July 13, 2009
How to Apply Falsh Eyelashes
One of the side effects of chemotherapy is the loss of hair. What the average person may not realize is that someone undergoing Chemo looses all body hair, not just the hair on ones head. I lost the hair on my head within 2 1/2 weeks after my first Chemotherapy session. But I didn’t lose my eyebrows and eyelashes until more than 8 weeks later.
In preparation for loosing my eyelashes, I had purchased a set of false eyelashes so I would have them ready when I needed them. Well, last Saturday, I needed them.
Here is how to apply your false eyelashes. Apply all of your other make-up first, including ALL of your eye make-up, including liner. If you are fortunate enough to have your own eyelashes, you can apply a thin layer of mascara, just to plump up your own lashes. Allow it to dry before proceeding.
Before the first use, you must make sure that the eyelashes you purchased are the correct width for your eyes. If they are too wide, then simply snip off a little bit from the outside edge of the lash. You want to keep the integrity of the inside of the lash where it is shaped. Having the correct width is important because you want the lashes to look natural and to lay flat against your eyelid which they will not do if they are too wide across your eyelid.
I purchased an eyelash starter kit made by Andrea. I purchased black lashes which I would recommend for most wearers. The exception would be if you have extremely light blond hair and light lashes and eyebrows. In that case you should consider a brown lash. It is difficult to pick out a set of eyelashes the first time because there are so many styles to choose from. My Andrea lash Starter Kit has the number 53 on it. This corresponds to the actual style of the lash that I purchased since I prefer a more natural looking eyelash. I am not interested in a fakey, showgirl type of lash which can be fun to wear at times, but not for what I needed. I needed to look as normal as possible and just to give my eyes the semblance of a lash.
The reason I purchased the “Starter Kit” is because it contains a tool to help you apply your eyelashes. When I wore false eyelashes years ago, I always used a pair of special tweezers to hold and apply my eyelashes and I wanted to compare the new tool to my previous method. I think it would be a fair investment for the beginner, but I found the tool not as easy to use as I had hoped it would be. But then, I am out of practice myself!
A word about the eyelash adhesive. They now have one that dries a dark grey or black. In the future I would invest in the dark lash adhesive, because the dark glue will help to create the impression of eyeliner and hide any unevenness in applying your lashes. My kit came with clear adhesive which is fine.
Now for the fun part! Take one eyelash and insert in your tool or in your tweezers. Carefully apply a thin line of lash adhesive to the edge of your false eyelash. Remove any excess adhesive with a toothpick. Wait about 20 seconds. Then bring the lash up and over your own eyelash setting it down firmly along your eyelash line making sure the ends are secure. You can check with a small compact size mirror to see if your lashes are on securely and where you want them to be. The glue will dry in about 4 minutes.
Don’t allow yourself to become frustrated. You are learning a new skill and it takes time to master new skills. Portland Firefly strongly advises that you practice applying your lashes a few times before your big event… just to give yourself more confidence and to get the hang of it.
When you want to remove them, simply grab the outside edge and gently pull them off. After you remove the old adhesive, store them back where they came from to help your eyelashes keep their shape. Have fun!!!!
