Think mascara application is relatively straightforward? Think again.
Of course the basics remain the same, but there are certainly ways you can get more out of your wand.
One approach has been making waves on social media for its simple approach and extremely effective results.
Known as lash ‘backcombing’, coined by makeup artist Criss Scortezz (@scortezzbeauty) on TikTok, it delivers more thickness to lashes than can be achieved with the more commonly used ‘swipe on and go’ method. While it’s not a brand new method – pros have since hinted they’ve been doing this for years – the social media buzz has brought it to the attention of many of us just looking to improve our makeup application.
What is lash backcombing?
You might be more familiar with the backcombing approach when it comes to hair. It’s long been used to create major hair volume by reverse-brushing the roots. Don’t be scared though, lash backcombing actually refers to a layering method and isn’t damaging.
“This is going to make your lashes look so much thicker,” explains Scortezz.
“It’s going to build up a base of mascara right at the root of lashes, so you’re going to make sure it’s black all the way down [the lash].”
Start by curling lashes with a lash curler, something that always provides long-lasting lift to lashes.
Then, lift your eyelid slightly with one hand and holds the mascara wand in the other. Tilt your head back and use your mascara to swipe down the topside of lashes rather than the underside, as you might usually apply it. Scortezz rolls the wand backwards from the tip to the root.
Now dip back into your mascara and coat from root to tip as you usually would.
Scortezz uses Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara, and advises you’ll likely need a bit of practice, given the tendency to hit your lids with the brush.
Tried and tested
Lash backcombing is surprisingly easy, but as mentioned by Scortezz does take a bit of getting used to. We found it was tricky to get the hang of their technique of ‘rolling down from tip to root’ going backwards, so started out just brushing the topside first before we nailed it.
We also found if you coat the underside fairly quickly after the top, without re-dipping your brush, it smooths out lumps and gives more definition.
Another challenge is to do it without covering your eyelid in mascara, but a cotton bud dipped in makeup remover quickly cleans up any pigment left behind.
Doing the lash backcombing on one eye only quickly shows what a difference it makes in extra volume, especially catching all of the smaller corner lashes. Once we had done it several days in a row, not doing it seems like we are missing a crucial step to getting a great result! It’s an easy update that we’ll stick with going forward.
Want more ideas on how to get the most out of your mascara application? Check out these other great mascara application tricks and five of the best new mascaras to try them with.
