I’ll never forget staring down a wall of false eyelashes at the drugstore and feeling so lost. The options (mink vs synthetic, wispy vs natural? What does all this mean?) made my head spin. I even learned that a whopping “74% of people find it necessary to trim fake eyelashes to fit their eye size” – a stat I wish I’d known before I pulled my first strip off and stuck it on upside-down! My very first application was a mess: glue everywhere, lashes poking, and nothing blending. A salon blog warned beginners about all this: “Will store-bought adhesive irritate your eyes? … Are you okay knowing that drugstore lashes are temporary and may not withstand moisture (showering, swimming, humidity, sweat) or sleeping like professional lash extensions do?”, it cautioned – and suddenly my flapping lash strip made sense. Despite the frustration, I kept thinking, “There must be a way to make these work!” So I read and experimented.

Pretty quickly, I realized a few game-changing tips. First, measure and trim: always hold the lash band against your eye and cut off any extra length. (One guide even notes this is so common that most people do it.) That simple step made the lash fit much more comfortably. I also found out there are different styles for different eye shapes – who knew? A lash guide explained that round lashes (longest in the middle) give a doll-eyed, open look, while flared lashes (longer on the outer corners) give a cat-eye effect. In my case, picking a style suited to my (slightly almond) eyes made me look less surprised-eyed and more put-together. It’s amazing what a difference the right shape can make!

What about glue? I learned to be patient: put a thin line of adhesive along the band, wait about 30 seconds for it to get tacky, then apply. It sounds like so much, but it works. (I used to slap the glue on and immediately stick the lash, only to watch it slide all over. Oops!) And hey, one tip says strip lashes are generally easiest for beginners, so I stopped trying the fancier individual or magnetic ones until I got more practice. I also discovered something obvious: always peel lashes off before bed. Yup, another guide reminded me to “remove your lashes before you go to bed, and … keep them in a sealable package”. Sleeping in those lashes is just asking for smudged glue and tired eyes, as I learned the hard way.

Trim before you glue. Always measure the lash strip on your eyelid and trim any excess. A lash expert tip: 74% of people do this to get a perfect fit.

Start simple. Choose a basic strip lash with a thin band (these are easiest for beginners) and a good-quality glue. Wait ~30 seconds after applying glue to the band so it’s tacky. This helps the lash stick without sliding.

Blend and perfect. Use a tweezer or small applicator to press the lash in gently, from the inner corner to the outer. After it sets, use a bit of eyeliner or mascara on your natural lashes to merge everything seamlessly.

Clean and reuse. Instead of trashing a lash after one use, give it some love: remove all the old glue and any makeup from the band. Let the strip air-dry. One beauty blog notes that with proper care, a pair can last many wears (some say up to 20 times). Now I stash mine in their case!

Comfort is key. If your eyes sting or water, remove them carefully. Salon pros warn that cheap lashes and glues can irritate if you have allergies, so go slow and consider a hypoallergenic glue or a patch test if needed.

I used to throw lashes out after one use… until I found out how to care for them. Now I can reuse a pair many times.

Every time I look back on my lash fails, I’m grateful for those little tips I picked up: trimming the band, letting glue tack up, and giving my strips a gentle clean after each wear. It turned out to be a lot like any new skill – awkward at first, but quickly rewarding once you get the hang of it. If I could go back in time, I’d tell newbie-me, “Relax, read a guide, and practice a bit.”

For anyone else who’s just starting and feeling as bewildered as I was, here’s a friendly suggestion: check out Here’s the full post I wish I had before I started. It’s a beginner’s guide that covers all of this (drugstore vs salon options, styles for your eye shape, budgeting, and aftercare). I read it after a few tries, and honestly, it would have saved me so much trial-and-error. Happy lashing!