My attitude toward my hair and make-up style has always been fairly simple: the easier and more natural looking, the better. But recently, a dear friend of min
e (who happens to go to FIT and work in fashion; pictured here with me on Halloween) has sold me on a new, more dramatic trend: fake eyelashes.
Up until a month ago, I had only worn fake eyelashes when I was on stage or to junior prom. I never thought of them as acceptable for daily use. But after spending a weekend in Amsterdam with my friend and noticing how consistently bright-eyed and fabulous she looked, even as we searched for coffee after a particularly long night or dozed on the 6 hour train ride back to London, I decided I was willing to give them a shot.
I bought a set at Boots, but in the states, they’re available in any CVS, Walgreens, etc. I picked a cheaper pair for my first experience, and got ones that the packaging claimed were for a natural, every-day look. The glue was included and they were reusable, which is standard. After a few minutes of deliberation, I made the plunge, and the purchase.
Putting them on the next morning was a struggle, and I felt a bit self-conscious because I thought they were incredibly obvious. When I walked into class that afternoon, however, my friends immediately told me how great I looked, but couldn’t pinpoint what was different. I was thrilled that the falsies weren’t quite as noticeable as I’d thought. Or at least that was my impression, until my mom, after two minutes on blurry,grainy Skype that evening, said, “Are you wearing fake eyelashes?” Still, I’ve grown to love how huge they make my eyes look, and the instant boost they give any outfit.
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A few tips to get the most out of your lashes:
- Get black glue. You’ll have to buy it separately (available at Duane Reade), but it’s worth it because it will essentially serve as eyeliner, and make the difference between your fake and real lashes indistinguishable.
- Use plenty of glue, especially at the corners. Trust me, you’re going to want to bat them a lot, and you don’t want them falling off.
- Wait a few seconds for the glue to get tacky after you put it on the lashes before sticking them to your eye. It will help them stay exactly where you want them.
- Don’t wear a lot of other make-up, to avoid the drag queen look. The rule is generally to choose either dramatic eyes or dramatic lips, and if you’re wearing fake lashes, you’ve made your choice.
 And so, I’ve been converted: I wholeheartedly recommend trying false lashes for a quick, simple way to add a bit of dramatic flare to any day.