How to Apply Bottom Lashes (Lower Lashes)

The first time I tried lower lashes, I lost one on my cheekbone, glued the other to my contact lens, and seriously considered a lifetime of low-tier mascara. But once I learned the actual technique, bottom lashes became the single most flattering thing in my makeup bag. They made my eyes look bigger, brighter, and somehow more rested—even after a 6am flight.

WHY BOTTOM LASHES CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE FACE

Most eye makeup focuses on the upper lid, but your lower lash line is what frames your eye. Sparse lower lashes make the eye look smaller and the under-eye area look heavier. Adding a few wispy lower lashes visually lifts the eye and balances the fullness of the upper lash line. It's the difference between a portrait and a passport photo.

THE ANATOMY OF A PERFECT LOWER-LASH APPLICATION

Here's the exact process I use, down to the minute.

1. Trim the lash to fit your eye. Hold the lower lash strip against your lower lash line. It should start a few millimeters from your inner corner and end right at the outer corner. Trim from the outer edge, not the inner edge.
2. Apply a thin layer of adhesive to your lower lash strip. Use a pinpoint applicator or a clean toothpick. Wait 30 seconds for the adhesive to get tacky. This is the #1 secret to keeping it from sliding.
3. Tilt your head back and look upward. The lower lash line will flatten, giving you an easier target.
4. Place the lash under your natural lower lashes, not over them. Put the band on the skin just below your lash roots. Press gently with a fingertip for 20 seconds.
5. Blend with a clean mascara wand. One light coat of mascara on your lower natural lashes fuses the false and real lashes together.

That's it. Under two minutes once you've done it twice.

THE 5 MISTAKES EVERYONE MAKES WITH LOWER LASHES

• Using upper-lash glue. It's too thick. A thinner, flexible adhesive works better under the eye.
• Skipping the trim. Too-long lashes poke your inner corner and make you look surprised.
• Applying to mascara'd lashes. Oil and mascara break the bond. Apply false lashes first, then mascara.
• Picking a dense, uniform band. Lower lashes should look wispy and uneven—think "natural lashes," not "brush strip."
• Using a full strip. A half-length strip or individual clusters look much more flattering under the eye.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN BOTTOM LASHES

• Wispy, tapered fibers. They mimic natural lower lash growth and don't cast harsh shadows.
• Flexible, bendable band. A stiff band will lift away from your lower lash line. You need one that curves with your eye.
• Lightweight material. Heavy lower lashes pull at your lower lid and can make your eyes look droopy.
• Moisture-tolerant adhesive (if not pre-applied). Your lower lash line is wetter than the upper—more oil glands, more moisture. You need a bond that can handle that.

And if your eyes are sensitive, read the hypoallergenic lash wear guide before you buy anything.

YOU ASKED

How do you stop bottom lashes from falling off?

Make sure the skin under your lower lash line is clean, dry, and oil-free before applying. Let the adhesive get tacky and press for a full 20 seconds.

Can you use regular false lashes for the bottom?

You can, but they're often too long and too dense. Bottom-specific lashes are lighter and have a natural tapered shape.

Do bottom lashes look good on hooded eyes?

Yes. In fact, lower lash application can open up hooded eyes by drawing the eye down and outward.

THE BOTTOM LASH GAME-CHANGER YOU DIDN'T PLAN FOR

Once you learn the technique, you'll realize the only thing between you and flattering lower lashes is a good pair of bottom-specific strips. PHANSTA LASHES designed their line with a narrow, flexible band and wispy fibers that bend to your lower lash line—so the lashes stay where you put them.

That's the exact engineering I was searching for when I kept losing mine to my cheekbone.

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