Enhancing the Eye Lashes

Shahnaz Husain

Across cultures and worldwide, eyes have always played a central role in defining beauty and allure. For centuries, people have sought to enhance the appearance of the eyes through the use of various pigments and colours. Eyelashes are the thickest hairs on our body.

 Nothing enhances eyes better than having long, lush lashes.   Eyelashes enhance the natural beauty of the eyes by making eyes seem bigger and more alert.  The upper eyelashes are arranged in five to six rows with approximately 90  to 150 lashes per eye, whereas lower eyelid lashes have  between 75 to 80 lashes in four rows. Healthy eyelashes can grow to around 12 millimetres and have a slight curvature.

Like other hair on our bodies,  eyelashes have a protective function. They trigger blinking when touched and serve as the first line of defence to delicate eyes, creating a barrier against environmental elements like wind, dust and rain.   While the eye is open, eyelashes work almost like an air filter: stopping most airborne debris and dirt from reaching the delicate eye. When eyes are closed, lashes form an extra barrier against foreign irritants.      

Not everyone is blessed with long, thick lashes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get them.                          

At night, use a cleansing gel and cotton wool to remove eye make-up gently. For upper lashes, put a cleanser on cotton wool and wrap it around your index finger. Brush through the lashes from underneath. To remove mascara from the lower lashes, use a cotton bud with a little cleanser on it. To remove kajal from the lower lashes use a cotton bud that has a little cleaner on it. Also, clean the corners of the eyes with a cotton bud.

Use very gentle movements on the lashes. Brush your lashes with an eyelash brush, so that they are not entangled. Heavy eye makeup, too much mascara and even eyelash extensions can damage and lead to loss of lashes.

If you have very thin or sparse eyelashes, it may become a problem and you may wonder how to encourage their growth.  You can apply very little oil on the eyelashes, using a cotton bud. You may apply almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and wipe off very gently with moist cotton wool. Do not go to sleep with oil on the eyelashes, as this can lead to puffy eyes.

Curry leaves are also said to help. Keep curry leaves in hot water and leave it to cool. Then make a paste of the curry leaves and apply to the lashes, again using a cotton bud. Apply very little and wash off with water after 15 minutes.

 You can also apply aloe vera gel. You can take the gel from the aloe vera growing in your house. The gel obtained from the plant itself is the leaf pulp and is found in the inner portion of the leaves. First, wash the leaf well and observe total hygiene while extracting the gel. Apply a small amount of aloe vera gel on the eyelashes before bed and wash it off in the morning.

Castor oil: Apply a small amount of castor oil on the eyelashes each night before bed and wash it off in the morning.

Eyelid massage: Gently massage eyelids along the lash line.

Nowadays new eyelash serums is available, to help enhance the growth of natural eyelashes. It also improves the health and texture of sparse and brittle lashes. In serum form, it is easy to apply and includes a brush applicator. Follow the directions on the label.

Mascara adds glamour and thickness to the eyelashes. But, mascara must be removed at night, along with the rest of your eye makeup. Roll-on mascara is easy to apply. You can apply the mascara both above and below the upper lashes. This gives a thicker look. Apply on the lower lashes too. Wait for a while and apply a second coat. Then brush out the lashes, with a small eyelash brush, otherwise, the lashes will stick together. The idea is to achieve a natural effect. You can apply a little powder on the eyelashes between two coats of mascara, to make them look thicker.

The latest in eye glamour is eyelash extensions. They are attached to natural eyelashes, one by one to make the lashes look thicker. A trained beautician has to attach them. It’s up to you to decide how thick you want your lashes to be. The eyelash extensions may last for about 3 weeks to a month and then you will have to get them done again. The eyelash extensions are synthetic strands that are specially curved to look like natural eyelashes. If you apply mascara on eyelash extensions, use the water-based kind.

You can also ask your doctor to prescribe supplements of Vitamin A which encourages hair growth.