Beauty How To: Spider Eyelashes

The newest eye trend of spider eyelashes is relatively straightforward to do. This look, which essentially looks like spiders’ legs and is created by clumping together your lashes, is daring and bold. But there’s a fine line between spider eyelashes and a messy-looking mascara job. It’s all about using the right techniques and products. So, here are six step-by-step tips to achieve this stylishly spooky look. —Jennifer Cox

First: Start with super clean lashes. Use a makeup remover that thoroughly removes liner, shadow, and mascara. Any residual eye makeup will get in the way of your effort to create perfect spider eyes.

Second: Curl your upper eyelashes. Everyone should have a great, reliable eyelash curler that is easy to use and won’t pinch or pull those lavish lashes. Get a nice upswing in place.

Third: Put on a coat of mascara on your upper lashes. And then another. And, oh what the heck, one more. You want heavily saturated eyelashes, and you’ll want a good-quality mascara for those layers of pigment, which can be done with a dark brown or really black-black mascara. Make sure it has a good, thick wand brush to coat each and every lash.

Fourth: Style those lashes. Using the end of your mascara wand or specialized lash comb, try to piece together several eyelashes into small clumps. You can also try to gently pinch the lash ends together.

Fifth: Work on those bottom lashes. These are often shorter and finer than upper lashes. If you’re finding it tricky to apply a thicker coat of mascara on your lower eyelashes, put some mascara on the end of a pair of tweezers and delicately squeeze a few strands together using the mascara as “glue.” This effect will give your lower lash line a defined spiky spider look.

Sixth: Use your fingers to give those upper lashes one last curl. Because you have so much product on your eyelashes, you don’t want to use an eyelash curler – it could stick and damage your lashes more than style them. The trick: Position your finger across your eye and blink, pressing your lashes against your finger. Mascara can weigh down your eyelashes, and this will help give them one final pick-me-up.