Here’s How To Create The Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look

Applied on the top lid, winged eyeliner has been a beauty trend on and off for decades and is loved by celebrities and makeup artists alike. In this article, we show you just how to create an attractive winged eyeliner to wear for all occasions!

Photo Credit: ldutko/Shutterstock.

Winged eyeliner became famous due to its nostalgic appeal and is now considered a beauty must. Anyone and everyone can wear winged eyeliner since it has the potential to define your eyes like no other eyeliner shape.

What is a Winged Eyeliner?

A winged eyeliner shape is essentially makeup applied to the upper eyelid, usually with liquid eyeliner, pencil, or gel, and curves out to form a pointed wing. 

Originating back in ancient Egyptian times, this eye makeup style was mainly used by royalty. Their upper lids were painted black with kohl, and the bottom was painted with malachite green. 

Worn to prevent eye problems from the sun, it was also used to protect against the “evil eye.” 

It was not until the introduction of cake and liquid eyeliners in the ’50s and ’60s that winged eyeliner truly got its wings and took off, trending into the style we know today. 

What Is The Difference Between a Winged and a Cat Eyeliner?

Both terms are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between these two unique looks:

Winger Eyeliner

While a winged liner can be any thickness, it is technically a straight line with a flick at the end and is exclusively applied only on the top lid.

Cat-Eye Eyeliner

On the other hand, cat-eye makeup is usually more dramatic than the winged liner. 

Though a cat’s eye shape is made the same way, the difference is that liner is applied on the bottom lash line in the cat’s eyeliner look.

Is Winged Eyeliner Attractive?

Winged eyeliner is just a style of wearing eyeliner that many find appealing.

Eyeliner in itself, no matter how you wear it, is often considered attractive as it enhances your eyes, drawing attention; how does that saying go? The eyes are the windows to the soul. 

How Do You Do Winged Eyeliner?

While adored and rocked by many, the winged eyeliner look is often tricky to master correctly. 

To accomplish a winged eyeliner look, you can use liquid liner, a felt-tip liner, waterproof eyeliner pencil, or gel eyeliner, and an eyeliner brush: whichever you’re most comfortable with. 

Keep makeup remover, Q-tips, and concealer handy to repair any mistakes. 

 Step By Step Guide: How to Do a Winged Eyeliner

  1. Prepare the region around the eyes. Concealer or eyeshadow primer will help your makeup stick better under your eyes and eyelids by creating a smooth, even base. If desired, curl your lashes at this time.
  2. If you were going to wear eyeshadow, you’d apply it on now. But since we want to practice first, a bare eye is recommended.
  3. Let’s start lining our eyes now. Start with the first line. Draw a thin short line from the outer corner of your eye to the end of your brow, extending outward up towards your forehead. Do not go past your brow. (Tip: Start small, then build on if you want, especially using liquid liner. It is a lot easier to add on than try to remove.
  4. After you’ve drawn the tip of your wing, draw another thin line from your wingtip across your upper lid linking it to the line along your upper lash line. If there are gaps, that is fine, and we get to that in the next part.
  5. You’ve completed all of the hard work, and now it’s time to have some fun! Fill in the gaps between the tip of your wing and the lash line with care. (Tip: fill only the white spaces, and use tiny strokes with a very minimal amount of product.)
  6. Now for the finishing touch! If you want, softly extend the tip of your wing to provide additional sharpness or length to it to create more drama. Then, to complete the look, do your lashes as you usually would pull the look together.

Is Winged Liner Considered Unprofessional?

Not unless you go all rock glam. Wearing a winged liner is acceptable for any occasion. 

That is the joy of makeup. You can do a little or a lot. For a professional experience such as a job interview, the key is to keep it subtle. 

Try making a thin, small, winged tip liner – just enough to bring out your eyes.

Does the Winged Eyeliner Look Good on Everyone?

Winged eyeliner can look good on anyone. Not me, you say? 

Yes, it may compliment someone else’s eyes better. Still, you can bang out the winged eyeliner look. 

You just have to know how to make it work with your natural eye shape. Let’s learn.

Hooded Eyes

If the crease of your upper eyelid isn’t visible when your eyes are open, you have hooded eyes. 

Hooded eyes will look remarkable with thick brushstrokes that are razor-sharp at the ends and bold across the upper lash lines. 

Furthermore, it eliminates the need to concentrate on keeping the lines small and instead allows for a simple application.

How To Make It Work?

Start by sketching crisp winged lines on the outer corners, then define the upper lash lines with your eyes open.

Downturned Eyes

Downturned eyes are characterized by slanted corners that incline toward the cheekbones.

How To Make It Work?

To make it work for your eyes, extend your wing toward the outside corner of your brow as a guide (don’t go any further!). 

Pick a lovely color that matches your irises to add a burst of color to your entire look.

Monolid Eyes

Monolid eyes are those with a very small or non-existent furrow between the eyes. A thin winged appearance is appropriate for those eyes. 

How To Make It Work? 

Since you don’t have a lot of room with monolid regards, you’ll want to make the most of it by making sure the liner is crisp and straight. 

Place the eyeliner tip on the lash line at the pupil, then draw to the outer corner to create the thinnest line possible. 

Then, beginning at the inner corner, sketch your way to the middle point. Continue adding layer after layer until you reach your desired thickness to cover the lid for a more dramatic look.

Round Eyes

The eyes of a person with round eyes are usually large, prominent, and appear spherical. 

In round eyes, the cornea is completely encircled by white and has rounded inner and outer corners that are not dragged inward or outward.

How to Make it Work?

Apply a cream eyeshadow or liner with an angled brush from the outside corner, stopping where your pupil is when you’re looking straight ahead at the centre of your lid.

Small/Close Set Eyes

You may probably predict what narrow-set eyes are just on the word alone. It’s a pair of close-together eyes.

How To Make It Work?

If you have close-set eyes, try doing a double-wing. 

Draw another flick outward after drawing your liner along your top lash line.

You should also apply liner to the bottom lash line in the same way, but do not go any further in the middle of your eye, or it will make you look as if you have even closer-set eyes.

To make the wings stand out, dab a little concealer between them.

Almond Eyes

Almond-shaped eyes are oval with narrow corners. 

How To Make It Work?

With almond-shaped eyes, sweep your liner along the outer corner of your lash line, flick it out and stop at the tip of your crease.

What Is a Double Winged Liner?

Instagram is awash with double-winged eyeliner looks, with beauty fans showing off a variety of variants of this eye-catching look. 

First, you can’t go wrong with traditional black eyeliner to form your two wings and brighten your eyes.

If you want to go for a more glamorous look, match your double wings with a glistening eyeshadow. This combination never fails to steal the show on a night out. 

Make it stand out more with white eyeliner used between the two black wings to contrast this already dramatic look.

Is the Winged Eyeliner Still Even Cool?

Is winging your eyeliner still fashionable? Yes, this look is still going strong and does not seem anywhere. 

It has even evolved with the “minimalist” winged eyeliner trend being hot when you apply a small triangle on the outer corners of your eyes.

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks for the Perfect Winged Eyeliner

Despite all the tutorials you’ve watched, do you still end up having a messy wingtip? Here are a couple of cool foolproof hacks to get that perfect winged tip liner:

Use Makeup Wipes

Take a makeup wipe, fold it, and use the sharp edge of it to wipe to create your sharp, perfect winged edge. It is quick and foolproof.

The Card

Do you have an index card, business card, or gift card lying around? Line it up along the outer eyelid to help you make your wingtips sharp and neat.

Toothpick

Toothpicks can also be used to produce a winged effect. Cover a portion of the toothpick with your favorite eyeliner (liquid is preferable), then run it along your eyes’ outer corners. Presto!

Tape

This hack is more well-known and works. Place the tape down on the outer corners of your eyes in a diagonal direction. 

Trace your liner along your top lash using the video to help guide you to be a perfect flip every time.

Sources