A woman using curling mascara.
Many women want voluminous, curly lashes and often use a curling iron to achieve this look. Curling Mascara is a type of mascara that manufacturers claim will enhance the natural curl of a person’s lashes with or without an eyelash curler. However, there is some debate as to whether this eye makeup really works.
Basic mascara is made with a few basic ingredients, usually including water, wax, oils, pigments, and preservatives. Waxes used in mascaras can include beeswax, carnauba wax, and paraffin wax, and are used primarily as a primer and to thicken sparse lashes. Pigments are used to achieve dark lashes or, in some cases, brightly colored lashes. In many brands of curling mascara, there is an additional ingredient that is supposed to curl your lashes. However, most of the time, this ingredient simply holds the natural or artificial curl shape better than other types of mascara.
A woman applying mascara to curl her eyelashes.
Many companies also suggest that it’s not just the mascara ingredients that curl your lashes, but the mascara wand as well. Most basic mascaras, for example, have a simple mascara stick, or brush, to apply the product to a person’s lashes. Curling mascaras usually have a curved mascara wand. This special applicator is said to provide better coverage and cover each lash.
Applying mascara to curl your lashes is almost no different than applying any other type of mascara. First, most makeup artists stress that it’s important to start with clean lashes, and most also suggest starting at the base of your lashes. From there, it is recommended that a person move the mascara wand rapidly left and right while working to the tips of the lashes. This rocking action will help separate the lashes and keep them from clumping together.
If thicker or more prominent lashes are desired after applying one coat, an additional coat or two may be applied. The application of these coats, however, must be done immediately, before the first layer dries. If you apply curling mascara, or any other mascara, after the previous coats have dried, unsightly specks can build up on your lashes.
Some consumers have found that curly mascara is more likely to clump because it tends to be a bit thicker than other types of mascara. To avoid this, a person can clean the mascara wand with a tissue before use and apply a maximum of two thin coats of curling mascara. If clumps still remain, a clean mascara wand or lash brush can be applied to the lashes after applying mascara.