Prosthetic and False Eyelashes
One of the more unique ways that women accentuate their eyes is through the use of prosthetic eyelashes or false eyelashes. Both terms actually refer to the same thing in basic principle, although the term “prosthetic lashes” is most often in reference to lashes made using natural hair fiber to give an organic appearance.
So, for the sake of simplicity, we’ll just use “False Lashes” as a catch-all and discuss the various types and their uses and differences. There are three main categories of “False Lashes”: Traditional, Individual, and Fashion.
Traditional False Lashes are usually synthetic (and sometimes natural) fiber lashes that are affixed to a thin strip to keep them together. The exact construction of the false lashes varies depending on the quality and price of the lashes. You may find some false lashes that are made using small rectangles of glossy nylon that are curved and then cut into strips, leaving a thin portion on one end to hold the lashes together. When the intact end of the lashes is bent to follow the curve of the eyelid, the fronds flare outward and create the look of long, shiny lashes.
Higher quality false lashes may have separate fiber “hairs” attached to a strip or weft like a miniscule and thin wig for the eyelids. The finest quality and most expensive lashes are usually made of human hair and are attached to a transparent weft to make them appear natural when affixed to the eyelid.
Traditional false lashes are affixed to the lids of the eye using a small amount of adhesive. The adhesive is generally very liquid and must be allowed to set and become tacky before it can be placed on the lid. Placement can be tricky and the adhesive must be allowed to fully dry before you can do any additional styling and manipulation.
Individual False Lashes:
Individual False Lashes are made using two to three “lashes” in a cluster that are then affixed to the base of the natural lashes with a small dot of adhesive. These are usually natural-looking fibers and are versatile in their use. You can use them to fill-out sparse lashes, or enhance parts of the lash area as desired. It all depends on how many lashes you add to the look.
Like traditional false lashes, individual lashes are affixed using adhesive, which is dabbed onto the end of the lashes, allowed to set and is then connected to the base of the natural lashes on the eyelids. The ability to create very natural looking lashes when using this type of false lash makes them a favorite among professional make-up artists.
Fashion (False) Lashes:
Fashion Lashes are often just a different variety of the traditional or individual style of false lash. The look may be somewhat “normal” in that is resembles a lash shape, except that the color may be vivid pink, or electric blue, even white. There are fashion lashes that are metallic foil and sparkle, or which have rhinestones affixed to them at various points along the shafts, or on the tips.
The key thing about fashion lashes is that they are used to create a fantasy, or artistic look. I’ve seen make-up looks that use feathers to adorn the lashes to give the impression of a bird or otherwise exotic creature. I’ve even seen the eye(s) transformed into a flower, through the use of flower petals around the eye as false lashes. With Fashion Lashes, the limit is your imagination.
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See also: More about make-up application