Have you ever wondered how to do your own DIY eyelash extensions? Lately, a few followers on Instagram have asked about my eyelashes. To the big question, ‘are they yours?’ I always answer yes. I paid for them and they are mine. Ha! Since there seems to be a lot of interest in them, I’m sharing my little tutorial on how to do your own eyelash extensions without breaking the bank.
For years, I paid more than $100 per month to have extensions applied professionally. They make a difference in how I look at myself and give me a bit of confidence.It’s OK to want to feel attractive!!! However, the finances and time professional extensions involved didn’t fit in well with our lives..
The process of getting them done professionally is time consuming and expensive and just so temporary. Every time I paid for them, I just thought ‘there has to be a better way!!’ And there is. After some googling and some experimentation, I discovered that you can apply them yourself – and it’s easy! It gives me back four hours of my life every month and the $120 into my family’s budget.
These cost $20/month-ish and take about half an hour once a week. You can do them at home, in your pajamas while your kids destroy play happily in the living room. They will last through normal showering, washing your face, sleeping etc, just don’t get them wet the first day you put them on.
Some notes:
- These don’t like steam. It will loosen the glue. Great if you’re trying to get them off, but awful if you just put them on. Go easy on the super hot, long showers.
- Don’t put mascara on top of these. It will make a huge mess.
- Don’t brush these the way you do individual lashes. It HURTS.
- When you go to remove them, don’t buy the fancy remover, just use vaseline. It’s faster and doesn’t sting (unless you have an allergy!)
Ok, now on to the tutorial: You are going to need a set of lashes, glue, tweezers and remover. I bought this starter set that includes glue, tweezers, remover & lashes (everything you need!) and these refill lashes.
Find a hard, flat surface to pour out a small drop of glue.
Loosen a lash in the ‘Long’ size from the tray and dip the very tip of the joined end into your glue. 
You want just enough glue and it ends up being about the size of a grain of sand.
Carefully place the bead of glue onto your lash line at the outer edge of your eye. Make sure you aren’t glueing it to your eyelid, but to a lash or two instead.
Use the flat edge of the tweezers to tap it gently into place along your lashes.
Dip the next eyelash in the glue and apply next to it. I put 7 long lashes on each eye, 14 medium in the middle and then 2 small at the inner corner.
After the first time, I’ve used more long’s in the middle. Just do them however you like 🙂
Place all of the long lenths first, then placed the long lashes on the other eye. Move back to the first eye and place seven medium length lashes, then to the second eye for seven medium lashes and back and forth until you fill in your entire eye. This helped me keep things symmetrical. 
Make sure to keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol & a towel on hand to continually clean off the tweezers. If they get glue on them, the process gets very frustrating!
That’s a lot of information & pictures, but these are very doable. The girls at my church couldn’t believe these were DIY. Even now, people ask if I am still doing them myself. Yup!
If you have questions, {nice} comments, or need me to give more details, let me know in the comments. Comments are my favorite thing, so even if you don’t have a question, I’d love for you to just say hi!!!
Thank you for reading my little blog!
Some links may be affiliate links. That means when you click them, I will make a few cents to help pay for more eyelash extensions in the future. Your support of my little blog means the world to me. Thank you very much for stopping by!
Wow, I am very impressed you do this yourself! I not sure my had is steady enough, but might give this a try. Thank you for sharing.
This is so helpful! Two years ago I was diagnosed with celiac, and when I got sick, ALL my eyelashes and my hair fell out. Among all my other side effects. 🙁 My hair has grown back but not my lashes. So every month I get my extensions filled. It is SO frustrating to find a babysitter every two weeks for my appointment. I really want to give this a try and see if I can do it myself. Thanks for giving me some confidence to try.
ooooooooh I really want to try this!!!! I’ve always wanted to do eyelash extensions but I’ve never wanted to fork out the money every month for them. Maybe I’ll try it the for the first time when we come visit!
That’s crazy! But so beautiful!!
Thank you I have thinning lashes and this seems like something that might work I tried the full lashes and it was hard and too long for my lid so again thanks
I always thought your natural eyelashes were beautiful and the longest I’d ever seen but you look gorgeous either way. And it’s very cool that you can do it yourself.
Oh my! I had NO idea this was possible. Where have I been? My eyes are so lackluster that two years ago I had permanent eyeliner tattooed. Love it for the convenience of not having to apply eyeliner every day. No regrets there, but now my eyelashes are thinning, perhaps due to aging, or prescription drugs. I have been thinking to talk with someone about a topical drug that grows eyelashes. However, what you’ve shared here is definitely worth a first try. Seems like a minimal investment, and if it boost my self-esteem, why not? Thank you so much for sharing the product info, and your technique. I’ll definitely be pursuing this option. Thanks!
I’ve been so afraid to try but maybe I will…?
Lovely! Ive always admired your lashes. Use to diy mine too. 🙂
I love your lashes! I have the shortest most stupid blond eyelashes and never really thought about extensions. I just pile on mascara. I’m going to try your way.
Does the glue make your eyes burn? I too would spend the money on extensions and just couldn’t do it anymore but I remember opening my eye once and thought I would go blind from the fumes! (okay that’s a bit dramatic…maybe) Love the lashes!
The glue from professional extensions burned like crazy! I don’t have any issue with these, though. Even with my eyes open, I don’t feel or even smell fumes 🙂 Thank you bunches for reading my blog!
Amanda
Quick question: do you take them all off each week and reapply all new ones? Or fill in as needed? Thanks! They look amazing!
I remove them and start from scratch 🙂 However, if I lose one in the middle of the week, I’ll just add a new one in. I feel like removing them and giving them a break overnight keeps them healthier 🙂
Thank you for reading my blog!
Amanda
Thanks!
Oh my gosh! You make it sound so easy!! I may be brace enough to give it a try!
Mind blown!!! I’m going to buy some right now. Thanks for the awesome tutorial.
They make a beautiful difference – keep on . . . .
I don’t have to get a sitter (too old…) but hate wasting the time. Lashes are so much easier than mascara and yours are always lovely! Think I will be brave and try this…so appreciate the time it took for you to share this.
I’m really tempted to try this but need to wear full makeup for work, in your experience how do they cope with eye makeup remover? I have a feeling it would dissolve the glue.
oh wow this is so cool – I had these professionally done in the past and LOVED the look but not the cost or time! I’m curious — do you find your natural lashes fall out because of this? I’ve heard that can happen if you wear extensions routinely – it’s my only hesitation!
that is so awesome – I had no idea such things existed – does this mean you don’t use mascara ?? if so I must investigate as mascara irritates my eyes !!
Just wanted to follow-up, as I purchased the starter set of the Ardell DuraLashes, and applied them. For those who wear eyeglasses, take note! The lashes are so long that they brush the inside of my eyeglass lenses! Next time I’ll avoid all the long lashes and stick with the medium and short ones. Also, my vision is slightly affected… like when I have tears on my eyelids. Perhaps I’ll get used to that.
Just curious whether or not the glue dries instantly? If I apply them in slightly the wrong place, how long do I have to move them around. And if not instantly, how long before the glue is dry and you don’t have to worry about brushing them off?
I would love to try this, but my natural lashes are straight as pencils! Do you think it would look odd to add the curled lashes on top! (I guess there’s only one way to find out!)
I ordered the supplies and hope to try soon!!! Thanks so much for posting this, there is something about eyelashes, having long pretty ones makes me feel,younger and more put together. So glad I can do this myself and not break the bank! Plus that leaves more money to buy fabric:)