In the Land of Lash Curlers

Eyelash curlers. A tool that looks more like a contraption to remove the eyeball than a method of bending and shaping the eyelash. Most are frightened of yanking out all the lashes by the root, or weird looking dents framing their eye. A good general rule of using eyelash curlers:

1. Do the "Bite-Bite-Bite". If you have no ever-loving clue as to what I'm saying, picture using the curler down the length of your lash, not just the base (nearest to the eyelid). Close and hold the curler at the base of the lash, hold for 3-5 seconds, then slowly and with a less pressure continue to open and close the curler moving down the lash. Use light pressure, as the hair gets thinner towards the tip and can curl too deep and will leave a kink.
2. Curl your lashes before you put on mascara. Some people like to curl after mascara. In my experience this will result in clumping of mascara and ups the potential for ripping out eyelashes. The mascara thickens the hair and makes the hair catch on the metal/plastic of the curler. To avoid this, just curl beforehand.
3. Don't be afraid to practice! If you're uneasy about curling your lashes, practice on bare lashes when you have no intention of putting on makeup. My suggestion? Before bed! Get yourself a mirror you can hold and practice! Rushing is the enemy of lash curling. Take your time and practice.
4. Press and release, don't pull. Remember that you are in control of the curler, not the other way around. Don't pull up or away when the curler is depressed, only move the curler when it's open.
5. Go slowly. If you pinch yourself, you're going too fast. Slow down. If you feel pressure like you're about to pinch yourself, stop! Open the curler again and adjust the placement.
6. Clean your curler and replace the pads. Buildup on the curler is natural, as well as dents in the pads. Using a warm washcloth or a tissue, remove the residue. Bacteria can build up there, but it's more about the "ICK" factor than anything else. It looks gross and keeps the curler from functioning properly, a nice even surface is optimal. The padding will dent. It's inevitable. Most of the curlers I've used have come with replacement pads that are easy to remove and replace. Also, the life of an eyelash curler isn't long. 6 - 8 months at best. Thankfully they are fairly affordable so it doesn't hurt the pocketbook too much.

Let's look at the some basic models:




Revlon Cushion-Grip Lash Curler    



Revlon Eyelash Curler















Revlon Cushion-Grip Lash Curler  and Revlon Eyelash Curler. These two curlers from Revlon are good basics and fairly priced. The only difference between them? The grip. One has a rubber lining, the other doesn't. It's really about preference at that point. I've used both and can say they are user friendly.


For the brave:

Japonesque Precision Lash Curler - Plastic

Tweezerman Super Curl Eyelash Curler   

                      











Tweezerman Super Curl Eyelash Curler   - The Tweezerman Super Curl being clear plastic is helpful allowing you to see where the plate is going and how close you're getting to your lashline. Also if you need to turn the curler and angle it, it helps to see where your going. (I like to make sure the outside lashes get extra curled, so I angle the curler on my eye to catch every outside corner. The outer lashes in the curler, the others not.)

Japonesque Precision Lash Curler - Plastic - The Japonesque Precision is terrific too, it's more comfortable for someone doing makeup on another person, but it takes longer to use. Using it yourself is easy, but it takes longer because you are going section by section. You can get deep curl easily from inner to outer lashline.

Once your lashes are curled, you are ready for your mascara. My choice at the moment is, as I wrote before, the CoverGirl Lash Blast 24 hour Mascara in Very Black because it keeps the curl integrity until you remove it.

Happy Curling Everyone!