The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (2024)

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, think of lashes as the Venetian blinds—you want to really open them up to let the light in and get the best view.

The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (1)

Click here for more beauty advice from Brian.

The simple act of curling—it takes less than five minutes in the morning, I promise you—helps to achieve just this. When done properly, the process won’t damage your lashes—even if you do it every day. “Curling really highlights and frames your natural eye shape, giving you a more fresh, awake look,” says celebrity and editorial makeup artist Todd Harris, who’s worked on the faces of Padma Lakshmi and Pamela Anderson. Adds Cardi B’s makeup artist Erika La’ Pearl, “It visually lifts the whole area and gives your eyes a more elongated, exotic look.”

Before you begin, you’ll want to apply the bulk of your eye makeup—shadow, liner—first (hold off on mascara until after you’ve curled). Harris recommends sticking to a waterproof liner so you don’t mess it up while you’re curling. “You’re going to have to get really close to the base of your lashes when you curl, and the pressure of the actual tool can cause liner to smudge or transfer,” he says.

After that, it’s just a few simple steps to bright-eyed. To get the best results, here's how to expertly curl your lashes.

First, make sure your lashes are clean.

    Even those who are regularly curling already often miss this step—and it’s an important one, says Harris. “Take some micellar water or eye makeup remover and swipe it over the area using a cotton round,” he explains. “It removes the residue from the natural oils on your lashes, which can prevent you from getting the best curl.”

    Then, choose your tools wisely.

    You’ll want to pick an eyelash curler suited to your eye shape. This ensures all of your lashes—even the teeny tiny hairs on the outer corners—get into that curler. For rounder eyes, Harris loves the one from Surratt Beauty. If your eyes have a more almond shape, he recommends going with Suqqu’s version.

    Consider heating your curler with a hair dryer.

    Before you get started, La’ Pearl has a handy hack she says can help you get an even more defined curl: heating the curler with a warm hair dryer first. It works similarly to the way battery-powered heated curlers do, using temperature to mold lashes into a curved shape. (Just please make sure the curler isn’t scalding—slightly warm to the touch should do the trick.)

    Start clamping in an upward motion.

    Once you’ve chosen the right tool, get it as close to your lash line as possible—without clamping down on your skin, of course. Press down hard, pulsing once or twice, and then rotate your wrist so you’re bending the curler upward toward your forehead. Hold that position for a few seconds. “The combination of the pressure and the bending motion is what gives your lashes that lifted curl,” Harris says. Unclamp, and repeat the process once or twice more down the length of your lashes.

    If you’re wearing false eyelashes, both Harris and La’ Pearl recommend applying them first and then going back in to curl, which will help meld your natural lashes with your falsies, which are often pre-curled.

    Your lash-curling toolkit

    The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (3)

    Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash Curler

    This curler is perfect for those with round eyes.

    The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (4)

    SUQQU Eyelash Curler

    If you have almond-shaped eyes, this is the curler for you.

    The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (5)

    Giorgio Armani Waterproof Mascara

    To enhance your lashes post-curling, use this waterproof mascara.

    You can also trying it without a curler.

    Both of our pros insist you can get dramatic fringe without using an eyelash curler too. Harris says that pressing your lashes up against the curved side of a spoon can mimic the effect of the technique above—just be careful not to pull your lashes. "Curlers are calibrated to be gentle on your lashes, so these hacks can be effective but you need to exercise caution when trying them," he says.

    La' Pearl's hack is even simpler: After applying mascara (in this case, the product actually helps lashes hold a curled shape), just press lashes up using your index finger, holding them in place for a few seconds.

    Apply a waterproof mascara for a longer lasting curl.

    Choosing a waterproof formula is your best bet here. “Many mascaras are water based,” says Harris. “And, just like the hair on your head, the more water you put on your lashes, the more likely it is that they’ll return to their original shape, especially if you have naturally straight lashes that don’t hold a curl.” Using a waterproof formula is key to getting a long-lasting curl.

    Harris recommends Giorgio Armani’s Eyes To Kill waterproof mascara, while La’ Perl is partial to the Too Faced Better Than Sex waterproof formula. Make sure to get the wand as close to the base of your lashes as possible (“It really makes your lashes look much thicker,” says Harris) and add one or two coats through to the ends.

    And there you have it: Bambi lashes for all!

    The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (6)

    Brian Underwood

    Beauty Director

    Brian Underwood is the beauty director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for several national media outlets and previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and many more. He also serves as a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.

    The Best Way to Curl Your Eyelashes (2024)

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Kieth Sipes

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6476

    Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Kieth Sipes

    Birthday: 2001-04-14

    Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

    Phone: +9663362133320

    Job: District Sales Analyst

    Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

    Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.