply the last close to your lash line and press down across your eye to the inner corner. (For a tamer version: Cut one full lash band in half and use it on the outer corners of each lid.)
Your fake lashes should stay on for about a day, but can slide off sooner if your skin is oily. Follow the same method as the single lashes to remove them yourself. Some are reusable, so check the box before you chuck them.
OVER THE TOP
Once you've mastered the application of a single strip, use your new skills to experiment with the craziest lashes you can find. Layer multiple sets of black lashes for a 60's mod style, or try a wacky green version. (We covered a row of fake black lashes with half a strip of neon green.) Our best advice when you double up: Let the first set of lashes dry for four to five minutes before you stick on the second -- wet lashes tend to pop off when you blink, which is not so pretty.
TOOLS
TWEEZER: Fake lashes are too delicate to apply with your fingers. Instead, use slant-tipped tweezers to grip the lash and move it from the box to your lids. Try: Tweezerman Slant Tweezers, $18, or LaCrosse Precise Tweeze, $6.
FAKE LASHES: Find them at drugstores and beauty supply stores. Lashes we love: Individual lashes: Andrea Perma-Lash Natural, $3; Ardell Duralash, $4: and FACE Stockholm Eyelashes, $6. Full sets: Lashes that com on a clear strip lend in better than the ones attached to a black band. Try: Fake-it Eyelash Kits, $3; Maybelline Expert Eyes, $7; and Mattese Eyelashes, $4. Crazy Lashes: Wet 'n' Wild Fantasy Makers Self-Adhesive Eyelashes, $2, and Manic Panic Glam Lashes $7.
ADHESIVE: Fake lashes need special glue. Regular adhesive in a clear or white formula (it dries clear) is easier to remove than the waterproof kind. But read the box. Some lashes come already sticky and others have a tube of glue in the pack. Try: Ardelll LashTite Adhesive, $2, or DUO Lash Adhesive, $5.
FINE-TIPPED EYELINER BRUSH: Use the thin tip to paint glue on your lashes, and the back of the brush to tap them in place. Clean the brush, then use it to apply eyeliner to your top lid -- the perfect fix if there's a gap between your fake lash and your lash line.
EYELASH CURLER: Curled lashes make your eyes look bigger. Our favorites: Maybelline Expert Eyes Eyelash Curler, $5; Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $13; and Revlon Extra Curl Curler, $6.
EYELASH GLUE REMOVER: It's a must. If you sleep with lash glue on, it can make your real lashes fall out. Try: Ardell Lash Remover, $4.
