Fake Eyelashes: How To

Fake Eyelashes: Worth the Effort?

Of all the accessories worn by genetic women, fake eyelashes can often be a challenge for crossdressers.

Perhaps it’s the fact that not many of us T-girls grew up using such fake eyelashes or we were never really taught to use them properly in the first place; or the fact that they are so flimsy and can sometimes be difficult to apply that many of us by-pass them.

Still, eyes, as they say, are the windows to the soul and anything we can do to enhance the natural beauty that our eyes possess should be considered worthwhile. Sure, you can simply add copious amount of eyeliner and mascara to draw people’s attention to look at your eyes without using fake eyelashes, but the overall effect of a great pair of fake lashes is wonderful, enlightening, and almost overpowering!

Beautify Your Eyes

Long eyelashes can make eyes look bigger, fuller, and more inviting. Given that not all of us are blessed with long or thick lashes, fake eyelashes are the next best choice—in fact, when worn correctly, they can go undetected!

So, are you ready to give them another try? Eager to dig out the boxes that you’ve probably got stashed away somewhere in the recesses of your drawers and have another go?

Sure you are—and so, here are some tips and step-by-step advice on how to go about applying fake eyelashes.

Variety is astounding

Before we begin, it’s worth looking around the En Femme website to see just some of the choices available.

Remember the old days when there were only two or three styles? Well, now you can buy thick or thin lashes, fancy shaped lashes, coloured lashes, and even lashes with sparkles or small fake diamonds set in—in other words, fake eyelashes for every occasion!

Tools and Accessories

To start, we suggest you have the following:

• A pair of small, sharp scissors
• A small tube of fixing glue
• A pair of tweezers
• Small eyelash curling tongs
• A small hand-held mirror

Undoubtedly, it takes a little practice to get to used to fixing and wearing fake eyelashes, but once you have mastered this, the effects are so uplifting that you’ll soon need to resist the temptation to wear them every day!

The process I follow goes like this:

Preparation

• Make sure the rest of the makeup around your eyes, eyebrows, and upper cheeks is complete
• For the En Femme eyelashes you choose, pick them out of the box with tweezers for ease of handling
• It’s important to “size” the lashes and make sure they are not too wide for your eyes. Carefully hold the lash strips up against your eyelid, and trim them to the size you want. Typically, the lashes should be longer toward the outer corner of the eye
• Take both edges of each lash and bend them inwards to create a “C” shape, holding for a couple of seconds. This is the best way to take out the straightness of the lash and ensure it moulds to your curved eye shape, in such way it stays in place more effectively without the corners lifting up once you are wearing them
• Take the small curling tongs and gently use on your existing eyelashes; this is to make them curl up to match the curl of the fake eyelashes

Ready, Set, Go

• Now the tricky part starts: squeeze a thin line of eyelash glue onto the back of one of your hands. Allow the glue to dry slightly for 10-15 seconds before gently running the outer seam of the eyelash strip through the glue
• If required, add a little extra glue directly to the eyelashes at both the inner and outer corners so the glue won’t unstick and the eyelashes won't peel off when you blink
• Place the strip on your eyelid, positioning it as close as possible to your natural lashes. Lower the strip down from above, not from the front. This is to ensure that you get as close as possible to your lashline. In fact, it’s best aim for the base of your natural lash line, right on top of your real lashes, not touching the eyelid at all. The glue will dry clear, so you don’t need to worry if a little gets on your skin. Don’t worry if you can’t get the line right the first time—practice makes perfect. Sometimes it’s a question of trial and error and it may be necessary to peel of the lash and reapply, adding a little more glue as necessary
• The application of your lashes may be a little harder for contact lens wearers or this of us who, shall we say, are a little older and can’t see as well close up as we used to!
• In any event, be patient getting the lash application right and also be patient by allowing the glue to dry naturally. Once the strip is in the place you want, you do not need to press or hold it

At Last They're On

• Now apply mascara to your lashes, as this will help your natural lashes blend with the fake ones, achieving a more natural look. The colour of the mascara is obviously up to you, but I recommend black, dark gray, or brown
• Carefully apply liquid eyeliner along your upper lids, making sure you fill in any gaps between the fake lashes and your own to make them look more natural
• Look in the mirror again and again. Smile! Did you know you had such beautiful eyes and eyelashes?
• For the first few minutes you may be conscious of your new eyelashes but they settle in and soon you’ll have forgotten about them and will be out and about socialising, chatting, and having a good time—maybe without anyone knowing your secret

Taking Them Off

• It’s a hard decision when you come to have to take off your fake eyelashes but when you do, dip a q-tip in eye makeup remover and gently rub it along your lash line. Allow the remover to settle for a minute or so, and gently pull off the strip
• Alternatively you can hold your eyelid with one hand and gently pull off the lash strip with the other, then proceed to cleaning

Well, it wasn’t quite as hard as you thought, was it? It’s a bit like wearing contact lenses. Once you get used to them, 9 times out of 10 it’s plain sailing—and even when it’s not, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages!

Hey there, beautiful eyes!