How to score beautifully lush lashes, part 1: False lashes

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Historians agree that were it not for a childhood toy rocket explosion, film director D.W. Griffith would have never discovered false lashes.

Originally created for “Intolerance,” Griffith’s 1916 silent picture, falsies were designed to be camera prima donnas, demanding spotlit close shots and only the best catering.

Whenever heroine Lillian Gish entered a scene, her long, spindly antennas would fan the flames of the buff protagonist’s heart with every flutter, cementing their status as czars of what would come to be known as movie magic (and guaranteeing primo box office sales from the male demographic to boot).

But false eyelashes aren’t just for ravenous movie execs, drag queens and the Kardashian sisters.

With a large variety of faux lashes that run the gamut from tame spritzers to feathery swoops that’ll fashion you peacock-chic without the ear-bleeding mating call, this is a field that is equally welcome to wallflower neophytes and experimental veterans.

And this is all thanks to Griffith, whose lemons-to-lemonade tale has closed the gap between those genetically blessed with Bambi fringe—gods damn you—and those whose receding lashlines have led them to seek hirsute wisdom from specialized hair doctors and the makers of Chia Head.

Whereas wimpy-lashed femmes once grasped at straws, these same ladies now have a galaxy’s worth of options, even if it means dealing with lash toupeing’s sometimes awkward butterfinger perils.

Even if you were born with naturally full fluff, squeezing in a few individual falsies is like wearing slinky lingerie—you don’t necessarily need it, but slipping it on takes you from courant to boudoir instantly, a total Wonderbra for your sex appeal.

But the mere mention of gluing someone else’s hair on our face sends many of our repulsion and intimidation receptors into the red.

Enter this article, which will guide you through the ins, outs, and upside-downs of high-wattage Kim & Co. gazers.

Also included in our path to lash enlightenment is a compilation of faux lash faves that’ll do their darndest to turn your exiguous lashes into superhero beefcakes.

Now if you’re ready, let’s batter up.

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How to Apply False Lashes
1. First, purchase a strip of falsies that you know you’ll wear and not just store in the back of the medicine cabinet where your brownosing eight-year-old nephew will stare at it and cock his head like a curious dog, pondering.

MAC has a great variety to choose from; try 7 Lash ($13, MAC) for natural length and 35 Lash ($13, MAC) for she-devil fluff that’ll graze your eyebrows.

2. Curl your own lashes (always do it before applying mascara; doing it after can weed out any lashes that aren’t attached with an iron grip).

3. Cut the strip in half with grooming scissors. Not everyone’s lids are as long as the eyelash strip, so a half-lash will fit better and look much more natural.

4. Squeeze a little bit of glue—like MAC Duo Adhesive ($8, MAC)—on the back of your hand or on the cardboard container the lashes came in. With your finger, dip the lash base in the adhesive, making sure it’s evenly coated.

Don’t freak out if the glue looks white—it’ll dry clear. Wait about 20 seconds for the glue to get tacky before applying.

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5. Press the strip down at the outer edge of your eyes as close to the lash line as possible, holding it there for at least ten seconds.

6. The lash band might still be visible, so disguise the seam by painting over it with a liquid liner or a liner brush dipped in dark shadow. This will make it look like one clean line rather than an abrupt start of false lashes.

7. The final—and most crucial—step is swiping on a coat of mascara, which blends fake and real lashes together. Begin with the wand at the root of your fringe and work your way up to the tips of the falsies.

Because you’ve already upped the drama with falsies, your mascara should be pretty basic—opt for one with staying power that gives lashes a natural finish. A good one is Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black ($5.29, CVS).

General Tips:
• Before sticking on lashes, hold one end of the strip between the thumb and forefinger of each hand in an upside-down U-shape. Roll the strip up and down to loosen the band so it’ll easily conform to your eye shape.

• Start with natural-looking full-strip lashes. Though individual lashes are nice for beginners because they camouflage with your own lashes and don’t produce as much drama as full lash strips, they’re MUCH more difficult to apply and to perfect (lashes glued upside-down or angled slightly left or right of vertical are not uncommon, and are also not very fetching).

• Only wear falsies with eyeliner so you can disguise the strip.

• Practice, practice, practice. You don’t want to be stuck trying falsies for the first time an hour before going out to Boa Steakhouse with your date, unless you want a big molasses-y mess that’ll peel off your face mid-kiss and probably send your guy heading for the (Hollywood) hills.

• Remove fringe by dousing it with warm water, which will dissolve the latex.

Last Words
Never letting the imagination dull, replica hairs are a lingua franca to a man’s heart. Summoning the brute strength of plastic and the always graceful beauty of rhinestones and tie-dye, they’ll make you look and feel like a whole new animal.

Wield the foxy truth like a sword or gently serrated kitchen knife by scrolling down below for fringe recommendations for any occasion.

For How to score beautifully lush lashes, part 2: Mascara magic, click here.

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Linda believes the whole concept of flawless beauty is flawed. L.A. celebrities are gorgeous, it's true, but even they have bigger pores than they'd like or skin that's too oily in all the wrong places. When starlets like Kim Kardashian and Carrie Underwood need a beauty boost, they kneel at the feet of Smoke and Mirrors Beauty, a faux lash line that carries lashes with invisible bands. They're imperceptible under HD cameras and 100% old Hollywood soul.