Alright! As promised
yesterday, we are about to get into how to choose a pair of false eyelashes for yourself. So may I present
PART 1~ Styles and brands of eyelashes. Not sure where to start, so I'll just dive right in...
There are many, many different styles that I have tried and used over the past few months. They range from natural, voluminous, long, dolly, cat eye, whispy, criss-crossed, and soo much more! Each type of lash that I just mentioned has different properties, and will create different look for your eye (and maybe even your whole face.)
For instance, a "natural" lash is usually set on a tan-colored spine, and designed to mimic your natural lashes. Voluminous ones are thick and densely packed... think old-school Hollywood glamour. In my research, I also came across a "dolly" type, associated with Japanese or Korean fashion... these are specifically designed to make your eyes appear larger.
It's really fun to experiment with different styles and see which ones you like best!
I think I can best demonstrate all this by showing you pairs of lashes that I already own, and telling you what I like or don't like about them... so here goes! First up, we've got a very luxurious pair that I adore...
These gorgeous lashes are from a brand called
Faux (
similar here.) I picked them up at
Lulu's style studio last year for free, but didn't actually use them until several months later.
These babies voluminous, the fibers criss-cross at the spine (this makes the lash look more natural) and they taper off at the ends. They also have a black spine and a very rigid curve. Most reviewers I've come across see this trait as a negative, but I actually like the rigidity. I find that it makes the lashes easier to put on. The fibers feel expensive and luxe on my eyes... and I love the fact that they're not actually black, but a dark brown!
Bottom line: I would recommend a lash of this type to anyone seeking extra glamour or drama, without looking overly fake.
You can see me wearing these
here and
here.
Next up, we've got the elusive "dolly" genre, and these lashes are from a brand called
Dolly Wink (
similar here.) I came across them while I was researching which brands were the best. They have a cult-like following in Korea and Japan, and are associated with creating the Japanese "gyaru" look. I thought the brand looked cool, and I was intrigued. So I hunted down the product range at a hole-in-the-wall Chinatown store.
When I saw the product line in person... holy moly, they were outrageous! The longest lashes I've ever seen... like daddy longlegs on your eyes! But people online raved about the quality, so I got a pair that was a little more natural-looking. When I tried to wear them out, they still seemed a little out of control for real-life.
Bottom line- try out this brand if you're interested in making your eyes appear larger, are searching for an over-the-top dolly look, or have a fetish for length. This particular style I got also has a slight cat-eye, which I thought looked nice :)
I'm wearing them
here.
And here we have the drugstore mainstay,
Ardell. I didn't like the first pair of Ardell lashes I bought, which are the "natural" type that I mentioned. Pet peeve about this type- I actually
don't love the tan spine, and don't think it looks any more natural than black-spined lashes. If you have thick eyeliner on, it can actually be distracting. Besides that, the pair I had didn't seem to keep their curved shape, or last very long.
However, against my better judgement, I got a second pair from the beauty supply store down the street for $3... (they were $6 at Walgreens.) They are now my go-to pair for everyday. And yes- they do look natural enough for everyday if you place them correctly on your eyelid :)
Bottom line- You can totally use natural-looking lashes for everyday wear- don't fear that they look fake. No one can tell, and they will really kick your everyday look up a notch.
It's hard to see (they don't photograph that boldly), but I'm wearing them in
these pictures.
Kiss (
similar here and here)- This is a brand that I picked up at the same local beauty supply store, and I love them! They're made of human hair, and they offer several styles, which I have tried with varying degrees of success.
#1 Kiss lash is of the voluminous variety, but straight (as opposed to criss-crossed, as seen in the very first example.) I wanted to love these ones, but I don't... It's very obvious if you put them on crooked :/ See me wearing them
here.
Bottom line- this style is lovely for parties, events, and photos. But make sure you trim them exactly to your eye length, as well as take the extra time to put them on straight.
#2 Kiss lashes are the cat-eye volumes! Love, love, love. These were the very first lashes I picked up from this range. They are dramatic and
sexy! I wore these on
New Year's and on one of my more recent
style shoots.
Bottom line- I echo the previous statement... but these ones are so hot, I'd consider wearing them in broad daylight :P
#3 Kiss lashes are separated and spiky. Unfortunately not my fave :( They just weren't dramatic enough for me in photos, and I didn't like the way they looked in person, either. If I were less tired (it's 2am), I could give you a better explanation... I wore them in
this shoot.
Bottom line- I suppose these could be grouped as a natural-looking lash. If you're into the defined, lengthening look, go for these.
Final note- I like this brand a lot!! They're only $3, and there's such a wide variety... you can experiment with sooo many different styles. You can also make a pair last, as long as you take care of them.
Last (and certainly least)
Ebay lashes. I tried these out because you can order a pack of ten for $3. Seems too good to be true, right? Well, it is. I placed my order, and waited six weeks for some cutely packaged, but ultimately cheap and disappointing lashes. They look okay when applied... but when you lay an ebay lash next to one made of natural or human hair fibers, you can tell just how fake they are. Also, when I took them off for the first time, the spine broke, making a kink in it. This makes future use difficult... negating the cost-effectiveness of buying 30 cent lashes.
I also got some
bottom lashes from Ebay, pictured here as well. I'm wearing them in
this shoot, although you can't really tell! I like look of bottom lashes, but again- the Ebay ones were a bust. They're cheap, basically strung on fishing line, and are pin straight. No curve at all. Every time I tried to curve them around my eye, the other end would un-stick. It was very frustrating, and they weren't at all flexible.
Bottom line- Don't waste your money on these.
So, from experimenting for so long, my favorites are by far...
THE FAUX LASHES!!. Runner ups goes to Ardell, just because I wear those ones all the time.
Some personal eyelash self-discovery realizations: I could care less about making my eyes appear bigger, and length doesn't interest me at all. Give me volume all day long, and lots of it!!! ...But that may not be the case for you.
You may need to do a bit of experimenting on what you may or may not like, and I hope my post has provided you with some ideas. So if you've got an extra $10-$20 lying around, my advice would be to drive down to your local beauty supply store and go hogwild! Buy styles that you think look interesting, and also maybe some things that you might not have considered. You never know what's going to look great on you!
And that concludes Part 1 of my Comprehensive Guide to False Eyelashes... hope you enjoyed, and stay tuned for Part II next week!
All my love.
♥ watch my new video for "just the way you are" on youtube!! ♥
