Some people have eyelashes so long, that they could probably set a hurricane blowing through distant islands on the other side of the world when they blink. Long, lush eyelashes are great, and they can really open up a person’s eyes, but genetics tends to be a bit of a crapshoot in that department, and for those of us who pulled the short lashes card out of the genetic lottery, worry not! Lush lashes aren’t impossible.

If you want dramatically longer lashes, false eyelashes and eyelash extensions are available just about anywhere. There are even products like Talika lipocils that claim to actually lengthen your eyelashes by nourishing them.

If you would prefer a subtler effect, all you need to do is use a little mascara and a bit of eye makeup; and don’t forget to pick out the best eyelash curler for you and your lashes. A little curl to the lashes can actually go a long way.

The great thing about false eyelashes, or falsies, is that you don’t necessarily have to go to a salon to apply them. They can come in all sorts of designs and colors, and if you want extra-flashy peepers, falsies are the way to go.

You can buy false eyelashes in most beauty stores or drugstores, although if you want special kinds of falsies; sets with feathers and sequins, brightly colored ones, or even ones made to look like parts of a spider web, you may have to dig around online or in specialty stores.

To apply false eyelashes, you usually have to use adhesive to stick them to your lash line. Most falsies come in a kit, and have their own adhesive. Some brands don’t come with them though, but there are a lot of reliable cosmetic adhesives for false eyelashes you can try. For more realistic lashes, the individual strands are usually different lengths, and you can use a pair of small scissors to trim them before applying them.

To stick your falsies on, you usually have to apply the adhesive to the false eyelashes’ lashband and wait a bit, so that the adhesive isn’t runny when you stick them on. Don’t touch the band when you put a false eyelash on; hold it by the hairs, starting from the out corner of your eye and working inward. Place it as close to your actual lash line as possible, making sure that they are firmly affixed as you go along. Try to avoid squeezing your eyes shut too tightly before the glue has dried completely. Afterwards, if you want even more natural-looking lashes, you can curl and apply a bit of mascara.

With false eyelashes, you only have to stick one whole piece onto each eye, but with eyelash extensions, synthetic fibers are applied to individual lashes to make them look longer and more full. This can take a lot of time and effort, but the effect is usually much more natural, and eyelash extensions normally last for a while longer. You can wear eyelash extensions while sleeping, and even while swimming or showering, and they come in all kind of colors and lengths.

Usually, attaching eyelash extensions can take up to two hours, with around thirty to eighty lashes for each eye, but because they’re bonded to each individual lash, the effect, while dramatic, is also a lot more realistic.

If you don’t want to use falsies or go through the trouble of applying extensions, curling your lashes can be a great way to open up your eyes and make your lashes look fuller. Of course, to get the best kind of effect, you have to use the best eyelash curler.

An eyelash curler usually looks like a funky pair of scissors or tweezers, normally made of plastic or metal. It’s a good idea to get eyelash curlers with pads that could be removed, since the pads on eyelash curlers usually need to be replaced once every two months. Some brands of eyelash curlers actually have built-in pad refills, so for easy pad replacement.

To accomplish a nice, natural-looking curled effect that stays, it’s best to heat your eyelash curlers a little bit. Doing this can make a really big difference in how your eyes look, but be warned that it poses a higher risk of injury than regular eyelash curling.

To do this, the best eyelash curlers for the job are usually metal ones, since metal conducts heat much better than plastic does. You can heat up your eyelash curlers using a blow dryer. Or, for only a small amount of money more, you can get a heated eyelash curler that heats the pads on its own. Usually, these handy little gadgets are battery powered, but there are some that you can recharge or attach to an AC or DC adaptor.

A warm eyelash curler ensures that your lashes will conform to their new shape more easily, and stay that way for longer, but you will have to be careful and make sure that the curlers aren’t too hot; you wouldn’t want to burn your eyelids, after all.

Whatever method you want to use to make your eyelashes seem longer and thicker; whether it be using false eyelashes, eyelash extensions, or finding the best eyelash curler, it’s a great idea to supplement the look with a little eyeliner and mascara. After all, when applied correctly, a little makeup can actually go a pretty long way.

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