# Is there a proper way to cut eyelashes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419 "2011-06-05T18:43:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/21 "2011-06-06T20:09:25Z")
In googling it does appear that eyelashes regrowing takes a very long time vs other hair growth. Eyelash cutting experiments will be with you for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/22 "2011-06-06T20:10:34Z")
I’m a dude, and I’m married, so “looking good for other people” isn’t a priority. The race is over, and I’m taking off the uniform. Anyway, I have long eyelashes that droop down into my field of vision, meaning that if I don’t trim them, everything looks dark and blurry. Seriously, cutting them back turns night into day. Yes, I tried curling them; if you’re not also using eye makeup, apparently the curling doesn’t hold. I cut them with a cuticle clipper, like [this one](http://www.amazon.com/Tweezerman-Stainless-Cuticle-Nipper-Jaw/dp/B000WHYBE2/). Gotta be careful, because nipping skin with that sucker really hurts. And I have to repeat the process about every month, so don’t be too concerned about it taking “years” for them to grow back. They’re a damn nuisance, is all. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/23 "2011-06-07T06:44:38Z")
Just don’t. Put down those trimming scissors. You can do it. Seriously, long eyelashes are a requirement of a babe magnet ensemble. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/24 "2011-06-07T08:40:53Z")
I don’t trim them, I singe them. With a rolled up newspaper (The Chicago Reader works well for this) lit on fire. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/25 "2011-06-07T09:03:58Z")
I wouldn’t do it if I were you. As has been mentioned, long lashes look good (on men too). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/26 "2011-06-07T13:00:35Z")
Long thick lashes may look good but they are royal PITA. My Chinese boyfriend has lashes that I always thought I would kill for but now that I see how much trouble they are I am happy with my perfectly medium ones, thank you. They brush against his glasses; they fall into his eyes and hurt, and they are so t hink that if they fall the right way they can actually penetrate skin. :eek: I would never have believed it if it hadn’t happened to me. They are more trouble than they are worth. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/27 "2011-06-07T13:42:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Long thick lashes may look good but they are royal PITA. My Chinese boyfriend has lashes that I always thought I would kill for but now that I see how much trouble they are I am happy with my perfectly medium ones, thank you. They brush against his glasses; they fall into his eyes and hurt, and they are so t hink that if they fall the right way they can actually penetrate skin. :eek: I would never have believed it if it hadn’t happened to me. They are more trouble than they are worth. I think I could handle the trouble. Even if I had to hire a full time lash-groomer. I’m practically bald-lidded. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/28 "2011-06-07T14:39:00Z")
Use Swiss Army Knife scissors. Do it right and it gives you the Clint Eastwood “steely-eyed” vibe. You gonna say Clint don’t look _bad-ass?_ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/29 "2011-06-07T14:44:11Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I think I could handle the trouble. Even if I had to hire a full time lash-groomer. > > I’m practically bald-lidded. Somewhere in the middle would be better. I have medium-long lashes, and they are easy to maintain and don’t bother me too much (I also have large eyes and not almond-shaped, so it’s pretty easy to pick the occasional lash out of my eyes). Whereas I have actually seen the SO’s lash _pierce his eyeball_ a tiny bit. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/30 "2011-06-07T14:55:44Z")
Chemo? ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/31 "2011-06-08T04:41:26Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I am a guy with fairly long lashes. As noted, it is generally considered to be a good thing. I tried this experiment as a kid. Don’t do it! Eyelashes don’t trim well at all. They are meant to be presented at their natural length with a slight curl at the end. Trimming them looks retarded to be kind about it. You can’t shape them to look natural at all. It will just look like you enlisted your eyeballs in the military. > > Next up: Penis reduction self-surgery. Worth it? Why, did you try that as a kid, too? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/33 "2013-12-09T14:47:01Z")
I have [Rooneybrows](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iRlCSnJPudk/Tbll09f-5nI/AAAAAAAAEW8/8i-z_k8tCtA/s1600/andy+rooney+eyebrows.jpg), which I hack back on occasion (I have to cut them more frequently than I get haircuts), but I’ve never even thought of trimming the lashes. The only reason IMO to trim them is if they often get into your eyes when they fall off. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/34 "2013-12-09T16:19:21Z")
Do zombies even have eyelashes? ---
**Author:** ![king\_samuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@king\_samuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_samuel)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/35 "2017-11-21T00:47:38Z")
I don’t particularly have an answer, just a bit of an explanation as to why I’m here and to ask if anyone can help me. I’m a pre t trans guy and I have eyelashes that make it look like I’m wearing mascara all the time. I hate them. they make my already feminine face look even more so and its really hard to feel comfortable. Does anyone know what I could do? Or is this just another one of the things I’m gonna have to live with? ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419/36 "2017-11-21T01:08:18Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Leaning over the grill while you light the gasoline soaked charcoal is pretty effective too. Don’t even get me started,:smack: I’ve lost and eyebrow twice and lashes and brow once(not to mention arm hair and a trip to the barber to even up my head). It wasn’t a grill, but there was plenty of alcohol involved.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-proper-way-to-cut-eyelashes/584419.md?page=1)