For both beginners and experienced eyelash stylists, it is essential to understand how to practice eyelash extensions. I remember when I first started (yes, it was a long time ago!), I would practice for weeks on my mannequin head before I gained the skills and confidence to get models and eventually paying clients.
In this post, I’ll explain how you can practice eyelash extensions no matter the occasion. I’ll cover how to practice on a mannequin, explain what you can do if you don’t have one, and tell you about some of my favorite practice kits.
Let’s dive in!
👁️ Are you ready to take your first step to becoming a certified lash artist? Explore our Classic Lash online course and start your journey today!
How to practice eyelash extensions on a mannequin
1– Set up your mannequin
Start by setting up your mannequin in the area where you will be working. A lashed bed is ideal, but a table at a comfortable height can also work. Make sure the mannequin is about chest height when you’re sitting so you don’t have to bend over it as you exercise.
Next, place a silicone pad under the mannequin’s eyes and attach a strip of “practice” eyelashes to each of the mannequin’s “eyes.”
To simulate natural lashes even better, I like to apply two coats of practice lashes instead of one. Our lashes naturally grow in a few layers rather than just one, so this creates a much more realistic experience.
Finally, make sure you have all of your eyelash equipment comfortably set up, just as you would if you were applying eyelash extensions to a client.
2– Practice posture and grip
![Isolation tweezers in the left hand and volume tweezers in the right hand.](https://divinelashes.ca/wp-content/uploads/holding-lash-tweezers-1024x768.jpg)
With everything ready, take the time to practice your pose and use your tweezers. Make sure your chair is close to the mannequin and your arms are close to your body. As you work, make sure your wrists are supported and use the forehead of your mannequin as resting points for your fingers.
Once you feel ready, you can use your tweezers to measure your mannequin’s lashes – it’s a great way to warm up and ensure you’re in a comfortable position.
For more tips, check out my guide to holding eyelash extension tweezers.
3– Map
For a more complete practice, take the time to plan how you will apply the eyelash extensions. You can use the pad on your mannequin to map out the different lengths to use along each section of the lash line.
If you want to know more about the styles you need to learn to create, check out my article on eyelash extension styles.
4– Use the Booster
Before starting the lashes, apply some pre-treatment to your mannequin’s lashes. Glues do not dry as quickly when applied to synthetic eyelashes. A pre-treatment will speed up the drying time, which will speed up your practice and also be consistent with how fast glues dry on porous natural lashes.
5– Eyelash
Finally, you’re ready to apply your lashes! Applying lashes to a mannequin is no different than applying them to a client. You will want to isolate the lashes, dip the lash extensions into the glue and then apply them. Rinse and repeat until you’re done!
Most stylists actually find that working on a mannequin is a little easier than working on a client, as the lashes are not as dense and isolation is much easier.
To see the practice in action, watch this video from Anastasia Lash Expert:
How to practice eyelash extensions without a mannequin
1- Use your friends and family
Even if you have mannequins, try to practice on people as often as possible. This type of practice is invaluable in teaching you how to deal with different natural lash patterns and client needs and preferences.
It is best to start by asking your friends and family. Choose people who will understand that you are just starting out and who will encourage you and be excited to help you develop your skills. The other benefit of practicing with people you know and love is that you will feel more comfortable with them.
Even so, remember to set up your station and work as you would a real customer!
2- Find models online
Another fantastic option is to find models online. Local beauty enthusiasts or hair and beauty model Facebook groups can be very rich resources for connecting with people. You will find models who would love to have eyelash extensions done and won’t mind going to someone less experienced.
When posting a call for models, be sure to include your general location, the style you’d like to practice, and the date and time. Also mention if you will need the model to agree to take photos and if you want the model to cover the cost of the materials (and if so, say what the cost will be).
My favorite places to advertise for free models are on Craigslist, Facebook or Kijiji.
3- Use a sponge
Round sponges can come in handy especially when you’re starting to practice voluminous lashes. All you need to do is wet a flat, round makeup sponge. Then use it as your surface to spread the lashes, one by one along the perimeter.
The main advantage of this technique is that the visibility is amazing, especially for voluminous eyelashes. It allows you to focus on making symmetrical fans without worrying about other aspects of lashing. That said, it’s not that good if you need to practice isolation or placement, and I also don’t think it’s useful at all for classic lashes.
4- Use the yarn
If you want to focus on speed and precision when applying lashes without worrying about isolation, sewing thread can come in very handy! Stretch a piece of string over a cup or bowl, glue it to both sides, then use it for practice. This technique is useful for practicing both classic and voluminous eyelashes.
Some stylists like to try this practice method with a hair pulled out of a hairbrush. Human hair is much closer in thickness to lash hair, but I think threading is a healthier option.
5- Use false eyelashes
If you don’t have access to a mannequin, you can also apply strip eyelash extensions. For this, I recommend using cheap, simple lashes that aren’t too fluffy or crossed.
Glue the eyelashes of the strip to the side of a plastic cup, ball or any other small object. Next, isolate and apply lashes to the lash strips as you would on a mannequin or human. This method doesn’t allow you to repeat placing your hands as closely, but it’s still a great alternative to mannequins in a pinch.
The best eyelash extension kits for practice
Yegi Beauty Kit Version 1
This kit by Yegi Beauty goes above and beyond, with everything a novice lash stylist needs. It includes a very realistic mannequin, multiple trays of classic and voluminous lashes of different lengths and curlers, tweezers, accessories and everything else a stylist needs to professionally deliver eyelash extensions.
Veyes Classic Lash Kit for new beginners
If you don’t need a full eyelash extension kit, this one starter kit from Veyes it’s a great budget-friendly option. It comes with all the essentials for practicing classic extensions at home, including a mannequin head, lash practice, a tray of classic lashes, glue, tweezers and some under-eye pads.
The Lash Professional Eyelash Mannequin
If you already have all your eyelash essentials, this one mannequin head it will upgrade your workouts. The ultra-realistic design has removable eyelids with eyelashes already attached, which simulates human eyelashes even better than the average mannequin with practice strips. I also appreciate that it comes in both light and deep skin tones.
Frequent questions
Can you practice eyelash extensions yourself?
No way. To apply your own eyelash extensions, you will need to isolate your lashes from underneath with one eye closed. Even the most experienced lash stylists do not have this level of control and skill. Even if this process were somehow possible, it doesn’t replicate how you would work on clients.
How long does it take to practice eyelash extensions?
I think it’s best to practice fitting full sets on people or your mannequin regularly, which can take a few hours. It’s also beneficial to practice shorter eyelash curls, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes here and there. It usually takes a few months of practice for beginners to feel confident enough to charge full price.
How often should you practice eyelash extensions?
You should practice daily, especially when you start your lashing journey. As your experience grows, practice is still essential. It will help you maintain and develop your skills or experiment with new techniques and styles.
The bottom line
With so many different ways to practice eyelash extensions, there’s no excuse not to! Even though I’ve been doing lashes for over a decade, I still love using my mannequin to practice new techniques or play with new lash mapping ideas.
Adjust the way you practice based on your time and needs! If you only have ten free minutes a day, that’s still much better than nothing. You can take your time to work on your weak spots to become a more well-rounded lash stylist.
Have you come up with creative methods for eyelashes? Do you have questions about how to practice eyelash extensions? Leave a comment below and I’ll make sure to answer!
– Asako 🙂
Life is short, your lashes don’t have to be
Enhance your natural beauty with amazing eyelash extensions or a great eyelash lift. Click the button to book your appointment online today.
Asako Ito is the co-founder of Divine Lashes and a certified lash stylist. She has gained recognition for her modern techniques in the eyelash industry.
Holding multiple certifications and licenses including Luxury Eye, THE LASH SHOP, World Microblading and The Lash Bible, she has a constant thirst for knowledge. These credentials reflect her commitment to excellence and staying at the forefront of lash and brow art.
With over 10 years of experience, Asako is constantly increasing her knowledge as both a technician and educator by working with top lash artists worldwide. You can read her full bio here.