Consider this the beauty equivalent of a witness statement, as I’m about to plead my case for the end of mascara and the beginning of a lifetime of false lash wearing. I’ve been wearing false lashes for over 10 years and while I usually balk at people who self-proclaim that they’re experts, I honestly deserve the title. 

My false lash journey started in a hotel room in Manhattan way back in 2010, when I decided that my natural eyelashes (which have all the volume and length of a scraggy nose hair) were not conducive to me living my best life. So I switched out my 20-minute process of layering multiple mascaras and started layering strip lashes instead. I’ve never looked back.

They make my eyes look brighter and bigger and even when I’m not wearing much make-up, I always look “done”. But, most importantly, they save me a lot of time. Now it takes me less than a minute to apply my false lashes and I don’t even need a mirror.

And since my first discovery, I’ve put in a decade of hard labour, learning both the tricks and pitfalls, so you can bypass the shame of having to reapply your lifting lashes in a coffee shop, wake up to remnants of encrusted glue in the corner of your eyes or scratch your eyeballs with tweezers. You can thank me later.

Want in on the false lash revolution? Here’s my tried and tested guide, sharing everything you need to know.

I always apply my false lashes after I’ve finished my eye make-up, which consists of eyeshadow and liquid liner. Until you can nail the placement, you’ll need to pair liquid eyeliner with your lashes for the foreseeable future. It hides a multitude of application sins, so don’t skip it. You can then apply a thin coat of mascara to your natural lashes so they blend with the false ones.

Go for strip lashes instead of individual lashes as they’re always pretty limp-looking and take entirely too long to apply: you just don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. As you take your strip lashes out of the packaging, be careful not to damage them as I’ve had many lash casualties from ripping them out. Before you apply the glue, place the lashes over your lids to see if they’re the right size; you might need to use some small scissors to cut them if they’re too long (and always, always cut from the inner corner). 

Once your lashes are ready to apply, you’ll need to squeeze some glue onto a clean surface and then dab a small amount to the spines of your lashes. 

But first, let’s talk about glue, as getting the right one is make or break. Never use the small vial of glue that comes with the lashes. I tend not to trust anything that comes without a label and this is one instance where freebies will not work in your favour. Instead, get Duo Striplash Adhesive, £5.99. I use this exclusively and it’s never done me dirty. Once the glue is on the spine you want to wait at least 30 seconds for it to turn tacky.

On my very first application attempts, I spent over an hour trying to use tweezers to get the job done. Everyone says to use tweezers. I say: don’t.  With an eye, a strip of lashes and 10 fingers, you don’t need to add tweezers to the mix; it’s too many uncontrollable variables to contend with. Instead, use your non-dominant hand to gently pull your eye closed from the outer corner, then place the lash as close to your lash line as possible. As you’ll have liquid liner on, it’s OK if it doesn’t stick all at once. If you have to manoeuvre it a bit, that’s fine. Once it’s in place just press it down in sections. I usually apply my lashes in my bathroom mirror but a magnifying one will also help.

You can apply a little more mascara to the false lashes if you need to, as it can make them look more natural. Remember: lash application requires patience, so don’t give up if you make a mess out of it, it definitely took me some time to master.

Duo Striplash Adhesive available from Boots, £5.99

When people ask me how I can now manage to apply my lashes with one hand and my eyes open, the answer is always the same: just practise. Once I apply my lashes they last all day without any glue touch-ups, but of course always leave the house with eyelash glue and a cotton bud just in case.

I always re-use my lashes and all of the lashes I recommend below have lasted me well over a month. I gently peel excess glue from the spines after each use and clean them with micellar water or Eyelash Emporium Strip Lash Cleanser (£5.96) before leaving them to dry.

When you remove your lashes at the end of the day, don’t pull them off as you’ll end up taking your natural lashes out too. I use Garnier 2-in-1 Eye Make-Up Remover (£3.49), and press a cotton pad over my eyes for a few seconds, then you’ll be able to swipe off both lashes and make-up.

Eyelash Emporium Strip Lash Cleanser available at Superdrug, £5.96

Garnier 2-in-1 Eye Make-Up Remover available at Look Fantastic, £3.49

Lashes are not made equally and I’ve tried nearly every brand on the market, so these are all the lashes that I recommend and, trust me, there’s something in here for everyone. 

Images: Giselle La Pompe-Moore / courtesy of brands.