Sunday 20 November 2011

Colouring eyelashes

I got a few questions about this, including from real life friends so I thought I would put a post up on it.
This is one of the things I really swear by. It’s quick, efficient and will keep you naturally looking great for over a month with just 5 minutes spent!

Have the following items ready:
  • Cotton pads
  • Mascara brushes. Old and cleaned ones
  • The box with the dye solution
  • Toner. Just the kind you usually use

Before you start:

Put your hair up and keep it back with a bandanna. You don’t want any stray hairs getting in the way, in your eyes or accidentally ending up black.

Be aware that once the two liquids are mixed, the result is instantly permanent! I’m demonstrating this over our coffee table, but you should always do this in a place where spills won’t destroy your tables. It doesn’t come off anything, including nails. They have to grow out if you spill or get a smear on them.

I use a brand called Depend, but back in Denmark I used Swiss O Par. It’s exactly the same thing though: Same contents, same method and same colour choices: Black, brown and dark brown. I use black. There are other options out there with a longer dye release, but it sucks sitting blind for up to 30 minutes when you can get it done in less than 5!


 
  
The pack comes with these little “protection pads” to put under your eyes. I don’t use them at all though. I’ve been wearing contact lenses for some 15 years of my life and dying my eyelashes for 10, and my near-eye motor skills are so fine-tuned I think I could do this in a moving car.
 
 
Maybe my lack of spills is also to do with that I don’t use the stupid Q-tips that come with the pack. You’re supposed to use them for applying the liquid on your eyelashes, but to me, that is just ridiculous: You come dangerously close to actually dripping the liquid in your eyes.
  
 
Use them to mop up spills or clean your ears instead.
 
 
Instead, I use an old mascara brush. Dip it into the little bottle with the first solution.
 
 
Then brush the liquid on my lashes. Start on the inner corner of your eyes, it’s easier that way.
 
 
When the lashes are nice and wet, I get the cotton pads ready. Pour a bit of toner on so you’re ready to remove spills if necessary, and you don’t have to fumble around with this after the dye. This will also give the solution a bit of extra time to soak in for better dye.
 
 
Now I brush the liquid on again to make sure I have a good coverage.
 
 
Next, take the tiny comb and the gel solution. Spread a thin strip of the gel on the very outer edge of the little comb.
  
 
Comb your lashes through, starting at the inner edges of your eyes. The gel seems to “plump up” when it comes in contact with the liquid. The mix of gel and liquid turns black and your dye is done!
 
 
Just to make sure I have enough coverage, I take a second old mascara brush and brush through my lashes to make sure I have covered and mixed everything.
  
  
Now it’s time to clean up. This is where you will be happy you have made the cotton pads ready and you just have to reach out and grab them. 
  
  
And voila, done! The dye lasts until your eyelashes shed, so 4-6 weeks depending on their growth.
  

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