BoomerGirl Diary

I have short, thin lashes, so I’m always on the prowl for something to make them look long and full. While I love false lashes, they just aren’t practical for everyday. I have not been brave enough to try lash extensions. I’m curious, but, knowing me, the upkeep would prove too much and I would end up with a mess. So, in the meantime, here are my three steps for making the most of skimpy lashes:

1. Curl: Lash curlers really work. But you have to buy a good one (I recommend either the Kevyn Aucoin or Shu Uemura models), and you cannot be in a hurry when you use it. A quality curler will last you a long time, and patience while using it means no missing lashes.

Open the curler, place it against the roots of bare lashes, and press firmly. For those who are brave, walk the curler up the lash for an even more dramatic curl. Presto! Eyes wide open.

If you use the curler again after mascara, do so at your own risk. I think it does make a difference, but at this juncture, you can pull or crimp the lash and wreck all your hard work.

2. Prime: Lash primer is the white stuff you put on before you apply your mascara ... yes, it looks a bit odd, but it really does the trick. You can buy primer by itself, such as the one by Paula Dorf, or paired up with some brands of mascara, such as L'Oreal Volume Shocking. Be careful, though, of getting it in your eye. It stings. Give the lashes a generous coat from root to tip and allow to dry a bit before you apply the mascara itself.

3. Color: My personal theory on mascara is that it is more about the brush than the formula itself. I have smallish eyes, and some brushes are bigger than my entire eye. How is that supposed to work? I opt for smaller brushes, like the one in Chanel's sculpting mascara or Lumene's Star Effect mascara, or the new wands that look like combs. Maybelline's Lash Stylist is one of my favorites of those styles. I find them much easier to use. The trick is in the application: start at the root of the lash, and give the wand a long, deliberate, slow sweep up to the tip ... no fast short strokes here. Repeat if desired. The result? Lashes that are evenly coated, not clumpy and long. (And, just in case you’re wondering, my personal preference is black-brown for day and black for night.)

Got any favorite lash tips of your own? Feel free to share.