If you’ve just bought a pair of false eyelashes for the first time, you may find that they appear too big for your eyes. This can be disheartening, as you’ve just invested your money in a pair of falsies that seem too big for your eyes. But don’t panic! It’s perfectly normal to trim false eyelashes so that they are customized to the size and width of your own eyes.
Trimming false eyelashes is a normal process in their application. Most manufacturers will tend to produce falsies on the larger side so that they’re suitable for everyone, which means that people with smaller or less wide eyes may need to trim their false eyelashes before use.
Why Are False Eyelashes So Long?
Beauty companies want to ensure that their false eyelashes are suited to the maximum number of people possible.
In order to make their product wearable for the largest number of people, they’ll tend to make their false eyelashes slightly wider.
This means that those individuals with wider or bigger eyes can still use their products.
For those consumers who have smaller or less wide eyes, they can then trim the false eyelashes so that they’re true to size.
It’s more commercially savvy to make slightly too-large eyelashes, which can be trimmed, than too-small eyelashes, which can’t be expanded for individuals with wider or bigger eyes.
Can You Trim False Eyelashes?
It’s completely normal to have to trim false eyelashes the first time that you wear them.
Your false eyelashes should fall just short of the length of your natural eye length. If there’s an overhang, you’ll need to trim them.
Remember to only ever trim false eyelashes from the outer corner – never trim the inner corner where the lashes are shorter, or they’ll look lopsided.
It’s also a good idea to only cut in between the clusters of lashes.
If you snip right through one of these clusters, you may damage some of the surrounding lashes, or make them look a little asymmetrical.
As far as possible then, take care to cut in between these clusters so as to avoid this.
How To Measure The Right Eyelash Length For Your Eyes
Trimming false eyelashes before use is a perfectly normal step in the application process. However, if you’re never done it before, it can seem daunting.
It’s important to correctly measure the right eyelash length for your individual eyes.
It’s also worth noting that you may have one eye which is either wider or bigger than the other.
As such, you should individually measure each false eyelash for both of your eyes, cutting and trimming them to length accordingly.
Don’t assume that the correct width for one false eyelash on your left eye will be the same on the right eye, for example.
The best way to measure the false eyelashes to your natural eye width and length is as follows:
- Remove the false eyelashes from their packaging, and gently bend them into a U-shape. This will encourage them to shape to the natural curve of your eyes and eyelids.
- Take care to stand in front of a well-lit mirror.
- Lay the clean, unused false eyelash over your upper lash line, applying it as you would normally, but without the adhesive. You can use either tweezers or your fingers to do so, depending on your preference.
- You want to take care that the shortest hairs on the false eyelashes are aligned with the inner corner of your eye, and are positioned where your natural lashes start. The longest lashes of your falsies should be on the outer corner of your eye.
- If there is an overhang of your false eyelashes, then they are too wide or big for your natural eye size. Take note of where there is an overhang, as this is where you will cut your falsies.
- You can always use a set of tweezers to pinch a small indentation into your lashes to mark where the overhang is. It’s this point that you’ll cut.
- Follow our advice below for how to trim your false eyelashes.
How To Trim False Eyelashes
You will need
- A pair of false eyelashes
- Tweezers
- A small pair of scissors – preferably eyebrow scissors.
Instructions
- Follow the steps provided above to measure the right eyelash length for your eyes. Remember to measure both of your false eyelashes separately, taking note of the different trim needed for each eye.
- You should always cut from the outer edge of the false eyelashes, as this will help to maintain their tapered look. Only cut small amounts of the falsies off at a time – you don’t want to overcut, as you can’t add the length back.
- You can always put the false eyelashes up to your eyes as you trim, so as to ensure that you maintain a natural-looking length.
- If you then want to trim some of the lashes of the false eyelashes, you can do so. If you cut the lash length, take care to taper them and not cut straight across. So, for example, cut the lashes so that they’re the shortest on the inner corner of your eyes. At the outer corners of your lashes, the individual lash lengths will be longer.
Once you’ve trimmed your eyelashes, this will make their application much easier.
- Apply your lashes using either your fingers or tweezers, depending on your preference. Remember to apply the adhesive to the strip, following the manufacturer’s guidance. Let the glue sit for 30 seconds or so until it becomes tacky, at which time you can apply the lashes.
- Gently place them as close as possible to your upper lash line. Press the lash down towards your lash line, but take care not to be overly forceful.
- Allow the glue to dry. You can always add mascara and other eye make-up to add some drama to your lashes, but be aware that this might shorten the lifespan of your lashes.
Read more about Using Mascara On False Lashes
Things To Remember When Trimming Your False Eyelashes
1. A little goes a long way
Always take care when you’re trimming your false eyelashes not to cut off too much in one go. Once you’ve trimmed the length, you can’t get it back.
Only cut little slivers of the lash off, and consistently test out the length of the false lash along your natural upper lash line.
2. Use sharp scissors
It may sound obvious, but you do need the sharpest of scissors when cutting your falsies. If you use anything that’s too blunt, you may cause snagging, which could ruin the integrity of the lashes.
3. Trim from the outer corner
Most false eyelashes have a tapered design, meaning that the lashes on the inner corner of the strip are thinner and shorter than those on the outer corner.
If you trim these first, you’re going to end up with very uneven, unnatural looking false eyelashes.
Only ever trim from the outside corner moving inwards so as to avoid this.
Read more About How To Fix Your Uneven Lash Extensions