Millennial Skin

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An eyelash curler is one of those tiny, unglamorous tools that quietly does more for your eyes than half the products in your makeup bag. In a few gentle squeezes it lifts your lashes up and away from the eye, opening the whole face and making you look instantly more awake — no lash extensions or falsies required. And yet it’s also the tool people are most afraid of, because somewhere along the way we’ve all heard a horror story about pinched skin or a lash left crimped at a hard right angle. The good news is that a lifted, natural curl with zero pinching is almost entirely about technique, and it takes about ten seconds once you know the moves. Here’s exactly how to do it.

How do you use an eyelash curler?

Using a curler is simple once you break it into steps, and the whole thing takes only a few seconds per eye. Start with clean, dry, mascara-free lashes — curling is always the very first eye step, before any product goes on. Open the curler and bring it toward your eye so your upper lashes slide between the two bands, then position it as close to the base of the lashes as you comfortably can without touching your eyelid skin. Look straight into a mirror, tilt your chin down slightly so you can see clearly, and gently squeeze the handles closed. Hold for about five to ten seconds, then release. For an even more natural, rounded curl rather than a sharp bend, “walk” the curler outward: squeeze at the base, release, move a few millimeters up the lash, squeeze again, and repeat once or twice toward the tips. That rolling motion is the secret to a soft C-curl instead of a hard L.

Do you curl before or after mascara?

Always curl before mascara, never after. This is the single most important rule, and it’s the one most people get wrong. When you curl over wet or even dry mascara, the lashes stick to the metal band and to each other, so instead of a smooth lift you get lashes that clump, bend at an odd angle, or — worst of all — snap off entirely when you pull the curler away. Curling clean, bare lashes lets them move freely and take an even, rounded shape. Then you lock that shape in place with mascara. If your curl tends to fall out by lunchtime, the fix is a better mascara-and-primer routine on top of a good curl, not curling again over product. If you’re deciding which mascara to reach for, our breakdown of waterproof versus regular mascara is a helpful place to start, since waterproof formulas tend to hold a curl longer.

How do you avoid pinching?

Pinching happens for a few very fixable reasons, and once you know them you can curl fearlessly. The biggest culprit is placing the curler too far back, so it catches the delicate eyelid skin along with the lashes. Instead, get the curler as close to the lash roots as possible without pressing into the lid — think “at the base of the lashes,” not “against the eye.” Second, don’t slam the handles shut. A slow, gentle, deliberate squeeze gives you full control and stops you from clamping down on skin. Third, check your rubber pad: a worn, cracked, or missing pad creates a hard metal-on-metal edge that both pinches and crimps. And finally, keep your eye and hand relaxed — tensing up or curling in a rush is how accidents happen. Take the two seconds to line it up in the mirror before you squeeze.

Heated vs manual curler — which should you use?

Both can give you a beautiful lift; they just get there differently. A classic manual (clamp-style) curler is the workhorse most people picture — fast, effective, and great for a strong lift at the base, though the curl can relax faster on stubborn or straight lashes. A heated curler works more like a tiny curling iron for your lashes: a warmed wand gently sets the lashes into a curl the way heat sets your hair, which tends to hold longer and is far more forgiving on downward-pointing lashes. Heated tools are also much harder to pinch with, since there’s no clamping action, which makes them a favorite for anyone nervous about the traditional kind. The trade-off is that heated curlers take a few extra seconds to warm up and can dry lashes out if overused. Many people do both — a quick manual curl for lift, then a heated pass to set it.

How do you make the curl last all day?

A curl that drops by noon is usually a curl that was never locked in. After you curl clean lashes, seal the shape with a coat of mascara worked from root to tip, wiggling the wand at the base where the lift matters most. A lash primer applied before mascara gives the curl extra staying power and adds grip, while a lengthening mascara stretches the lashes upward and helps the curl read taller. If your lashes are especially straight or heavy, a heated eyelash curler will hold far longer than a manual one. One thing to skip: don’t recurl over dried mascara to revive a fallen curl — you’ll snap lashes. Instead, warm your manual curler for two or three seconds with a hairdryer (then test it on your wrist so it’s warm, never hot) before that first clean curl, which mimics the setting power of a heated tool.

How do you curl straight or hooded lashes?

Straight, downward, or deep-set and hooded eyes can make a full-size curler awkward to angle in, and that’s exactly what the smaller tools are for. A mini corner lash curler is compact enough to reach the short lashes at the inner and outer corners that a standard curler misses entirely, so you get an even lift all the way across. For hooded eyes, tilt your head back and look down into a mirror on the counter so you can see your lash line under the lid, then curl in two or three small sections rather than one big clamp. Straight lashes respond best to the walking technique plus heat — a warmed or heated eyelash curler sets them far more reliably than a cold clamp. Finishing your eye look? Our guide to pencil, gel, and liquid eyeliner pairs perfectly with freshly lifted lashes.

Which lash curlers do we love?

You don’t need a drawer full of tools — just the right one for your eye shape and a fresh rubber pad. These are the picks that make a lifted, no-pinch curl easy at home.

How do you take care of your curler?

A little upkeep keeps a curler safe and effective for years. The most important habit is replacing the rubber pad — the little cushion the metal presses against — every three months or so, or sooner if it looks cracked, flattened, or split. A worn pad is the number one cause of both crimped, angled lashes and pinched skin, and most curlers come with a spare or sell refill packs cheaply. Wipe the pad and bands with a little alcohol or micellar water every week or two to clear off product and bacteria, since this tool sits right against your eye. And store it with the handles open or in its little pouch so the pad doesn’t stay compressed. Treat the pad like a consumable, not a permanent part, and your curler will give you a clean, gentle lift every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you curl lashes before or after mascara?

Before, always. Curling clean, dry lashes lets them take a smooth, even shape, and then mascara locks that curl in place. Curling after mascara makes lashes stick to the curler and can bend or snap them, so make curling your very first eye-makeup step.

How do I stop my eyelash curler from pinching?

Position the curler at the base of your lashes without pressing into your eyelid skin, squeeze slowly rather than clamping down fast, and keep the rubber pad fresh. Most pinching comes from placing it too far back or from a worn or missing pad, both of which are easy to fix.

Are heated eyelash curlers better than manual ones?

Neither is strictly better — they suit different needs. Heated curlers hold a curl longer, are gentler on straight or stubborn lashes, and are almost impossible to pinch with, while manual curlers are faster and give a stronger lift at the base. Many people use a manual curl first and set it with a heated pass.

How long should I hold an eyelash curler?

About five to ten seconds per squeeze. For a soft, rounded curl rather than a harsh bend, “walk” the curler up the lash in two or three short holds — squeeze at the base, release, move up a few millimeters, and squeeze again toward the tips.

How often should I replace the rubber pad?

Roughly every three months, or sooner if the pad looks cracked, flattened, or torn. A worn pad is the main cause of crimped lashes and pinching, so keeping a fresh one in place is the easiest way to guarantee a clean, gentle curl.

The takeaway

A lifted, wide-awake lash line is one of the highest-payoff, lowest-cost tricks in makeup — and it comes down to a few simple habits. Curl clean, dry lashes before mascara, get close to the base without catching your lid, squeeze slowly, and walk the curler outward for a soft C-curl instead of a hard angle. Keep the rubber pad fresh, reach for a mini curler on those tricky corners, and lock everything in with a primer-and-mascara finish. Do that, and there’s no pinching, no crimp, and no reason to fear the little tool that opens up your whole face in ten seconds.