Guest blog: My dance with falsies
I’m not one of those women who gets caught up in every little fashion trend. If it suits my body or my look, I’ll adapt it into my wardrobe. I don’t flip through fashion magazines wishing I looked like the cover model or wanting that figure or that hair. I will admit though, when I see all those mascara commercials, I really covet those lashes. I’ve tried every kind of mascara, every brand, cheap and not-so-cheap. I still end up with lash envy.
As the holiday season approached, I kept thinking to myself that I’d make the leap. I’d try wearing fake eyelashes. How hard could it be? Find out after the jump.
When it comes to lashes, women have been faking it for years. Now, I knew if I went in to my local drug store, I’d be able to find something relatively inexpensive and not feel upset if they didn’t work out. But I wouldn’t be able to ask all the questions I had about applying the lashes. So I made my way to my trusted cosmetic storefront – you know the one – where they all wear black and have a ton of make-up on – but they can tell you everything about every product in the market. They don’t judge.
Sure enough they had a plethora of lashes: long and curly, criss-crossed, thatched, and even rhinestoned (I know, right?). I asked how easy it was to wear fake lashes and was told it was VERY easy. I was also told how easy it was to apply fake lashes. Just take a cotton swab, apply a thin line of glue to the fake lash, let it dry until tacky and then apply to the lash line. Voila! Easy, right? I can do that.
What she DIDN’T tell me is that you need four hands.
I applied my eye make-up in preparation for that evening’s holiday party. I clipped back the lashes to fit my own natural lash line. I applied the thin line of glue. Getting then on my lash line was another problem. Trying to focus and get a good sense of balance with one eye closed and one eye open was not an easy task! Not to mention I was all fingers. All fingers, not enough hands.
First attempt had the fake lash half way up my eyelid. Second attempt, I decided to use my tweezers to apply the fake lashes closer to my lash line. It looked like it was going to land just right, but as I pressed down the tweezer to my lid, the glue stuck to the tweezer and pulled a long rubbery glue line across my eye. I applied more glue. Third attempt went well! The lash adhered to the right position on my eye – hooray – this is what I’ve been waiting for! Then I open my eye and realize my lash line mirrored that of a shark jaw: two rows of lashes. Not good. Finally on the fourth attempt, I was able to line up the fake lash with my natural lash line and was able to angle the lashes correctly with my own! Success!
The other eye went on easily. I was officially an old pro. I let them dry, touched up my liner and was good to go.
I realized at that moment that in the end, after all the work and worry, that I was going to be the ONLY person at the party who knew I was wearing false eyelashes. But isn’t that the point? If you feel beautiful, you look beautiful!!
Have you tried fake lashes? How many tries did it take you to get them on the first time? What extra length (hehe) have you gone to for an extra-special party look? Weigh in!
By: Verna Kulish
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