If there
’
s one thing that every beauty guru knows, it
’
s that a fluttery lash can take any makeup look to the next level. While some of us have been truly blessed with long, curly lashes—I’m talking to the men here, too—the rest of us tend to need multiple swipes of the
most volumizing and lengthening mascara
we can get our hands on. At times that may seem like enough, but when your eyelashes are so short that even the most expensive mascara and curler on the market don’t do the trick, what are you left to do? Luckily there are plenty of products and services that offer a solution to our stubby lash problem, from
oils and serums
to extensions and falsies—there
is
hope for us.
Now, if you’re anything like me, you might not have the slightest clue where to begin. You could give growth formulas a try, but what if you want instant results? This is where falsies or fake eyelashes come into play. False eyelashes and extensions can give you the ultra-long lash look you’ve been eager to achieve. For the experienced beauty guru, getting lash extensions or putting on falsies can be a cakewalk. However, if you’re a newbie to the lash life, it can seem very challenging and a tad bit confusing. Take it from me, someone who wore costume makeup for dance competitions for
years—
I couldn
’
t put my own eyelashes on to save my life. Luckily, I had the chance to speak with “the pioneer of eyelash extensions,”
Dionne Phillips
, owner of
D’Lashes Luxury Eyelash Extension Spa
. The L.A.-based lash artist shared her insights on navigating the lash space for beginners along with expert tips and tricks on how to put on falsies.
For a newbie to the lash game, where would you have them start?
“Since the days of COVID with the pandemic, it’s all about the mask and your eyes. People are wanting to add some drama or a little bit more texture and contrast to the eyes now. If people are comfortable coming in and laying down for extensions, I would recommend a classic, basic, natural look to the first-time wearer. [If they’re not comfortable coming in,] I would have them start with strip lashes, or falsies, in a very light, pretty,
wispy
style. They’re very natural and basic but still give that pop and extra contrast that they are looking for.”
What is the process for a basic lash extension?
“With doing basic lash extensions, I use classic extended-wear lashes. They’re one single silk fiber attached to one individual micro hair, and it’s called an anagen. They are attached to one of your lash hairs one at a time.”
What about falsies? Do you have any special tricks for applying them?
“[Falsies] come on a band or a spine—consider it a band of lashes. They often come in different variations, lengths, and thickness. In the past there were just flat strip lashes and it didn’t offer much depth to them. Now they have
multi-level lashes
along with lash clusters that have about three layers of lashes that emulate lash extensions. So if you can’t get to your lash extension service or want to see how you’d look with fuller extensions before going to the salon, I would definitely give these a try.
“The biggest trick is letting the adhesive glue dry, getting it a little tacky for about 13 seconds. Where a lot of beginners mess up is applying the lash too soon, when the glue is still wet. Blow on the lash and fan it with your applicator or your finger, whatever way you find to be more comfortable when applying them. Most glues have a blue indicator that will let you know; once it turns completely white, it’s more tacky. Now you’re ready to apply. With a magnifying mirror, I recommend to start by placing it right in the middle of your eye while adding slight pressure. Then pressing it down towards your nose but not going beyond your brow so it’s even and it’s not hanging off your eye—giving your eye a relatively droopy look. Hold it like that for about 20 to 30 seconds to make sure it’s in place. Also, pre-measure your lashes before applying glue and make sure they fit the length of your eye.”
[Listicle particle error: Unhandled HTML element 'big' in post 2650785797 (context: Element not in supported or skip lists) Element HTML: What’s the lifespan of both types of lashes—extensions and falsies?]
Shop Our Favorite Falsies & Lash Accessories:
x House of Lashes in Valentina
D’Wispy Lashes
Lash Wispies Multipack
Lash & Go Eyeliner and Lash Adhesive Hybrid
False Eyelashes Wispy Light No. 117
Falscara Eyelash Applicator
Lash Wash
Lite Mink in Diamonds
Duo Brush-on Adhesive with Vitamins
3D Soft D’Wispy Lashes
Lash Assist False Lash Applicator
Visionary Lash Flares
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