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How to Get Non-Clumpy Lashes

Dec 7, 2011 / By Lisa Sefcik

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For natural looking lashes, a little mascara goes a long way.

Photo: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images

Thick, clumpy eyelashes may be fine if you're trying to channel your weekend emo, but they look positively outré from the other side of your desk. Lashes that look naturally long — and free of clumps and spikes — have a fun, flirty appeal. Simply start with clean eyelashes and a tube of inexpensive mascara. Getting non-clumpy lashes relies less on using specific makeup brands and more on the right technique.

Apply an eyelash curler to your lashes and press gently for a few seconds. Although many women use this beauty tool after putting on mascara, doing so can make lashes look clotted, crooked and bent in unnatural angles — ladies with thin, wispy lashes may also experience unnecessary breakage.

Open the tube of mascara, remove the wand and eyeball it. If you spot large clots of mascara on the wand, these end up on your lashes, along with clumps galore. Wipe off the excess by scraping the wand against the opening of the tube. You can also dab the wand against a clean paper towel, if you choose.

Swipe the mascara wand from the base of your lashes to the tips two or three times. Wait for the first layer to dry. Step away from the mirror and firmly assess before you apply more. If your lashes appear longer and lusher, you might not really need a second layer after all. Putting on too many layers of mascara is one of the main causes of clumpy lashes.

After mascara is completely dry, use a clean mascara wand or eyelash comb to take care of any residual clumping. A nifty trick that helps your lashes retain their curl is to brush from behind, not under, your eyelashes, working from the base to the tips.

1.Eyelash curler

3.Clean mascara wand — or — eyelash comb

2.Lengthening mascara

4.Clean paper towel (optional)

Women's Day beauty editor Melissa Matthews recommends using lengthening mascara because it's typically thinner than other formulations — and this means less clumping.