This Mascara Method Reigns Supreme For Mile-Long Lashes

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Sculpting your eyelashes is an artform. It's easy to swipe any old mascara wand through your lashes and call it a day, but to truly maximize your product and achieve an ultra voluminous, flirty and fluffy, or endlessly lengthy look, there's a certain degree of finesse involved. Just watch your friends apply their favorite mascara — everyone has their preferred technique. Some people blink to coat their lashes from root to tip, while others wiggle the brush in a few different sections. But is there a mascara method that reigns supreme for extra fluttery lashes? And what kinds of common mistakes do the pros often see when you go to apply your favorite formula? We asked, they answered.

Prep Your Lashes For Mascara

According to celebrity makeup artist and Neen founder Jeanine Lobell, we all need to stop rushing through our makeup routines first thing in the morning, especially if you want to emphasize your lashes. "When you put on mascara right after your morning shower, your lashes tend to 'spike together,'" she says. "I either wait or, while I am drying my hair, I give my lashes a quick blast [of heat]." If you're in a rush, Lobell suggests dipping a finger into some pressed powder and sandwiching your lashes together to help them separate and dry. This will allow the mascara to better grip your lashes and define the hairs for a fluttery effect.

"Another common mistake is not wiping off the tip of your mascara in the tube," she says. "Doing this will help you make less of a mess." Yes, chunky doll lashes are a popular trend at the moment, but if you want to avoid unwanted mascara clumps, remove the excess formula from the brush before you start applying.

Pick the Right Mascara Brush

Mascara wands come in every shape imaginable these days, but Lobell tends to reach for larger, fluffier options, like the Revlon ColorStay Xtensionnaire Lengthening Mascara, for top lashes as they deliver a thicker, fuller look. "On the lower lashes, I often just dab a tiny fan brush onto the mascara wand for better application control," she says. "Plus, this puts the mascara closer to the root of the bottom lash, in case you don't want it to look too spidery."

Of course, if you want subtle, doe-like lashes, a shorter silicone brush, like with Saie Mascara 101, will help you coat your lashes in a thin layer to lift and lengthen the hairs. When in doubt, try out a few wands to see the differences in application and end result. This will help you to determine which best fits your beauty aesthetic.

"Paint" on Your Mascara

Although there are some people who will hold their mascara brush close to the lash line and blink multiple times to coat the hairs, Lobell is not necessarily a fan of that approach. As she says, "I am a painter, not a blinker. The key is starting the application at the point where you want the most effect." If you want a cat-eye, she suggests starting at the outer corner. For a more open, starry-eye effect ("think Cher"), begin in the middle. Avoid starting at the inner corner as this will likely cause smudging as you move outwards toward your other lashes.

Makeup artist and KJH Brand founder Katie Jane Hughes stresses that you should try to get as close to the root of your lashes as you can when applying mascara. "Definitely wiggle [the wand] and sweep upwards or out, depending on if you want to create a fanned out of a doe [eye] look." Begin at the base of your lashes and gently rock your hand back and forth as you move up the section. No need for any dramatic movement, either — it's a very subtle motion.

Lobell adds that, if you have a new mascara, it may take a few dips in the tube to adequately coat the wand so you can achieve an even layer on your lashes. As she says, "Don't be shy! Mascara is always your friend." Trust us, you'll be a mascara pro in no time.