From smearing Vaseline on your eyes to massaging your lash line, there are a tonne of methods out there that promise to bestow upon us the gift of long, fluttery lashes. If you’ve tried all of the at-home tips and tricks that the internet has to offer, and nothing seems to work – it might be time to change your approach.
Lemon juice and petroleum jelly aside (and yes, those are real tips we’ve read but please don’t try them at home) – here are four tips for longer lashes that *actually* work.
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1 The right careYour eyelashes, just like the rest of your body, need to be looked after in the right way. The most important thing, really, is to handle your eyelashes with care and treat them with a delicate touch. Choose a mild make-up remover, or use an oil to remove eye makeup. If you wear mascara every day, and you’re finding that your eyelashes are weak or not growing, try cutting back on use, if possible. Alternatively, opt for a nourishing mascara with oils, vitamins, or other nutrients. Swapping from waterproof to non-waterproof mascara can also make a huge difference. Non-waterproof is much easier to remove, meaning fewer lashes are lost in the removal process. Finally, be super careful with your eyelash curler – try not to use it too often, and make sure not to pull the lashes whilst curling.
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2 Invest in a (safe) lash serum
Eyelash serums can do wonders for your lashes (and we’re speaking from experience, here), but it’s vitally important to choose one that won’t harm or irritate your eyes or lashes. Before purchasing, do thorough research or ask an eyelash pro or dermatologist for advice. Serums with the active ingredient bimatoprost keep your eyelash follicles in the growth phase (so really do work), but they could cause irritation, redness, and even discolouration of light eyes, depending on your reaction. So, again, it’s super important to pay close attention to the ingredients.
Once you’ve found the right serum for you, apply it daily, and ensure to apply it on a clean lash line. It can take several weeks to start to see results, so patience will be a virtue. And, if you suffer from any irritation, redness, burning, or itching – stop using immediately and speak to a doctor or dermatologist for advice.
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3 Try coconut oil or castor oil
If you find the whole eyelash serum business too tricky or complicated, or if you suffer from irritation at all, it might be worth looking into a natural option. Whilst there’s no evidence (yet, anyway), that castor oil or coconut oil actually lengthen lashes, there are plenty of people that swear by this method. Not to mention there are definitely other benefits that these oils can have. For example, both oils are great for moisturising and nourishing brittle and weak lashes. This gives eyelashes greater flexibility, and makes them less prone to breakage and damage, which in turn can translate into healthier and longer lash growth.
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4 Book a lash lift
Who would have thought that the saying ‘work smarter, not harder’, could also apply to your lashes? We love a lash lift for a million reasons, but primarily because it basically solves our obsession with growing our lashes. Who needs longer lashes, when we can achieve the same look through the power of *illusion* (stay with us here). A lash lift curls, lifts, and dyes your natural eyelashes – and can result in them looking twice as long – especially if your lashes don’t have much natural curl.
What’s more, you won’t need mascara for up to six weeks (a bonus in itself for all of us lazy gals), meaning your lashes will get a well-deserved break from makeup and removal, giving them time to recover and grow even more. It’s a win-win, really.
With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area.
