"If your lashes go straight down, the key is to use a great eyelash curler." Babaian recommends the classic favorite Shu Uemera Eyelash Curler, $19 or the new Shisheido Curler, $19 that's wider, which "I like even more. This is great especially for eyes that are longer like a lot of Chinese eyes are." Also, since the curler is less curved, it better adheres to the flatter lids that are common among Asian women, helping to grab the entire range of lashes.
With many beauty products you can find a drugstore equivalent to the department stores', but with eyelash curlers, Babaian says not to skimp as there is a noticeable difference.
Photo 5/9
Tip 4: Walk it out
To avoid the L-Shape, "make sure to walk the curler out" by starting at the base and holding it there for 10 seconds, then a shorter hold in the middle and then at the tip. Here's a step-by-step:
Step 1: Make sure your lashes are clean, which means no eye cream or residue from yesterday's mascara. Step 2: With your chin up, look down in to the mirror so that you can see your lashes. Step 3: Start at the base of the lash — you want the curler to be against your cheek. Babaian warns to not "lift the tongs of the curler, because that'll pull out your lashes." Step 4: Hold it for 10 seconds. Remember to be gentle — don't squeeze. Step 5: Walk up the curler to the midpoint of your lashes, holding it for a shorter period of time (about five seconds). Step 6: Do another short squeeze at the tips.
Babaian says, "You must curl in that order, because your base is going to push the lashes up and the squeeze in the center is going to make the lashes curl. The lashes taper finer at the tip, so you hold down on them the least."
Image via Imaxtree
Photo 6/9
Tip 5: Change curlers frequently
"If you see a line in the black rubber, you gotta toss it," says Babaian. "This is really important otherwise it will cut the lashes." You're supposed to switch out the rubber tip every three months, but "if it's indented at all, toss it."
Photo 7/9
Tip 6: Wear mascara
The moment you finish curling your eyelashes, they'll start to fall. Mascara acts as a sealer, so you should apply mascara immediately after curling. "I've worked on thousands of Asian women, and when you curl your lashes and wear mascara it actually helps push the eyelid up. It puts weight on the lashes and lifts the lid," Babaian says.
You can also opt to wear a mascara base, but be wary as sometimes they can be too heavy which will make your lashes fall. Babaian recommends Shiseido Makeup Nourishing Mascara Base, $23, which helps freeze the curl and also thickens lashes.
Photo 8/9
Tip 7: And make sure it's waterproof
The most common complaint among women with straight lashes is how mascara smears onto their lower eyelids. The solution? Wear waterproof. "If it's smearing you're using the wrong [mascara]. You just have to wear waterproof," says Babaian. Waterproof formulas are lighter and have a drier consistency, so the lashes freeze in the curl quicker, which is key in maintaining the curl. Babaian recommends Cle De Peau Beaute THE Mascara, $50, but for a cheaper alternative, try Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Waterproof Mascara in Very Black, $5.99, which was also one of our reader's 12 best drugstore mascaras.
There are some things in this world that are inexplicable: What really happened at Roswell? Or what came first, the chicken or the egg? Sure these may not keep you up at night, but one mystery Total Beauty was intent on solving involved stubbornly-straight eyelashes. When it comes to Asian makeup, the most common complaint is lashes that seem to be forever answering the question, "Where's the ground?" "Down there," they say. Straight down.
While this is most prevalent for Asian women, those of Eastern European and Spanish descent also deal with stubbornly straight lashes. After much investigation (and talking to celebrity makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women), we can finally take this case out of the Unsolvable Mysteries file.
We've learned lashes that don't curl are primarily due to a lack of a double crease. The monolid forces lashes to grow straight down. Plus, the lid covers the base of the lashes making them look shorter than they are.
Curled lashes make eyes look prettier, finished, feminine and sexy. And now there's no reason why you can't have them too. Look no further than this guide to finally get those darn lashes to curl — and stay curled.
While we may never know what happened at Roswell, at least this makeup conundrum is solved. See tips on how to fix straight eyelashes now.
