How to Expertly Apply Magnetic Lashes
Photo: Ilona Nagy / Getty Images, Ardell
My alter ego wears a luscious set of mink lashes every single day. The real me only wears false eyelashes on special occasions because they take too much effort. So when magnetic lashes hit the scene last year, my interest was piqued. Sandwiching your lashes between two magnetized eyelash strips sounded way more doable than using glue (near your eye no less!) on an everyday basis.
As soon as I heard about them, I started going deep on magnetic lash research. One Two Lash bills itself as the OG magnetic lashes, but they're pricey at $59 to $89 per set. They've also been roasted by quite a few internet beauty gurus: Apparently, since they have one magnet in the center, they tend to stick up in the inner and outer corners. But I realllllly wanted to love magnetic lashes, so I decided to go with a lower-risk $9 version from Amazon. Alas, the gurus were on to something—since they didn't have magnets on the ends, I couldn't get them to sit flush against my lashline. (Related: What I Learned from Trying Latisse to Boost Eyelash Growth)
A few months later, Ardell came out with a drugstore version of magnetic lashes for little more than 10 bucks. I immediately bought some
and
, and both looked like regular fake eyelashes. Unlike the other pair I tried, Ardell's lashes have four sets of magnets throughout the strip, so they hug your lashline instead of sticking up on the ends. (Related: Will Eyelash Extensions Make Your Real Lashes Fall Out?)
How to Apply Magnetic Lashes
After experimenting with magnetic lashes, I've got the application down to a science. Some people will chop them in half to prevent the corners from sticking up—Ardell even sells a pre-cut version now—but IMO, since they have magnets throughout, it's really not necessary.
The lashes are a little bit too stiff right out of the package, so before applying them, I roll them out to emphasize the bend. (I've seen YouTubers wrap strip lashes around a pencil to do so.)
Then I place the top strip to rest on top of my lashes, making sure it's perfectly lined up.
While holding that in place, I open my eyes really wide (this is key) and bring the lower set underneath to meet the upper. I use the same technique as this Instagrammer:
A post shared by Tiphanie Shy (@shimmerbyshy) on Jun 3, 2018 at 10:17am PDT
Have I realized my dreams of becoming a perpetual lash-wearer? Negative. While the lashes are super easy to apply, they aren't as comfortable as glued-on falsies. When you have them on, you know they're there. It's not a pinch but more of a light itch. (Good news: If they're driving you crazy, you can pop the magnetic lashes off and reuse them as long as they're makeup free.) I prefer to alternate between the two and wear regular false lashes when I'll have them on for longer periods of time. Maybe the next development in fake-lash technology will solve all my falsies problems. But, for now, magnetic lashes are as easy to apply as I was hoping they'd be. If you're scared of glue, they might just be worth a try. (Related: Kerry Washington Swears This $7 Product Made Her Eyelashes Healthier)
