Once you've taken the plunge and decided that individual lashes are the answer to your summer makeup issues (because they are!). Next, locate the most talented false lash technician or investigate how to apply the false lashes yourself.
Lash mapping is the place to start — you could whack in the individual lashes yourself, willy-nilly, but that will end up looking messy and costing you valuable time and money. With some research, you can lash map like a pro and make your hooded eyes summer ready in no time.
First, let's identify hooded eyes and make sure you have that shape so we are not talking at cross purposes.
What are hooded eyes shapes?
Hooded eyes are when the natural eye shape is covered by a layer of skin that sits over the lid — think of an extra eyelid. It gives the eye a sleepy, hooded appearance, which can be challenging for makeup application or false lashes.
You can identify your eye shape using a mirror or lash mapping tool. What! There's a tool, yes; if you think you'll apply the individual lashes yourself, you can invest in a mapping tool — although once you know what suits you — you know!
With some knowledge and care, you can apply false lashes that will frame your eyes and open them up for an enhancement that will change your look entirely.
However, if this doesn't sound like your eyes, don't worry. We can guide you through all the eye shapes. Read the blog — Finding False Eyelashes to Suit Your Eyeshape.
The importance of customised lash maps for hooded eyes
First things first — What is a lash map? A lash map is a term used to refer to the pattern of your individual eyelash application based on where each false lash extension should be placed. A talented false eyelash technician will customise a lash map to suit your eye shape and the look you desire, whether natural or dramatic.
The benefits of a customised lash map are two-fold: one for the technician, who can plan out the application process logically, and one for the client (that's you!), who will be able to see the intended design and ensure that their individual lash stylist is giving them a look they want that suits their lifestyle.
How do you determine the lash map for hooded eyes?
Once you're confident in your eye shape (partially hooded or completely hooded), you can start planning where to place the lash extensions. Concentrate on precise lash placement along the lash line. Getting the placement right creates an illusion of a more open eye, making the lash extensions more noticeable.
Next, decide on the length, thickness, and curl of the lash extensions, taking into account both the client's preferences (or what you like if you're doing the extensions yourself) and think about the desired lash appearance — cats eye, natural look or smokey eye meets spacewoman (I made the last one up) — but it could be a thing!
It's time to initiate the lash mapping process with the lash extensions chosen. Carefully position the lash extensions on the lash line and secure them in place.
Although lash mapping can be time-consuming, being patient and precise is crucial. Being precise ensures accurate lash extension placement and achieves the perfect lash look.
The connection between lash extensions and lash extensions made for hooded eyes is an excellent way to shortcut the process and highlight the eyes and create a stunning appearance without the faff. To make it easier still, our site has a search facility that will take you directly to lashes for hooded eyes.
However, applying them to hooded eyes can be challenging since the lash line is concealed, making it tricky to decide where to put the lash extensions for the best effect.
Lash mapping is vital in achieving the perfect lash look for hooded eyes. You can carefully plan lash placement to ensure the lash extensions are visible and complimentary. Check a tutorial.
Here are FalseEyelash’s 6 great lash mapping dos and don'ts for hooded eyes:
- Do consider the degree of hooding. The amount of hooding will influence the lash look you select.
- Do emphasise lash placement along the lash line, especially on the outer corner. Outer corner placement creates the illusion of a more open eye.
- Do opt for lash extensions that are both lengthy, thick and curled. Curled mainly compensates for the invisible lash line.
- Stay away from Russians and Faux Mink until you are confident with your technique.
- Don't rush through the process. Precision is vital in lash mapping, even if it takes time.
- Experiment — practice makes perfect, and time spent getting your style right is time well spent (in our view).
Without a doubt, the best look for hooded eyes is an open-eye look or doll-eye style — here's how you create a doll look without looking glassy-eyed or tuning into M3gan.
- Look at your eyes and add the most extended length of individual lashes to the centre of the eye over the iris — as Val Garland says in Glow Up — symmetry is everything.
- Once you have placed the longest lash to the lash line over the middle of the pupil (coloured circle in your eye), graduate the next size lashes downwards in descending sizes.
- Keep looking in the mirror as you go, adjusting as you go.
As a guide for individual lash sizes for doll eye styles, we would go with 7-9 mm on the innermost and outer corners of the lash line, increasing to 12-14 mm in the middle of the eye.
What are some common lash maps for hooded eyes?
Apart from the doll or open eye, the cat eye is an excellent shape for partially hooded or hooded eyes. The main focus of the cat's eyelash map is to emphasise the outer corner of the eye, creating a stunning winged look.
Start by placing longer lashes in the centre and gradually decrease in length as you move towards the outside corner. To create a beautiful definition, be sure to layer shorter lashes near the inner corner and curl them upwards.
Here's how you create a cat's eye — follow these steps:
- Using your pupil as a guide again, place the shortest individual lash extension on the inner corner of your eye and work up gradually until you're at the dead centre of your pupil.
- Once in the centre, increase the lash size and keep increasing until the most extended lash is on the outer corner of the eyelid or lash line.
As a guide for individual lash sizes for cats' eye styles, we would go with 5-9 mm on the inner corner, increasing to 14 mm on the outside eye corner. This will create a defined cat's eye look — it takes practice to perfect, but we promise you can get there!
Summary
Creating a lash map for hooded eyes requires skill and precision to get the desired effect. You can create stunning looks with measurements explicitly tailored to your eyes or your client's eye shape and size.
Using the correct tools, experience, and knowledge, beautiful lash looks can be achieved quickly and efficiently regardless of the eye shape.
If you want to learn more about hooded eyes and lash mapping techniques, check out our blog and tutorials. We have everything from short video guides to detailed written instructions on creating stunning looks for all eye shapes, including hooded eyes! Start exploring now.
