Ready, Set, Curl: Get Your Most Voluminous Lashes with a Heated Eyelash Curler

Jennifer Aldrich
·5 min read

Courtesy of Grande Cosmetics

bhg - 35 Available at Sephora

bhg - 39 Available at Dillard's

bhg - 23 Available at Walmart

Some people are born with long, full, luscious eyelashes that almost look like falsies with just a swipe or two of mascara. Well, that is not me. I have thin, fair eyelashes that need the entire tube of mascara to stand out. (I've made peace with this; there are plenty of products to help me out.) I used to get eyelash extensions, but when the initial set costs $200 with $100 fills every few weeks, that option became too pricey for me. There's also the option of a lash lift, but that can also be an expensive service (around $200, depending on where you live), and only lasts about four to six weeks. I've also used strip lashes, but as someone with sensitive skin, they can really irritate my eyelids and leave me with watering, red eyes instead of luscious lashes.

One of the items I've really been loving to make my limp lashes stand out is a heated eyelash curler. I actually used to heat up my regular curler with my hair dryer, and I realized that a heated eyelash curler was likely safer and easier to use. And, before you knock my DIY, I'm not the only one to try the method. "My love with heated eyelash curlers started in high school when I would take my old-school blow dryer ou,t and heat up my Revlon eyelash curler ($6, Walmart) to give myself longer lasting lashes that were lifted to the heavens," says celebrity makeup artist Alexandria Gilleo, whose client list includes soccer stars Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, and reporter Candice Kumai. "Now, there is a lot of heated curlers on the market that don't require you to heat up your curlers with a blow dryer," she adds.

How to Use a Heated Eyelash Curler

"I find that heated lash curlers significantly amplify lashes along with lifting the lashes for a much longer period of time and provide a more intense curl as opposed to a normal lash curler," Gilleo explains. To use your eyelash curler without causing damage, Gilleo recommends first curling your lashes with the heated eyelash curler for five to 10 seconds. "After heating your lashes, you want to wait for lashes to cool down for a moment (like you would with a blowout, letting your curl set cooldown), and then go ahead and apply mascara to set and hold your lashes in place," Gilleo says.

Because heat can damage your hair (even the hairs on your eyelids), Gilleo recommends only using the heated tool one two two times per week. She also recommends applying castor oil ($14, Walmart) with a cotton swab to nourish and strengthen your lashes.

Eye Products to Give You Your Best Lashes Yet

I've also found a few other products that I use with my heated eyelash curler that take my lashes to the next level. First, I've been using the Grande CosmeticsGrandeLASH™ - MD Lash Enhancing Serum (from $34, Sephora), and I've noticed my lashes growing longer. After curling, I swipe on a coat of a mascara primer, such as the La Base Mascara Volume And Care Lash Primer ($32, Chanel). As a finishing touch, I add a few coats of black mascara. Right now, I love the Kjaer Weis Im-Possible Mascara ($32, Revolve). Of course, don't forget to double-cleanse when the night is done with hardworking yet gentle products, like the Farmacy Clean Greens Duo ($28, Sephora).

To help you achieve long, voluminous eyelashes without falsies involved, here are three affordable heated eyelash curlers to buy now. (Each one would make a great stocking stuffer for the beauty lover in your life!)

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-LIFT Heated Lash Curler

I'm a big fan of the Grande Cosmetics serum, so I figured I would like the brand's heated eyelash curler. (Spoiler alert: I was right!) To use the tool, press the on button and wait 30 seconds for the end to heat up. Choose between "high" heat or "low" heat, and curl your lashes. To re-charge the device, simply plug it into a USB port. One buyer gives the curler a 5-star review and raves that it's a "must-have for your beauty routine." They add, "I LOVE THIS!! I now have a way to curl my lashes without breakage."

Lash Star Heated Lash Curler with USB Charger

This luxe option doesn't just curl your lashes; it also can tame your eyebrows, too. Plus, you can use the tool on false lashes or lash extensions when they need a little lift. The USB-chargeable device heats up in 10 seconds and has a nickel-chromium rod to evenly distribute the heat.

Gulubo Heated Eyelash Curler

Another multi-tasking choice is this double-sided heated mascara wand. One side features a comb and the other has a clip to ensure you get every single lash curled. The item is USB-chargeable and heats up in just 10 seconds. One pleased purchaser gives the curler a 5-star review and writes, "My eyelashes are long, but they never curl, so I decided to test this heated curler. I love it. Finally my eye lashes are curvy and look beautiful."