The TikTok Eyelash Hack That Gives The Appearance Of Wearing Falsies

Everyone loves the look of a big, dramatic, fluttery lash — like those you apply once or twice a year for special occasions, or every few weeks to make your beauty routine more low maintenance in the long run. But while the look is stunning, not everyone likes to wear false lashes every day or get their lash extensions refilled on a regular basis.

TikTok abounds with hacks for everything, and this mascara hack is one of the best. Recommended by celebrity makeup artist Erin Parsons, this mascara application technique involves four simple steps (repeated multiple times) for a false lash look without any need for lash extensions. The tools you'll need are a normal eyelash curler, your favorite volumizing mascara, a pencil eyeliner, and a lash comb, to be used in that order.

Parsons, who uses this hack on her mascara advertisement modeling clients, says it serves her personally for her work. "On every advertisement we do we are not allowed to use false lashes," she says. So, how do you get TV-worthy false falsies? 

The hack is fairly simple and involves mostly things you already own. First, you want to start by curling your eyelashes with any curler you already own, heated or otherwise. Same as usual, right? Technically yes, but this technique is very particular — you'll want to start from the tips of the lashes and work your way down to the roots, which ensures the lashes are properly curled all the way. "If you have naturally curly lashes you may not need to do this," Erin Parsons clarifies.

Although tightlining (the act of applying eyeliner on the waterline) isn't as popular as it once was, Parsons' technique requires it. In the next step, she advises to tightline the top waterline with a waterproof black eyeliner pencil. This will visually fill in any sparse gaps and make the lash line appear fuller. Once you've tightlined, you can move onto your mascara, but follow Parsons' advice for sure-proof application: "You're wiggling [the wand] and pulling out all the way to the tip," she says. After mascara, carefully separate your lashes with a lash comb. Finally, repeat all of the steps once or twice more.

Though this hack is perfectly safe to practice, you should always make sure to properly remove all eye makeup at the end of the day to avoid unwanted and dangerous eye infections. "Women are not cleaning their eyelashes properly and when you don't clean your eyelashes properly, then re-dip into mascara, you get horrible infections on the ey[e]lashes, including bacteria, mites (also known as demodex), reactionary ulcers, and blephoral conjunctivitis," ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo told Coveteur.

It's safe to say that the TikTok hack gives you the false lashes look with just mascara and eyeliner — plus the tools you likely already own. The end result, as seen on Erin Parsons' TikTok video tutorial, looks just like all the mascara advertisements she's worked on. And seeing the hack compared to a regular mascara application side by side, it's easy to understand the appeal.

But is it necessary? While the hack has proven to be tried and true, the difference is so stark that you might not be able to wear it on a daily basis, especially if you're a length-over-volume type of gal, or if you're into the more natural makeup approach. If you want fluttery lashes but don't want too much volume, different approaches to mascara application might suit you best. "Removing excess mascara from the wand prior to application will achieve a fresher look," makeup artist James Butterfield told Woman & Home. Plus, unlike Parsons' approach of wiggling the mascara wand through the lashes, a strict one-direction application creates a smoother look. "While back-and-forth motions or layering on top of the lash can create a more dramatic effect, it is far more likely to result in clumps," makeup artist Tonya Riner told Real Simple.