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Lash Lifesavers: How To Get Perfect Lashes And Apply Mascara Like A Pro

by — 2015-11-24 in Beauty Care
This is your guide to perfect lashes, with everything you need to know - including the bad habits you need to stop (picking out loose eyelashes, anyone?), good habits to pick up, and how to apply mascara like a pro.

Everyone wants a beautiful set of long, healthy eyelashes, but some of us are less than blessed and are stuck with short, stumpy lashes that are forever falling out. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get stronger lashes, and with a better lash, you won't even need mascara. When you do choose to wear it, it'll adhere much better, and will give you thicker, fuller and much more fluttery-looking lashes — bonus! 

Once you get into the habit of using a select few products, just like you get into the habit of cleansing and toning your face, you'll be surprised at how much healthier your lashes are. In this guide, we share the what to dos and the what not to dos.

Why You Lose Your Lashes

You know how you lose your hair when you wash it, or when you brush it? That's just because your hair goes through a cycle, and it falls out. Your eyelashes are on a much shorter life cycle, but if you're on strong medication such as chemotherapy or steroids, or pull out your eyelashes, they may not grow in as thick or strong. Oh — and another thing. If you ever look at a baby and think, "No fair! They have loads more lashes than I do!" it just looks that way. 
 
We're born with a set number of eyelash follicles, and because babies are so little, it just looks like their lashes are much lusher.
 
Something else that could be causing problems is aggressive cleansers and scrubbing to remove long-wearing mascaras, which makes sense, if you think about it. If you scrub at your eyes for a good few minutes every day with strong cleansers, after wearing mascaras that are specifically formulated to stick to your lashes no matter what. Use gentler mascaras, gentler cleansers and just be much more gentle when you're removing your makeup to prevent lash breakage.
 
On that note, step away from your eyelashes. And if you're pulling them out compulsively, it may be because you have something called trichotillomania. If so, see your doc.

Lash Conditioners

Try to think about your eyelashes in the same way that you think about your hair. They need to be conditioned, and before you style them, you need to prime them with product, in exactly the same way that you use heat defense spray or texturizer on your hair before styling. One way to ensure that your lashes are soft, and not brittle, is to use a conditioner morning and night. 
 
You can buy conditioners in tubes, just like mascara, and you apply them in exactly the same way. 
 
Other people swear by natural products like coconut oil applied with a cotton bud, but you can use whatever you feel most comfortable with. Look for products that contain keratin, if you can, as they will strengthen your lashes during their life cycle, although as soon as you stop using it you'll notice the difference as it doesn't affect your lash follicles in any way.

Sneaky Hacks to Apply Your Mascara Like a Pro

Here, I wanted to share some fast 'n dirty clever tips and tricks for applying your mascara like a true pro. 
  • When you take your mascara wand out of the tube, bend it, so that it sits at a 90 degree angle, carefully. This angle means that it will be so much easier, I promise, to catch all of those tiny hairs on the corners of your eyes.
  • Wiggle the wand at the very base of your lashes, back and forth, to build volume where you need it, then swipe up to the tip. This is how make up artists do it (I was on TV once, I saw it happen!)
  • Brand new mascara is pretty clumpy, so rub it on a kitchen towel before use to stop it from looking clumpy on your lashes.
  • If you want to use waterproof mascara but are worried about it not coming off at the end of the day, layer it with regular mascara. The regular mascara will coat your lashes, like a film, and the waterproof stuff will sit on top of that so it'll come off a lot easier.
  • For a wow-zer finish, hold the brush horizontally, as it builds more volume. For a more natural finish, hold it vertically, and you'll only deposit a small amount of mascara to the lashes.
  • At the end of your tube and don't wanna buy any more mascara yet? Pop it into a cup of warm water.
  • Dust a little translucent powder, or even baby powder, over your lashes (being super careful not to get any in your eyes, obviously), before you apply your mascara. This is like DIY fiber lashes, ladies. They adhere to your lashes and make 'em look thicker and longer, so you've got the lengthening and thickening effects of the mascara and the powder, too. Magic!
  • Got a dot of mascara on your eyelid? Scared about ruining your eyeshadow? Don't worry, we've all been there! All you have to do is wait for it do to dry, completely, then spin a dry cotton bud over the dot. It'll lift right off without ruining your eye color. I got your back, gurl!
  • If you haven't got a masara comb or brush, use a new toothbrush to do the job of de-clumping your lashes instead.
  • The wetness of mascara can make the curl fall out of your eyelashes, as it's a little heavy, so to remedy that you can apply it at the same time as curling your lashes, thus killing to birds with one stone. Curl lashes with one hand - boom - and apply mascara with the other - boom. Oh, and before you use your curler? Heat it up with your hairdryer for extra curl and added hold. 
  • Wrap false lashes around the end of a makeup brush before applying so that they have a little curve; that way, they'll form to the natural curve of your lid more readily.
BONUS: for all you ladies you like a beer, try using your eyelash curler to open a beer bottle. You may or may not be able to use your lash curler again afterwards, I haven't tried... 

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