Have you ever spent hours in front of the mirror trying to apply false eyelashes, only to end up with them sticking out at strange angles, or worse, fall off completely after a few hours? Because falsies are tricky to master, we bring you our tried and trusted application and removal tips.

Before you start, measure the length of the lash to make sure it fits your eye shape. If the strip needs to be cut to fit, snip the outer edge completely off with small nail scissors. This will avoid drooping at the corner (no more lashes poking your eyeballs)

Take both edges of the lash and bend inward to create a “C” shape and hold for a couple of seconds. That’s the best way to eliminate the straightness and ensure it molds to your curved eye shape and stays put without the corners lifting up. This step alone, will make the rest of the process effortless.

Apply high quality glue for lasting results. If you already have a steady hand, you can squeeze straight from the tube onto the strip. Tend to get shaky? Here’s an easy trick: put glue on the reverse (handle) end of a tweezer and glide it across the strip. Be generous at both the inner and outer corners so the glue won’t unstick when you blink.

Wait ten seconds or so for the glue to become more tactile and sticky (you can also blow on the glue or wave the lash gently in the air) before placing the lash. This is the best way to keep the strip from moving around while you’re trying to line it up properly.

Aim for the base of your natural lash line, right on top of your real lashes, not touching the eyelid at all.

Once you’ve placed both lashes, you can apply your mascara; this will help integrate the natural lashes with the false ones.

If you see a gap showing on the eyelid between your real lashes and falsies, don’t worry! You don’t have to pull it off and start afresh. All you need to do is fill in the gap using eyeliner to hide it. This step will also aid the glue dry more quickly.

Removal Tips: Always remove false lashes before taking off the rest of your eye makeup. First, pre-soften the glue with a cotton swab that’s been soaked in an oily makeup remover. Dab the swab along the lash line to loosen the glue and breakdown it’s stickiness. With your eye open, take hold of the lash tip of the outer corner. Close your eyes and very slowly peel the strip away from your real lash, working from outer to inner corner.

By Evelyn Obewu