An open secret we beauty mavens know better than to keep to ourselves: one’s lashes can make or break a look. It’s the same reason as to why so many of us have scheduled book-ins with our lash specialists—an ingenious solution for avoiding all the difficult legwork that would otherwise be necessary on a daily basis. Yet some may be more inclined to zhuzh up their miens every now and then. For the aforementioned approach, ripping up the rulebook is key; running amok with your heavily-stocked arsenals, likely necessary. To that end, the cyclical world of trends has spoken—it’s time we bring back the fun in falsies. Enter: manga lashes.
Think of doll-like, spidery style of lashes on the lash line, each one more gravity-defying than its last. First gaining traction on popular Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu and eventually TikTok, it’s of note that these lashes were first popularised in the noughties via Tokyo’s burgeoning harajuku style. An understandable turn of events, considering the aim of the lash style was to emulate the same wide-eyed, exaggerated aesthetic of anime characters. Whilst they may be anime-inspired, there is sound reason as to why this particular lash style has taken off again. “Its graphic, wide-eyed look has been re-popularised by many East Asian girls because it is actually very flattering for Asian eye shapes,” explains professional make-up artist Kenneth Chia.
For one to achieve said manga lashes however, there’s no denying that significant effort is expected, and a certain degree of experience in the art of falsies might be required. There’s also the prerequisite of time; maybe don’t try this when you don’t have many minutes left on the clock. With all that said and done however, we reckoned some step-by-step advice from an expert would make the job much less daunting. Below, Chia reveals some of his best tools and tricks of the trade, for you to achieve the manga lashes of your dreams.
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What are some starting products one will need before attempting manga lashes?
Individual or cluster lashes of varying lengths are key to the look. There are a million options on the market, but choose those that are more spiky over fluffier, flared styles. You can opt for styles that you can cut on your own but a more wearable version would be the No Lash-Lash from Sweed Lashes.
You’ll also need a super strength lash glue that dries to a transparent finish: DUP’s False Eyelash Fixer is a staple in every pro’s kit for this. A right tweezer to grip your lashes is also key—mine’s a nifty pair from MAC Cosmetics. A final coat of non-clumping mascara seals the illusion. My personal favourite is from Heroine Make.
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Take us through a step-by-step process for how to achieve these lashes.
Curl and set your existing lashes with waterproof mascara, making sure they are well separated. Proceed to fill in your lash line with a black or brown waterproof pencil.
Now, you have three options. You can glue the individuals on top of your existing lashes, in between, or on the underside of your lash. The first method gives you maximum lift, but it is the least natural. Likewise, placing these individual lashes on the underside instead will lend to the most natural finish. Apply the longest lashes first, ensuring there’s even spacing between each of them. Use the shorter lashes to fill in the gaps.
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What sort of eyeshadow or liner look should accompany the manga lash look? Any additional tips to ace the lash lift?
A popular, foolproof way is to do a thin, straight liner and a shimmer you love across your lids. The idea is to create a sparkly-eyed effect that reminds us of anime characters in real life. For a foxy vibe (ara-ara!), blend some cool toned mauves around the eye and extend a second liner straight out from the bottom lash line. Chanel Eye Quad in 328—Blurry Mauve is my current favourite.
One pro-tip is to always pair this lash style with coloured contacts. I promise they will make or break the entire look.
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What are some common mistakes people might make when trying manga lashes?
Not enough people mention this but the manga lash trend suits those who are in the habit of wearing a full face of makeup out because it is a lash style that can easily overwhelm your look if you’re used to going au naturel. So do take your lifestyle into consideration—maybe it’s a lash style that you only want to attempt when you’re going full glam. Last of all? Don’t try this when you’re already late for an appointment—falsies can sense fear.
