Perfect Lashes

No matter what look you are trying to achieve, perfect eyelashes are as vital as having flawless skin-they are both key to finishing off any look. Most people forget about their lashes or don’t know how to apply mascara properly, so here”s how to do it.

Before applying mascara its important to curl them as this will make your lashes look fuller and eyes look wider. Carefully comb your lashes with a eyelash comb to make sure there are no tangles. Then open the curlers and place them as close to your lash line as you can, close the curlers and gently squeeze them. Do not do this for more than 30 seconds.

Before applying your mascara, it’s best to blot your brush gently on a piece of tissue. This will help to prevent any clumping.

Start to apply your mascara from the base of your lash line. Try to get as close as possible and gently rub the wand back and forth as you work your way up-this will make you lashes appear thicker. Once you get to the middle of your lashes simply sweep the want up in one steady movement.

Comb though your lashes and wait for the first layer of mascara to dry for about 30 seconds. Once they have dried you can apply the second layer of mascara.

-Make sure you pick the right mascara! Try out mascaras from different companies-you’d be surprised at how good some cheaper brands are, so ignore the price when buying your mascara.

-Bigger brushes doesn’t mean you’ll have bigger lashes. Smaller brushes can reach smaller lashes, meaning that every single lash can be coated in mascara creating a much fuller look.

-Black tends to be everyones favourite choice of mascara colour, but if you’re trying to achieve a more natural look then try a brown or even a clear mascara. -Do not pump your want in and out of the tube! This will push air into the tube and drying up your mascara, resulting in clumpy spider lashes. Instead, swirl the wand around inside the tube to make sure the brush is covered.
-Less is more. Thick, heavy layers will result in clumpy lashes, so simply use one or two light coats of mascara in order to create a more natural look.

Those who have very short or sparse lashes may want to try and use false lashes to create those long, fluttering lashes. Applying false lashes can be difficult, so the following steps to make it as easy as possible.

Before applying your lashes, make sure you buy the right lashes for you! There’s a huge range of lashes out there, with various lengths, thickness and colours. Generally, brides should opt for the most natural looking lashes possible. Even though eyelash glue is supplied with most lashes, it’s best to buy a separate clear eyelash glue, as the ones provided aren’t always the best quality. Keep the provided glue in your bag so you can fix any eyelash emergencies on the big day.

Start off by closely applying eyeliner to your top lash line. Try to keep this line as near as possible, and if you’re trying to achieve the ‘natural’ look then simply dot the eyeliner across your lash line.

Hold the false lashes close to your eyelid and carefully snip the lashes to size. You can cut the inner corner a little further in order to prevent any irritation.

Using the brush supplied with the glue, or a toothpick if no brush was supplied, apply some of the glue to the tip of the eyelashes. Allow the glue to dry for a second or two and then put it on your eye. Lay the lashes as closely to your lash line as possible, using the eye liner from step 3 as a guide. Press the lashes down at the middle and then work your way around to the inner and outer corners using a toothpick. Once the lashes are firmly on, hold down the inner and outer edges to make sure that they are secure (as nobody wants their false lashes to start falling off halfway through the day!). Repeat this step with your second eye.

Now your lashes have been applied, you can add the finishing touches. You can add some more eyeliner to make sure you have an even lash line, and can apply mascara if you want to create a more dramatic look, or to blend your lashes in with the false ones (this is important if you have naturally fair lashes, the mascara will make sure that most of your lashes are black like the false ones).

-Practise makes perfect! It takes a while to get used to applying false lashes, so make sure you buy plenty of packs and practise as much as you can before your big day.
-Lash inserts are sometimes useful if you want to add a little bit of volume or length-you can simply add a small section of false lashes to the areas desired, try Eylure’s Individual Lash Ultra -Take your time when applying false eyelashes and try to keep a steady hand.

For those who don’t want to wear a lot of make up or cannot perfect applying false lashes are in luck-there are plenty of other alternatives for getting perfect gorgeous eyelashes.
Eyelash tinting is a great alternative for anyone with great eyelashes, as the tinting will simply make the lashes more darker and more visable as vegetable dye is used to dye the lashes darker.
Those who want both thicker and longer lashes can try getting eyelash extensions. The results can last upto 12 weeks if looked after properly, and can give you gorgeous long lashes.
Never use a home kit for either of these alternatives for make-up – make sure you visit your local salon and have a full consultation, as nobody wants to end up with infected eyes on their big day!