False Eyelashes During Chemo: What I Learnt the Hard Way
Fake It Till You Make It
Going through chemotherapy is an incredibly difficult and emotional experience. One of the toughest side effects, as I covered in the skincare article, is the changes to your appearance. During my treatment for ovarian cancer I lost half my hair, bloated from steroids, and watched my eyebrows, eyelashes and skin take a real beating. The good news? There is good skin after chemo (with a little help from retinol and collagen supplements), so try not to stress too much about how things look during treatment.
Losing my eyelashes was particularly hard. They are such a defining feature and losing them knocked my confidence more than I expected. I didn't wear false lashes often but I did apply them for special occasions and stuck to eyeliner on a day to day basis (I'll cover that in a later post).
I had never applied false eyelashes before chemotherapy, so it was a learning curve to say the least. I was never really great at it, but here is what I learnt along the way.
Choosing the Right Lashes
When choosing false eyelashes during chemotherapy, pay close attention to the materials. Synthetic lashes are a great option as they are more durable, hold up better against tears and moisture, and are less likely to cause allergic reactions, which is especially important when your body is under stress from treatment.
Tips for Applying Lashes When You Have No Natural Lashes
If you have lost all of your eyelashes, applying falsies is trickier as there is nothing for them to sit on, but it is absolutely doable with a bit of practice.
My biggest piece of advice is to practise before an important event. Grab a few pairs and test them out at home so you can see which style suits you best. I made the mistake of not testing beforehand and ended up at an event with wonky, over the top lashes. Learn from my mistakes!
Step by Step Application
Make sure your eyelids are clean and dry. You can apply a light powder such as eyeshadow or translucent powder to help the glue adhere.
Avoid heavy creams or oils around the eye area as these will prevent the glue from sticking properly.
Use a lash glue designed for sensitive skin, as it will be gentler and less likely to irritate.
Trim the lashes to fit the shape and size of your eyelid before applying.
Apply a thin layer of lash glue along the base of the lashes, making sure the ends are well coated.
Wait around 30 seconds for the glue to become tacky.
Carefully place the lashes along your lash line, starting at the inner corner and working your way outward.
Press gently to secure, and use lash tweezers to adjust as needed.
If the lash strip is visible, apply eyeliner along the lash line to conceal it, as you won't have natural lashes to blend it in with.
You've Got This!
Losing your lashes can be an emotional experience, but it is important to remember that you are still beautiful. False lashes can be a wonderful way to boost your confidence and feel like yourself again during treatment. Whether you choose to wear them or not, the most important thing is to take care of yourself. You are stronger than you think and completely fabulous with or without lashes.
Jo's Pick
The best lashes I found were KISS Looks So Natural. They felt the lightest and looked most like my natural lashes.
I found these Youtube Tutorials useful to get me started, you'll find your own methods but these were a really good starting place for me.
How to Apply False Eyelashes if You Don't Have Natural Lashes
FALSE EYELASH TUTORIAL FOR CHEMO PATIENTS
If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after reading this article you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or The Cancer Council on 13 11 20
