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Is an eyelash curler a necessity to your regular beauty routine?


Is an eyelash curler a necessity to your regular beauty routine? Or do you count on your mascara to curl?

I’ve gotten pretty good at making sure to curl lashes with an eyelash curler! Maybe not absolutely necessary but worth taking a few seconds to use.

Thanks to Kafka for today’s question!

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96 Comments

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Eve1 Avatar

I curl my eyelashes every time I wear mascara – I have weird straight eyelashes on one of my eyes, so an eyelash curler is 110% required!

EstherKudron Avatar

when I was younger and took ballet, my mom curled my lashes for performances, but I’ve never been able to do it to myself. I focus on the scary-looking thing getting dangerously close to my eye and won’t let it get close enough to actually grab my lashes. so I count on my mascara to do the job.

xamyx Avatar

For some reason, every time I curl my lashes, it just looks really odd. I have a natural “lift” to my lashes, so if I curl them, they just go to far back. So, no, I don’t personally have any use for a los curler, although I have been curious about the half-lash curler from MAC.

xamyx Avatar

For some reason, every time I curl my lashes, it just looks really odd. I have a natural “lift” to my lashes, so if I curl them, they just go to far back. So, no, I don’t personally have any use for a lash
curler, although I have been curious about the half-lash curler from MAC.

queen_frostine Avatar

I find the an eyelash curler to be an incredibly necessary tool in my beauty arsenal. maybe as important as the mascara itself.  Even on the rare day when I skip makeup all together, I still curl my lashes.  Doing so makes my lashes look instantly longer and my eyes look larger.   And even when I do use mascara, I can tell when I’ve skipped curling them first.  When my lashes just stick straight outwards, the length and volume my mascara adds just isn’t that noticeable.  Curling makes a huge difference.

temadher Avatar

I do like the effect they give, but am terrified of them.
I call them torture devices,
maybe it is the shape of my eyelids but most times I pinch them with the curler
i just bought a plastic open type but still afraid to try.

Alison Cole Avatar

 @temadher I find the Shu Uemura eyelash curler the only one curved and fitted enough not to crimp/pinch my eyelashes flat, so maybe consider giving that one a try!

sea_andstars Avatar

 @temadher They certainly do LOOK like torture devices don’t they!?!?!  I remember the first time I saw one my friend was showing me how to do makeup and my response was HOLY SH** WHAT IS THAT THING x.x

queen_frostine Avatar

 @temadher Have you tried one with a spring attached to the lever?  I used a cheap one by Revlon that had this feature for a long time and found it much easier to work with if you’re prone to lid pinching.  The spring prevented you from squeezing down too hard or too quickly, which made it more goofproof than your average curler.

Kathy S Avatar

@temadher. When you place the lash curler, don’t mash down on it right away. Close it slowly to be sure that you’re not hurting yourself, then crimp away. I crimp once close to the lash, then tip the bottom of the curler up about a .5 to 1 mm and crimp again. You could tilt the curler like that to start, to see if you like it. Also, when I curl someone else’s lashes, I push their brow up a bit to position the lashes for curling; you could try that, but it may be awkward. Remember, it’s in your control and slower is better! HTH!

temadher Avatar

 @Kathy S @queen_frostine @sea_andstars @Alison Cole 
thanks for the tips,
I like my lashes anyway curled with mascara or even without 🙂
I will give the shu Uemera my teenage daughter has one.

John 3D Avatar

I wish I could say it is a necessity; even guys look better with curled lashes. But alas, since I don’t wear mascara of any color (my face isn’t the most masculine-looking, so mascara really just looks off on me), even if I do curl my lashes, they won’t stay curled. So I’ve given up. Come to think of it, I should probably do a giveaway or something with my Shu Uemura Curlers, since I know how difficult it is to obtain them now that Shu has pulled out of the US. I got mine right before they did. Why did they do that anyways, considering the US is such a large (potential) financial pool?
 
Hm, or maybe (and I just thought of this now) I could use clear mascara or a mascara primer to hold a curl in place… I’ll have to try it out. Ideas anyone?

queen_frostine Avatar

 @John 3D I’d try the clear mascara before I’d try the mascara primer as a lot of primers don’t dry clear or dark.

Quinctia Avatar

 @John 3D  @queen_frostine Nyx makes a clear mascara, but I’ve only ever used it as a brow gel, haha!  It worked okay for that.  At least the price point is low enough that it might be worth a shot.

xamyx Avatar

@John 3D I wouldn’t use a primer, as they would leave the lashes with a white coat, but a clear mascara may work. Have you tried one of those lash curlers that heat up? (I don’t know if they actually work because I never use lash curlers)

Makaegan Avatar

Absolutely. I have fairly large, deep-set dark eyes and light skin, so my eyes are pretty much the focal point of my face most of the time. But my lashes, even though they’re nearly black and decently long, tend to disappear because they’re so straight that they actually tend to point down. Curling is a multi-step process for me, but it’s a necessity when I’m wearing makeup (and sometimes even when I’m not) in order for me to actually look awake and–i’ll be honest–sober. I think if there was only one step of my makeup routine that I considered absolutely necessary it would be curling my lashes…so much so that I’ve actually considered those eyelash perms that some salons do.

hwendy Avatar

my lashes are way too short to bother!
but i use eye lashes primer from shiseido to give and hold the curls and to extend the length. It works very well actually.  

Alison Cole Avatar

I think its worth the effect, but not an absolute necessity! I do think that its probably one of the more neglected parts of many people’s beauty regimen because its underrated, though. 

Quinctia Avatar

Nope.  Don’t own one, haven’t ever used one.  I’m a wavy/curly headed gal whose eyelashes already nearly hit her eyebrows, so I am lucky enough to have one less step in my routine.

wwendalynne Avatar

A necessity for me!  My eyelashes stick straight out of my eyes and actually point downwards almost.  If I apply mascara without curling my lashes, it looks a bit bizarre.  Sometimes I just go without the curling and mascara altogether particularly if I am wearing a really bold or dark lip. 

mimozagirl Avatar

I don’t even own an eyelash curler…  I’m perfectly fine with the effect of mascaras. I think I’m lucky with my lashes 🙂 

CatherineM Avatar

I don’t really like using them, since I once ripped out a few (thankfully) lashes when my boyfreind startled me in the bath. Now I tend to stay away from lash curlers. Luckily my lashes are somewhat curled by nature and I can count on my mascara to do the rest…

CaliRogue Avatar

An eyelash curler is a necessity to my regular beauty routine if I want my eyes to look as good as they can. I admit that’s not everyday; sometimes I just brush on some mascara (after my face routine) and go. When I use a curler AND mascara, my eyes look great. I need a new curler, by the way, so any suggestions would be appreciated!

Kathy S Avatar

I always curl my lashes! Thanks to Tarte’s lash primer, I have long, full lashes that need to be curled before mascara and in the afternoon, to make me look more awake. Sorry that’s off topic, but I wanted to put that out there in case someone wanted theirs to be fuller, too.

Marie Avatar

It’s absolutely necessary for me.
I have hooded lids, with long straight lashes. The hood makes them point downwards, giving the illusion that I have few lashes. Simply curling them make them more visible and it opens up my eyes.

Adelita Avatar

Definitely! I’m fortunate enough to have naturally long (but anorexic) eye lashes, but damn, my lashes reallllllyyyy love gravity! 😐

Nic Avatar

Definitely.  My lashes are fairly long but pretty straight, so I always curl them and then use a waterproof mascara to hold the curl.

Victoria Avatar

Im sure if I’d get great results but I hate when I get pinched by them. Besides, my lashes have a slight curl, I good mascara usually gives me good results anyway so not necessary for me.

xamyx Avatar

For some reason, every time I curl my lashes, it just looks really odd. I have a natural “lift” to my lashes, so if I curl them, they just go to far back. So, no, I don’t personally have any use for a lash
curler, although I have been curious about the half-lash curler from MAC.

Mariella Avatar

I was so excited when I found the iconic Shu lash curler and bought it but I have to say that I’m disappointed in the results.  Honestly, I don’t see all that much difference when I use it. I thought my eyes would look all bright and and wide awake and my lashes would look stupendous but maybe my lashes are curled already – once I apply mascara, I see little difference and I think I actually prefer my lashes “uncurled” – the curler seems to curve them inward, no matter what I do or how I hold it.

Jackie Avatar

 @Mariella I agree.  I had heard so much about the Shu Uemura eyelash curler and when I actually tried it…I really didn’t notice that much of a difference compared to other eyelash curlers.  It’s not a BAD eyelash curler, just not as great as everyone had made it out to be.

Ani_BEE Avatar

I have a slight curl to my lasshe that is helped with a waterproof mascara. So for daily use no I skip the Eyelash Curler as I down play my makeup, but If I’m doing something more I whip out my Shu Uemura curler for sure.

neelachloe Avatar

For me, yes. I have yet to find a mascara that will hold a curl for me (super long thick lashes, but they are straight). So unless I want to look like I have no eyelashes, I have to curl before and after.

Emi at Project Swatch Avatar

I find that using mascara makes my eyelashes curl a bit, so I usually skip using a curler.  I also don’t have one I like — but, I just ordered the Shu one, so we’ll see if once I own a good quality one I start using it more often!

Nesita Avatar

It’s definitely a must for me. If I’m wearing mascara I always curl my lashes beforehand, it makes a huge difference on my eyes.

kse93 Avatar

I have too. I have the straightest lashes ever.
 
Thinking about that, does anyone know any good curling mascaras? I curl my lashes with my she umera curler which I love, but they seem to fall after about after minutes. Any suggestions?

Angelcat47 Avatar

 @kse93
 Try lightly heating your eyelash curler with a blowdryer first,but test it on your inner arm first to make sure it’s not too hot.Or use a heated eyelash curler like I do.

moushka26 Avatar

Absolutely! I have fine, straight eyelashes that point straight downward. If I don’t use the eyelash curler, even with mascara they’re barely visible. I don’t bother looking for length in a mascara, just volume, but the curler makes ALL the difference.

Miss J Avatar

Yup, it’s essential for me. My lashes are average in length, but they are very fine, stick straight, and point downward. Using a lash curler really opens up my eyes, and it also prevents my lashes from stabbing into my eye. I’ve been using the MAC half lash curler because it really gets the inner and outer lashes like no other curler I’ve tried.

noumenia Avatar

Rarely in the past, now never. I found that looking for the right curling mascara does the job for me. Right now MAC Plushlash is fantastic and gives me the curl I want.

BeautyPopShop - By Makeup Chic, Literary Geek Avatar

Heck yes! I’m still baffled by the many makeup lovers I know that don’t use one … ever! I blame my sad, pathetic lashes for my severe attachment to my eyelash curlers (yes I have more than 1) 😉

N Jeannette Ricci-Varillas Avatar

No, because my eyelashes do not hold a curl. I was blessed with long lashes but they stick straight. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Tai O'Leary Avatar

Yes. I have really light short lashes and they need all the help they can get. I’ll skip if I’m staying in or if I’m running out real quick with minimal makeup.

Patrick Morgan Avatar

For me personally, no. I already have a natural curl to my long lashes. I tried to curl my lashes once and they just look odd.

Conniption Queen Avatar

No, my eyelashes do not hold a curl and I find them incredibly invasive and the feeling of curled lashes is so alien to me I just never bother. I dont personally feel like I need one.

Carly Herecomestrouble Rosen Avatar

My lashes are very straight, so lash curlers are essential to me. They do get on my nerves though. I’m very tempted to get them permed instead.

The Biz Beauty Avatar

I have straight lashes that point straight out or sometimes slightly down, so curling is a must. However, I’ve given up my mechanical curler for a heated curler – it does a WAY better job on my lashes – I can actually control the direction and degree to which the lashes curl, the curl lasts MUCH longer than with a mechanical curler, and if I want to touch up the curl with mascara on (actually you’re supposed to use the heated curlers after you apply your mascara), there’s no danger of lashes sticking to the curler and possibly being ripped out. I like the Dior curler alright, but my holy grail heated curler is from Japonesque – I buy mine from Duane Reade in NYC. I haven’t yet tried the Dior/any curler with some of the mascaras Dior claims will work with the heat from the curler – has anyone here done that? How were the results?

Kafka Avatar

I’ve never used an eyelash curler, though a MUA used one on me once before a big party. I am sheepish enough to admit, I’m slightly terrified of them. One of my biggest childhood phobias was going blind and I can get a bit twitchy even walking near people with umbrellas on a crowded street lest I get my eye poked out. (Let’s not even start at movies involving people doing things to the eyes. Clockwork Orange…. *shudder*  Actually Clockwork Orange and eyelash curlers are rather associated in my mind….) I have naturally super curly hair so I think my eyelashes curl enough as it is but even if they don’t, too bad for me. LOL.  🙂

tenlover Avatar

I must curl my lashes!!! I haven’t found a mascara that will get the job done without curling them. I do have some rather dry Nyx doll eye mascara that works pretty well at curling them but I don’t know if it is just because it is starting to dry out or what. I don’t remember it working so well when it was new. 

GracieGee Avatar

i dont usually curl my lashes.. i dont really like uses them. thankfully im blessed with long lashes.. so mascara works perfect for me.. BEST TIP- LAYER YOUR MASCARAS!

Ashley Todd Avatar

Yes! I have pretty long lashes that already curl and it just enhances them even more and open my eyes up even more! I’m so used to using it by now it doesn’t bother me..

ingerasata Avatar

I’m fortunate to have naturally curled lashes and I really don’t need an eyelash curler. They stay curled all day long no matter what mascara I use.

eltscott Avatar

I’ve tried a couple, but I’m lucky in the eyelash department. With a good mascara, there is no need to curl. It’s an unnecessary step for me.

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