How to Make Your Lashes Look Longer

While some people love false eyelashes and eyelash extensions, you need not spend a lot of money or time to get the long-lashed look. Whether you have short, pale eyelashes, or dark, thick eyelashes, you can make them look longer with a few simple tools.

Step 1

Curl your eyelashes. For staying power, use a heated eyelash curler and hold the lashes for up to 20 seconds. If you are concerned about damaging fragile lashes, you can use an unheated curler or curl the lashes for a shorter amount of time.

Step 2

Apply an eyelash primer. You can use a drugstore brand, such as Almay or a boutique brand like MAC Prep and Prime Lash. A primer adds fibers to your lashes to make them appear thicker and longer.

Step 3

Choose a lengthening mascara. Some popular brands are Flirt’s Far Out Lengthening Mascara, Maybelline Sky High Curves and Imju Fiberwig, a Japanese brand available at Sephora. Some people prefer gentle, organic mascaras, while others like waterproof formulations.

Step 4

Apply two coats of mascara. One great technique for amping up length and volume is to wiggle the mascara wand as you move from the roots to the ends of your lashes. This method coats the entire lash in mascara, rather than just the bottom of the lash.

Step 5

Finish the look. If your eyelashes are prone to clumping, you can use an eyelash brush to gently redistribute the mascara and separate your eyelashes. You can opt to apply an additional coat of clear mascara with a conditioners to add volume and sheen.