According to celebruty makeup artist Kayleen McAdams (she's workied with Sophia Vergara and Jordana Brewster), there are four different types of false lashes: individual, cluster, full strip and demi strip.
Individual Lashes and Cluster Lashes: "These lashes give the most natural look," says McAdams. "Individuals are great for both volume and length but tend to take longer to apply and get right." Cluster lashes, on the other hand, give the same effect as individual lashes and can be applied more easily and quickly, says McAdams.
Try: Make Up For Ever Eyelashes -- Individual, $16. These clusters of individual lashes come in a variety of styles and lengths, so you can truly customize your look.
Full Strip Lashes: "These lashes give you the greatest range of wear," says McAdams. "You can layer pairs for various effects, and they are easy to apply." If you want to really open up your eyes, or you have wide-set eyes, look for lashes that are longer in the center. For close-set eyes, look for strip lashes that are longer at the outer corners -- this will make the distance between your eyes look wider.
Try: Artémes Beautiful Chaos Lashes, $50, which are pure mink and will make your eyes look flirtier than you ever thought possible. For a budget-friendly option, try Ardell 120 Demi Lashes, $5. The signature crisscross lashes and varying lash lengths work on all eye shapes.
Demi Strip Lashes: McAdams calls these "half-size" lashes because they're about, you guessed it, half the size of full strip lashes. You apply them on the outer half of your upper lash line -- this lifts your eyes and adds flirty emphasis to the outer corners of your eyes while still looking natural. You can also cut a pair of full strip lashes in half to DIY your own demi strip lashes.
Try: Urban Decay Fast Easy Sexy Partial False Lashes, $15. These falsies are made with cruelty-free, synthetic hair and add a sexy oomph to your look without the hassle of a full strip of lashes. (Plus, you get two pairs per package, and it comes with a latex-free adhesive.)
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Do Your Eye Makeup First
You wouldn't put on mascara before your shadow and eyeliner -- same thing applies for false lashes. Taylor Chang-Babaian, makeup artist and author of "Beauty Rewind" suggests doing all of your other eye makeup (including mascara) before applying false lashes.
This way, you don't have to maneuver around superlong lashes when you're crafting your smoky eye. It also helps keep makeup off of your falsies, which increases the life expectancy of strip lashes (Never reuse cluster or individual lashes).
The mere mention of false eyelashes can strike fear into the hearts of otherwise makeup-savvy women. Applying false lashes is an art that many of us have yet to master. A bad application can literally leave you in tears, ruining your makeup in the process.
But once you learn how to apply false lashes, they can make your eyes look wider and add a dramatic flair to your eye makeup that mascara alone can't provide. And let's not forget that the Kardashians have singlehandedly made fake lashes an everyday accessory. Now, we're not saying you have to break out your falsies for work, but for special occasions? They can really make your eyes pop. (But if you do want to wear them during the day a la Kim, we aren't going to stop you.)
To help you get over your fear of false lashes, we went straight to the pros to find out how to apply all kinds of falsies -- from cluster lashes to strip lashes. Here, our easy makeup tutorial on how to apply false lashes.
