About Bonnie

Bonnie is the Co-Owner and Co-Founder of FalseEyelashesSite.com. Raised by the founders of Elegant Lashes® brand, she is eager to share the best eyelash tips and secrets to professionals and non-professionals alike. Having worked in the media/entertainment industry, she understands the demand for high-quality false eyelashes at affordable prices and is proud to reveal why Elegant Lashes® is pro-makeup artists' best-kept secret.

Mascara with False Lashes: Do or Don’t?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Bonnie

Myth: use mascara if you want your natural lashes to “blend in” with your false ones.

How to Take Care of False Eyelashes How to Make Your Fake Lashes Last Mascara with False Lashes: Do or Don’t?

Truth: NOT EVERY LASH STYLE LOOKS GOOD WITH MASCARA. Nor does every lash style need it.

False eyelashes are supposed to do ALL the work for you – fullness, volume, length, curl, separation, softness. With mascaras, you’re limited to either length or volume. And if you get both, well, it sure doesn’t look like anything false lashes can do.

Mascara vs. False Eyelashes

The difference is more pronounced when I close my eyes. Aren’t false lashes amazing??

See what I mean?

Now, I’m gonna break down which three general lash styles go well with mascara and which don’t – regardless of brand, quality, style, etc. As a general rule of thumb, steer clear of mascara altogether if you want to re-use your lashes. (Read this post for more tips on false eyelash maintenance and how to make your lashes last a really long time. Or just click on the photo to the right.)

However, if you can’t pry yourself away from that mascara wand, make sure to always apply mascara and wait until it completely dries before applying your false lashes.

Let’s get this learning party started!

Light Density Lashes
This is the style that most people go for when they don’t want to make it look too obvious that they’re wearing falsies. Used more for length enhancement than for volume enhancement.
Mascara compatible? No

Why?

why you should not wear mascara with false lashes

So you want your lashes to look like this? Oh, I see.

Never looked at yourself from that angle, did you? Tsk tsk. Well, here’s something else you didn’t know: EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.

Individual flare lashes (eyelash extensions)
A.k.a., eyelash extensions or cluster lashes. These are individual clusters of 6-10 hairs (depending on brand) and can be applied all across the lash line or just at the ends.
(See tutorial for DIY eyelash extensions here.)

Mascara compatible? Yes, as long as you’re using strip lash glue.

These lashes look prettiest when worn alone, but it is also the only lash I would actually put mascara on directly. Why? Because I usually just throw these guys away at the end of the day since I don’t plan on re-using them anyway. Without mascara, you get very clean, fluffy, natural, perfect-looking lashes (see below).

Individual flare lashes applied on outer corner of eye

With mascara, you give yourself that clumpy look that mascara is so great at giving you, so although it doesn’t look as clean or perfect anymore, in a way it can look more natural because… imperfection is natural. Make sense?

how to apply false eyelashes with masacra

Knotted band lashes:
One of the most popular styles of lashes due to its natural-looking effect. It is essentially a line of perfectly spaced-apart individual flare lashes (see above) disguised as a strip lash. Provides the perfect amount of natural-looking density and comes in all kinds of lengths.

Mascara compatible? Depends.

If your natural lashes are somewhat thick to begin with, no need for mascara. Doesn’t matter if your lashes are short. If they’re thick at the roots, let the lashes work their magic on their own. However, if your natural lashes are really sorry and sparse like mine, wearing mascara will darken/thicken your lash roots, camouflaging the spaces along the lash band better.

No clue what I’m saying? Here. Look at the photo below:
mascara with knotted band lashes

Remember, if you’re gonna opt into wearing mascara, always let your mascara dry completely before putting on your false lashes – especially if you plan on re-using them. I have a favorite pair of knotted band lashes (#705 Black, baby!!! Aka the lashes I’m wearing in the photo above) and I’ve gotten 19 applications out of them so far! Just goes to prove how far good quality and proper maintenance can take you

If you still have questions, ask away in the comments section below and I’ll answer them in as much detail as I can! Remember, I’m your friend in this huge world of lashes and I’m here to help.

For the rest of you folks out there, tell me: do you wear mascara with false lashes? Yes or no?

How to Take Care of False Eyelashes

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Bonnie

Aka How to Make Your Fake Lashes Last… a Really, Really Long Time

Behold, my most-used pair of lashes, Elegant Lashes #705 Black.Pretty, huh? =D

I first picked up this pair because I felt it wasn’t exactly fit for sale due to some of the hairs not looking perfectly uniform and all. It’s not something anyone would really notice once the lash is applied, but I didn’t want any of our customers to get something that was less than perfect, so I decided to take it home with me and use it for myself.

Here’s a close-up of my adopted eyelash with its little quirks compared to its more “perfect” twin. Aside from the fact that the hairs aren’t 100% impeccably aligned, this lash is perfectly normal looking. How to Take Care of False Eyelashes How to Make Your Fake Lashes Last

Now, everyone who has purchased and used Elegant Lashes® knows that the quality is superb and that the lashes are highly reusable blah blah blah (you’re welcome, makeup artists and lash junkies!). But I was curious just how many uses could one get out of these lashes? Thus prompted my little experiment where I made a tally mark on the back of the lash tray every time I wore this particular style.

Here’s what I have so far:
How to Take Care of False Eyelashes How to Make Your Fake Lashes Last

Yup, twelve uses as of today, and believe me when I say I feel like I can EASILY get twelve more uses out of this pair. These lashes have retained their shape beautifully through over a year and a half of birthday dinners, trade shows, casual outings, and nights out on the town… and yet they feel sturdy enough for many more uses while still managing to be light and comfortable when worn. Insane, right? Go on and take a second look at the opening photos of the lashes and tell me you’re not amazed. I mean, even the lash tray is more banged up than the lashes are. Quality really does speak for itself. Quite loudly, too X”)

I’m pretty sure that you want to learn how I kept my lashes looking so good for so long. Well, don’t stop reading now. You’ll be surprised at what these 4 very simple guidelines can do for the longevity of your lash life.

Use quality products I know we harp on quality a lot here, but that’s because so many people are unaware that quality is essential to the looks and longevity of false eyelashes. That doesn’t necessarily mean buy the most expensive lashes money can buy. Like we explained in this post, MAC and Shu Uemura lashes are up-the-wall expensive, but Elegant Lashes uses the same manufacturer and we are one of the most affordable brands of lashes out there. It just proves that price does not always equal quality. (Keeping that in mind, stay far away from those 10-pairs-per-box lashes. Those are a disgrace to the beauty world and were originally not intended for human use. Think about that for a minute…)
Main point: Using high-quality lashes is the #1 best thing you can do to save yourself money and make your false lashes look great while lasting you a very, very long time.

Skip the mascara.Of course I’m all too aware of everyone telling each other that you should wear mascara with your lashes if you want them to blend with your own, but that’s not always the case (will make a post on this topic soon) and it definitely won’t help in extending the life of your lashes. Do your false lashes a favor and just leave them alone. Not only will they last longer, but they will be much easier to take care of, easier to store, and far more sanitary than lashes that are worn with mascara.

ALWAYS remove lashes with OIL-FREE makeup remover
We all know and love how easily oil-based removers remove heavy eye makeup, but if you want to get as much use out of your false lashes as possible, never let oil touch the lash band.Oils act like a repellent so unless you want some drama when trying to re-use your newly oil-infused lashes, I suggest you heed my warning. Learn more cool things you didn’t know (and how to do it right) by checking out my post on How to Remove False Eyelashes Painlessly.

Store your lashes in their original package
People don’t realize just how quickly and easily false lashes can collect dust when they leave their lashes out in the open on either their vanities or their bathroom counters. This is a bad habit that I beg you to correct because not only is it unattractive to see dust bunnies on eyelashes, it is also very damaging and irritating to your beautiful eyeballs.Moreover, leaving your lashes so exposed means that there’s also a very good chance that a spider and a few poop-loving flies paraded all over your lashes during the night as well. But hey, what you can’t see can’t hurt you so those don’t count, right? If you want clean, comfortable, long-lasting lashes, store them in their original trays. This will not only protect them from dust and accidental spills from water, lotions, cosmetics, etc., the tray’s rounded molding will help retain the lovely curve of the lash band.

…Another reason why those 10-pair-per-box lashes are so ridiculously stupid.

Well, there you have it. Now you know where to get the best quality lashes on Earth (ahem, at www.FalseEyelashesSite.com) and how to make them last forever!

Please Like, Tweet, and Share this post if you found it helpful and/or know someone that could benefit from these tips. =) You can use the handy buttons below!

P.S. What is the most number of times YOU wore a pair of lashes? Leave your comment below!

The Ultimate MAC 1 Lash Dupe

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Bonnie

Take a look at my eyes.

Seriously, take your eyes off my hair for a minute!

Can you tell I’m wearing false lashes?

Aww, look at those fuzzy little hairs on my eyes! <3 Of course I’m wearing falsies – nobody has natural lashes as perfect as these!

But this is one lash that you can wear to bump up your glam factor without looking ostentatiously fake! XD

It’s no wonder it’s one our best-selling lashes.

And it’s also no surprise that it’s one of MAC’s best-selling lashes, as well.

…….

Huh? O.o

If you’re making that face right now, go do yourself a favor and get yourself over to our last blog post, The Truth about MAC 1 Lashes, STAT. (Click on the image below)

I don’t want you to be making the same mistake that all MAC-loving victims make.

You deserve WAY better than to be charged 86% more than you should be for MAC lashes.

*gasp*

No lies. All truth. Now get yourself over to that post.

Now that I got that off my chest….

Allow me to introduce to you the beautifully versatile and widely loved Elegant Lashes #066 Black!

There is so much to love about this style. Let me break it down really short and sweet for ya:

Shorter width: no need to trim lashes to fit your eyes
Dense but short: get the fullness you crave without the unnecessary length
Believable length: pretty self-explanatory =P
Defined hairs: an effect you’ll never be able to get from mascaras
100% natural human hair: the best stuff that false eyelashes can be made out of
Thin lash band: to ensure maximum comfort and quality
Outstanding Elegant Lashes® quality: anywhere from 5-12 uses with proper care

Let’s take a closer look at Elegant Lashes® #066 Black, aka the ultimate MAC 1 lash dupe.

Gorgeous, GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS, wouldn’t you say? Now THAT’s a high-quality eyelash!

Sometimes I think, “Man, I’m so lucky I work with Elegant Lashes®. I get to try on all these beautiful designer-quality lashes for dirt cheap!” Then I realize, “Everyone else can, too!”

You don’t need to spend tons of money to get great quality lashes, and you definitely don’t need to settle for those disgusting 10-lashes-in-a-box-for-just-a-dollar lashes, either. (I absolutely HATE those things. Hate ‘em with a passion. Why they sell that junk for human use is beyond me. Those things are made for department store mannequins, dang it!)

Ebay specializes in fake eyelashes for “people” like me .

If you’ve been itching to get yourself some “high-end” MAC lashes but were wary about dropping $16 for a pair, look no further. (Hint: www.FalseEyelashesSite.com)

BAM! *pops collar* Now I can look cool without paying too much for it.

Know of someone that deserves better than to spend too much of their hard-earned money on great quality lashes? Do them a favor and share this post with them! And don’t forget to “like” and tweet as well!

Thanks for reading!

How to Apply False Eyelashes – 5 Tips You Wish Someone Had Told You

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Bonnie

According to the instructions on the back of DUO adhesive boxes, false lash application takes just three simple steps:

how to apply false eyelashes instructions

The illustration is not applying false eyelash glue correctly, by the way. Ha!

Seriously? Just three steps?

Anyone who’s ever tried applying false eyelashes for the first time knows it’s not this easy.

Well, Step 1 is easy enough, and I’ve done a terrific job of explaining Step 2 in my How to Properly Apply False Eyelash Glue (All about Adhesives, Part I) post here. *pats self on the back* X) But Step 3 is where people have the most trouble, and that’s why I’m here to provide you with five tips you wish someone had told you when you first learned how to apply false eyelashes.

Tip #1: Everything’s Better with Curves
The more curved the lash band is, the easier the lashes are to apply. And don’t worry if you think you overdid it; it’s actually a lot easier to apply a severely curved false eyelash onto your eyes rather than try to pin down both ends of a lash that is too straight. Use one of the methods below to get that optimum U-shape:
how to apply false eyelash, fake lashes

Note: lashes not made of 100% Human Hair will not bend as easily due to the stiffer lash band. You can read more on the difference between synthetic and human hair lashes here.

Tip #2: Oil-Free is the Way to Be
Oil makes it hard for the adhesive to bond to the lash band and to your eyes; it’s like trying to make tape stick onto a greasy forehead. If you have naturally oily eyelids, blot the excess oil with oil blotting sheets. If you’re re-using your lashes, make sure you NEVER remove them with oil-based makeup remover as the oil will stay lodged within the lash band, making it hard for you to glue them back on. (Read How to Remove False Eyelashes Painlessly for more tips on lash removal and care).

how to apply false eyelashe fake lashes tips

avestyles.com

Tip #3: Keep your elbows on the table
If you’re new to false lashes, mirror placement and stability make a HUGE difference when it comes to successful application. Most people apply their lashes while standing in front of their bathroom mirror or sitting at their vanity, and that’s usually where the trouble starts. Try one of these setups instead to make your life a little bit easier:

1) My favorite setup: how to apply false fake lashes use mirror Lay a mirror flat onto a table and, with your elbows on either side of it, look down into the mirror with your false lash all glued up and ready to apply. This angle seriously provides the PERFECT view of where to apply your lashes. Try it out for yourself – you’ll see exactly what I mean!

2) Just a different version of my favorite setup: Instead of a hand mirror, use a swivel mirror and place it just beneath your face. Adjust the angle and prop your elbows up on the table for support.

The key thing is to always place your mirror somewhere beneath your face. This will provide you with the perfect view of where your natural lashes are and where your false lashes should be.

3) If you can’t stop shaking, go ahead and plant that chin onto the table as well. Like this:

Can’t get more stable than that, right?! Shakiness eliminated to the max! XD**

Tip #4: Start Small
Accent lashes/demi lashes/half lashes are a beginner’s best friend. They’re shorter in width (they only cover the outer half of your eye or less) so they’ll stick onto your eyes much more quickly and easily than when you’re handling full strip lashes.

Tip #5: Take it One Step at a Time
If you’re in love with a pair of full strip lashes but can’t seem to get them on correctly, try cutting them up in two or three sections. Here are two ways to wear them:

1. As a half/accent lash:

2. As a full strip lash cut up into two or three sections (I did three sections):

One word of advice: this tip will not work well with thick lashes since people will be able to see exactly where you cut them. But then again, if you’re new to falsies, you should be starting off with light density and short lashes anyway. =P

Other Tips That I’ve Mentioned in Previous Posts:
If you’re handling false eyelashes, you should also be well educated on their adhesives as well. I’ve done an informative series called All About Adhesives to touch upon eyelash glue basics that all false lash users should know. Check out these posts to expand your lash knowledge:

How to Properly Apply False Eyelash Glue (All about Adhesives, Part I)

Clear Glue vs. Dark Glue (All About Adhesives, Part II)

Individual Lash Glue vs. Strip Lash Glue (All About Adhesives, Part III)

Know of other helpful tips that you want to add to this post or have questions on the tips I wrote above? Share them in the comments below! If you like this post or think someone else would benefit from reading this, Tweet, Like, and Share away with the buttons provided below. Remember, we’re here to spread false eyelash knowledge to the world, one little eyelash hair at a time. =)

DIY Eyelash Extensions: How to Apply Eyelash Extensions Yourself

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Bonnie

Eyelash extensions. Everybody’s getting them, everybody’s talking about them, and everybody’s going gaga over them. But the sad truth is, not everybody can afford them.

source: http://beauty-care-blog.tumblr.com/

As always, there is a much more affordable route to this beauty craze. And as always, Elegant Lashes® is here to help.

I’ll be showing you a temporary version of eyelash extensions that will give you that lush, natural look without the unnecessary risk and expense.

We’ll be using individual flare lashes with strip lash glue instead of the traditional semi-permanent individual eyelash glue used to apply eyelash extensions. This method is widely used by makeup artists for brides and “natural look” photo shoots and is completely customizable to your tastes and needs. Better yet, there is absolutely no commitment required – you can remove the extensions easily along with the rest of your makeup at the end of the day without worrying about maintenance and costly touch-ups.

Important: There is a difference between the glue that I’ll be using and the glue that extensions experts use. DO NOT attempt to follow along if you’re going to be using individual lash adhesive because that’s a whole ‘nother story. (Wait a minute…was that even proper English??? Now that I think about it, “a whole ‘nother story” doesn’t even make sense. O.o!) Oh well…

If you need to brush up on your adhesive knowledge, read our sensational post on strip lash glue vs. individual lash glue here. Your newly acclaimed knowledge will help you make wiser and more informed decisions and you’ll be glad you did it!

Some tips before I enchant you with your life-changing lesson on how to apply your own eyelash extensions:

Choose individual lashes of varying lengths. (I chose Medium, Short, and Under.) This will ensure that your complete look is more natural and you can use the shortest lashes to fill in blank areas along your lash line without making your overall effect look “crowded”
Curl your natural lashes before you start applying your individual lashes.
Draw your eyeliner on before you apply the individual lashes. Think of your extensions as your finishing touch and hold off from doing them until the very end of your makeup routine. It’s a little difficult to draw over extensions without making a bit of a mess.
Choose dark tone strip lash adhesive if you’re applying black lashes, clear tone for brown.
When applying, try to refrain from any excessive eye movements while you wait for the adhesive to dry since constant opening and closing of the eyes may warp how the lash extensions set.
If you want to apply mascara, do it after you’ve applied your extensions.

Ready to get lashed? Let’s begin!

Select the length you want to use on your outermost corner (I chose Medium Black) and squeeze a bit of your strip lash adhesive where you can quickly and easily dip the knotted ends of your individual lashes. I’m using a tray of individual flare lashes that I’ve used before and just squeezed out a dot of glue into one of the empty notches.
Gently pick up one knot (or cluster) with your tweezers and dip it into the adhesive. Too much adhesive on the knots will make your eyelashes look messy, even with clear tone glue, so try to use only as much as you need.
Looking down into a mirror, place the first knot on the outermost corner of your eye, making sure the knot is flush with your skin and not just clinging to your lash follicle. Remember: we can do this only because we’re using strip lash glue. Individual eyelash adhesive is NOT meant to come into contact with your skin – only your lashes. For the most natural look, try to shimmy your lash extensions between your natural lashes. Eyelashes do not grow in a neat single-file line, so take advantage of this fact by placing the knot where it can be hidden within the forest of your natural lashes. The closer to your lash line the better because your own lashes will cover the knots on the individual flares.
Without placing the knots too close to each other, repeat steps 2 and 3 and work your way inwards until you’ve covered the outer third of your eye. Don’t worry about filling in any blank spaces yet. Focus first on the overall effect the lashes have on your eyes.

4. Select the next shortest length and dip it into the adhesive. Use this length to fill in any blank spaces in the outer third of your eye. This creates more volume at the base of the lash while keeping the length a bit more subtle.

fill in the empty spaces how to apply your own eyelash extensions at home

Of course, this is just my preference. You can always fill in the empty spaces with the longest length again to put more emphasis on length while providing overall volume from root to tip (and not just at the base). Remember, it’s totally up to you!

On the outermost corner of my eye, I used Elegant Lashes® Flare Medium Black individual lashes and filled in the empty spaces with Elegant Lashes® Flare Short Black individual lashes.

5. Continue to apply the lashes along the rest of your eye, using the middle length for the middle third of your eye and the shortest length for the inner third of your eye. Fill in empty spaces as you need using either a shorter length or the same length. Notice how I did not apply any lashes along the innermost corner of my eye? If you have a small crease or have monolids, do what I did and leave the innermost corners empty. That way, when you open your eyes, your eyelid will not push the extensions down, making your eyes look sleepy and half-closed.

Aaaaaaand you’re done!

This process may seem long and arduous at first, but don’t get frustrated – it’s totally worth it and really not as hard as it looks. Remember, just like with regular strip lashes, practice makes perfect. In no time, you’ll be able to do your own eyelash extensions in mere minutes. Best of all, you didn’t spend over $300 to do it – YAY!

Here are some close-ups of my eyes before and after my extensions:

Finished Eyelash Extensions do it yourself appy at home elegant lashes

Left: my eyelashes au naturel, Right: with individual flare lashes/eyelash extensions

See how small and wimpy my eyelashes are before? And look how naturally fuller and longer my lashes look with extensions! I don’t care what anyone says – no mascara in the world can make my lashes look this good.

Now for some headshots to show you the overall effect that longer lashes can have on someone. Just so you know: I’m wearing nothing but my regular eyeliner on my upper lash line in the ‘before’ photos – no mascara – and simply added individual flare lashes (a.k.a extensions) to the upper lash line in the ‘after’ photos, also sans mascara.

The after photos are definitely more appealing, do you not agree? Aside from the hairstyle being slightly different, I did absolutely nothing else to change my look except to add some extensions to my eyes. Eyelashes are such a small part of the face, but they really do make a huge difference!

If you’re itching to ask any questions regarding how to apply your own eyelash extensions or want to add your own tips, let me know in the comment section below! And if you found this post helpful, don’t forget to “Like” on Facebook, Share with friends, and Tweet away using the handy buttons below! ^^

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