Whether your eyelashes are naturally sparse or you've suffered hair loss over time (or you just need some extra oomph without expensive hair growth treatments and eyelash extensions), there are some safe and super effective home remedies to boost (or easily fake) longer eyelashes. The best part? Most of these eyelash hacks involve your mascara and some other simple ingredients you probably have at home with you.
Instead of wasting hours on Internet forums and YouTube tutorials to figure out the best lash lengthening methods, just keep reading below for our breakdown of the 4 best ways to get longer lashes, fast.
1. Use an Eyelash Serum
Eyelash growth serums are available over-the-counter or by prescription and contain ingredients known to stimulate or imitate hair growth. There are a lot of eyelash serums out there, so before choosing this option for longer lashes, make sure to research all its ingredients and side effects first. Better yet, to be on the safe side, we recommend checking with your eye doctor or dermatologist before using any serums, and especially if you’ve used one and any irritation has occurred.
Already checked with your dermatologist and got the go-ahead to try out a hair growth product? Reach for FILORGA Optim-Eyes Lashes & Brows serum. Suitable for eyelashes and eyebrows, this two-step features the KERA-EXTEND CX complex combined with high-dose NCTF which helps give the appearance of longer eyelashes and fuller brows, while a colorless double-action matrix formula diffuses protein into your lashes to strengthen them so they don’t break. Cleanse your eye area and apply the serum at your lash line and brows, morning and night. Then apply the booster serum followed by the volumizing care formula, and voila! Say hello to longer, fuller eyelashes.
2. Hack Your Mascara Application
There are so many ways to hack long eyelashes. The first step should always be to look at what’s in your eye makeup collection. What kind of mascara do you currently have? If you're looking to get longer eyelashes, make sure you’re using a lengthening mascara like the THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara™, an Ipster favorite. It has an innovative, comb-shaped wand that reaches every last lash from root to tip. Another one we love is the EYEKO Lash Alert Mascara, also a top-ranked Ipster favorite, which has lengthening fibers and nourishing castor oil, shea butter, and carnauba wax to lift up lifeless natural lashes to the level of fake eyelashes.
Once you’ve got a solid lengthening mascara in hand, refer to our complete guide to applying mascara like a champ. Some killer eyelash growth hacks include: investing in an eyelash curler, using an eyelash primer (to keep mascara from smudging), holding the mascara wand vertically to hit lower lashes, coating both sides of your lashes, and more.
3. Try an At-Home Remedy
Full disclosure: at-home remedies aren’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but they sure are fun to experiment with (and definitely cost less than a trip to the eyelash extension salon). One of our favorite natural ways to fake longer eyelashes while boosting their strength and volume is an eyelid massage. It sounds silly, but all it takes is gently massaging the lash line (eyes closed) with your fingers for about 30 seconds to help stimulate hair growth. Use it as an excuse to apply a relaxing eye treatment mask afterward, like this GRACE & STELLA CO. Anti-Wrinkle + Energizing Eye Mask. It has hydrating hyaluronic acid and collagen to restore elasticity to your eye area.
Another at-home remedy you can’t go wrong with is using nourishing castor oil (or coconut oil). The BRIOGEO HAIR CARE B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil works great and also has hair growth-helping vitamin E. When you’ve tried those two natural remedies, adding some aloe vera can’t hurt. For aloe vera needs, the GRACE & STELLA CO. Aloe Vera Gel has got your back, and it comes in a pretty, sleek package, too.
4. Flaunt Some Falsies
Home remedies, lash hacks, and eyelash growth serums can work wonders, but when you need instantly longer eyelashes, nothing really beats false eyelashes. Sure, they’re not a long-term solution for eyelash growth, but they work great in a pinch. Plus, they’re available at any drugstore, quick and easy to apply, and (if used correctly) totally safe and non-damaging to your lash lines.
The best part about falsies, however, is that you can customize them to your liking by trimming them down or pairing them with a fun eyeliner or eyeshadow. For a mega long-lash look that will turn heads from miles away, you can’t go wrong with BEAUTYGARDE Supernova - False Lashes - Dramatic, Thick, and Varied. The intermittent bursts of sharp, angled lashes creates a truly multidimensional eye look for whenever you want to up your glam.