Artificial lashes are available in various lengths, thicknesses and colours, and some are even spangled for a party effect. Ensure that they are not so long and thick that they unbalance the eye’s shape, and that the glue is carefully applied - too much can cause irritation to the eyelid, too little can cause artificial lashes to drop off.

Methods

Eyelashes can be applied in single strips, in sections or individually.

For a full strip, first measure up the lashes. They should not go beyond the outer corner of the eye. Snip them to the correct length with scissors. If your natural lashes are blonde, put on mascara first. Apply glue evenly along the bottom of the strip with an orange stick. Leave for a few seconds until the glue gets tacky. Stretch the eyelid slightly with your fingers so that the lashes can come as close as possible to your natural lash line. Stick on the centre, then each side, making sure that the shortest lashes are innermost for natural effect and comfort. Use eyeliner to conceal the line where lashes and skin meet, unless you are suing false lashes with the eyeliner already applied.

Strip of lashes can be cut form a length and applied in the same way. Placed in the centre of the eye they give a widening effect; on the outer edge, they give an illusion of length.

To remove, support the temple with the fingertips of one hand and gently pull the lashes starting at the outer edge.

Individual lashes are best applied permanently by beauty salons as the process is time-consuming and fiddly. To do it yourself, each lash has to be cut from a strip, attached on top of every natural lash and pushed as far in between as possible. Start from the inner corner of the eye and stroke a little glue down each natural lash with an orange stick. Press on each false lash with tweezers and hold to set. Brush and separate the lashes with a lash brush-and-comb or clean mascara wand. Use an oil-based eye make-up remover to remove. False lashes can be cleaned with surgical spirit.