I received a curler with my makeup set that I bought on elf.com and frankly it scares me! It looks like a torture device. Luckily I don't need it because my eyelashes curl naturally, but it's still good to know how to use it and not be afraid of it. PS I adore Kevin Aucoin's makeup book!

Another question... I feel that my lashes are not as curly after I applied the masacara; is it just something about choosing the right masacara??

I've been noticing my once thick lashing are thinning out too. And I do the same thing, curling before and after mascara. The curl looks nice before the mascara but when I put it on the curl kind of looks weighed down and doesn't stay unless I curl again. Is this bad technique or the mascara's fault?

Someone once told me it was the mascara making my eyelashes fall out and not the curling.

Oh well, if eyelashes grow back anyway I'll just keep my beauty curling routine as is...both before and after mascara. I don't mascara OR curl daily anyway and only do both for special nights.

Ahhh yes! Hence why I only curl BEFORE too!
It even says on the direction when you buy one!
DON'T CURL AFTER APPLYING MASCARA!

I like to use my hair blow dryer to heat my curler up just a little bit before curling, then my lashes really stay in place!

Eeesh. I always put on mascara afterwards...I'm way too freaked about ripping my lashes out.

If the eyelash curler looks too much like a torture device, I've heard a great way to curl lashes is with a spoon. This site gives you a bit of info on how to do it:

http://www.beauty-advices.com/how-to-curl-your-eyelashes-properly/

Sounds interesting, but I'm far too addicted/in love with my shu uemura curler to ever give it up. Tweezerman also makes a great plastic curler that works really well, in case the metal ones freak you out too much.

This is an eyelash tip only for the bravest:
If you snip the very tiniest amount of lash from the ends of your lashes, they will grow back longer. I found out long ago from one of my high-school classmates who had the LONGEST eyelashes I have ever ever ever seen. She said they grew really long after she cut them all off when she was really little. (I imagine her mother FREAKED.)
Anyway, I decided to try it, but only snipping a tiny, unnoticable amount off one eye so I could compare it to the other and it totally worked! I've told other people about this, but they're too scared to try it. oh well, the secret's out for the taking!

katiedearest, i am soooo tempted to do that!! haha. i love my eyelashes but i wouldn't mind them being even LONGER! (& that's so funny because my best friend did the same thing when she was little and she has such pretty lashes now.)

I actually never use an eyelash curler. I just buy mascara that curls my eye lashes for me.

Does anyone have experience with the heated eyelash curlers? I've seen a few different kinds and I've wanted to try them.... any risk of burning your eyelid?

Here's a product review, Flames of June. They don't get scaryhot.

I never use an eyelash curler because I always end up hurting myself and i don't see that much different. I did try one of those heating ones once tho and it was pretty neat, too expensive though

KatieDearest you are braver than I am. I could never do that.

My lashes are so stinkin long that I had to cut them growing up so that they would not hit my glasses!
They are still long and I dont cut them anymore. But I wish they were thicker.

I have not found a heated curler that is worth it. I stick with the metal ones.

I actually had chopped a bunch off once when I did not realize there was NO PAD in the curler. I was Not Happy!!!

There's no way that cutting your lashes makes them grow longer. If anything, you just think they are longer because the ends are blunt rather than the natural tapered shape. It's the same principle as thinking shaving makes hair come in coarser.

Traction Alopecia

Opps. I didn't mean to hit that.

I once had a brow/lash lady tell me instead of forking out money for the heated ones, run a standard one under hot water for a minute, curl till it cools, then repeat. Works like a charm!

Omg I used a metal eye lash curler after I stepped on it and bent the metal... BAD IDEA b/c the metal bent so it was metal touching metal which equal scissors.... needless to say that eye grew back longer! YAY!!! But I never did it to my other side.. b/c it would be just my luck it wouldn't grow back.

Yikes! As if I needed another reason to avoid lash curling, you've given me one. For some reason, they give me the heebie-jeebies. Something about the scary-looking-ness of the device makes me want to keep it far, far from my eyes... rather ironic, I think, since I tightline EVERY DAY.

*Sigh.* Irrational fears. What can you do?

My lashes are very long, so I don't really need to curl them, but I like to. And it's definitely better to only curl before mascara application!

You guys should try the Sephora Heated Lash Curler...it's just like a wand that heats up (not very hot at all) and you just brush your lashed upward with it. I think it works well and the heat DOES seem to lock the lash curl in place. I think they're about $15 at Sephora.

trimming the eyelashes works. apparently. my parents cut mine when i was a kid. i don't remember so i must have been pretty young. but ever since my lashes have been really long and i don't need to curl them. so i guess i have my parents to thank for my good fortune.

Same with me. My itchy young hands and a pair of scissors apparently made my lashes longer! Its a story my parents loveeee to tell to embarass me haha. I cut them all off when i was 5 but i dont think the ladies wanna try that trimming sounds like a good idea

Omg I tried heating my eyelash curler once with my blow dryer, got it next to my eyelid and BUUUUUUUUUUURN. Needless to say shakey hands aren't good with that. So I'll stick to the regular routine of curling just before.

Oh, I would love to benefit from the effects of a lash curler again. It's just not going to happen, though. I get shivers reading about them. I used one faithfully in high school & one morning my hand slipped & it ripped all but three lashes (two on the left side & one on the right side of my lid) OUT! It was so traumatic!

You would think they would have grown back thicker, but they didn't.

I did try to use one again, a year or so ago, but my hand shook so much---from fear---that I had to just throw it in the trash!

but I find that my eyelashes are not as curly after i apply the mascara...but i haven't had a problem with my eyelashes falling out i don't think..

at the make up show, Eve Pearl showed us a pretty neat way of applying fake eyelashes in a way to create more curl.

She applies the eyelashes facing DOWNWARDS first, then as the glue gets a little more tacky, she takes an eyelash curler and curls all the lashes upwards. doing this helps the fake lashes pull up the natural lashes with it so that they look more 'natural'

I think hydrating your skin and especially the skin around the eyelid is another good way to hold onto your eyelashes. I know mine start to fall out when my skin is dry.

I love having curly eyelashes, it makes my eyes look that much more beautiful.

The absolute best one I have found is the Hot lashes heated eyelash curler! This small heater base heats only the strip in the curler and it gets warm. When I curl my lashes with this, the curl lasts till the next morning.

My boyfriend notices when I have my eyelashes curled, it makes such a big difference. My eyelashes are naturally super straight!

Since I got this Hot Lashes, I am now a eyelash curler junkie. Curled eyelashes and lipstick/gloss is it for me. Makes a big difference.I just never knew before what curled eyelashes could do.

i have asian stick straight (and short!) lashes, and im always curling my lashes before AND after i put on mascara. ive noticed some mascaras take away the curl entirely, while most just lessen the curl and make it look like i only curled the base - with the rest of my stick straight lashes sticking straight up!!! thus, my need for curling twice. i use waterproof shiseido lasting lift mascara and most times i dont need to recurl my lashes after, except when im looking for extra oompf or if it rained, was humid out, etc, and the curl is gone.

regarding the eyelash trimming, i am DEF going to try it and see if it works!! my lashes are so short now (prob. the double curling regime) and im looking to buy revitalash (talika works but i want dramatic results!)

thanks, guys!