Ardell Natural False Eyelashes: The High Hopes That Just Didn’t Deliver

Having trichotillomania has sent me on a life-long quest to find the perfect pair of false eyelashes which can cover up my baldness effectively whilst remaining natural enough for me to pass the lashes off as my own. I’ve tried many a pair of false eyelashes in my short time, exploring different brands and styles to try and discover that ultimate trich saviour. One hugely popular brand that I have tried before but wasn’t overwhelmed by is Ardell; their professional, full sets of lashes have become favourites amongst beauty enthusiasts. It’s a brand I really want to love, so I gave them a second chance and bought these ‘naturals’ to try out. They look the part in the packet, but unfortunately, the high hopes I had for this style just didn’t deliver.

Nouveau Lashes (And Which Ones Are Best For Covering Hair Loss) + WIN!

My long journey with trichotillomania has fuelled an unhealthy obsession with false eyelashes. From the age of about 15 (when I first learned of their beautiful existence), I have been on the quest to find the perfect styles for covering up my lack of eyelashes. No longer do we have to suffer with a smudge of black eyeliner, or even face the fear of baring our bald lids in public; the right pair of false eyelashes can not only replicate the flutter we should have, but also boost our confidence beyond our dreams. Whilst I've tried a few brands in my time, Nouveau Lashes is fairly new to my beauty radar. I've handpicked the best ones that you need to try out if you suffer from hair loss.

Setting Trichotillomania Goals: Does It Work?

I've been there far too many times; pulling out all of my eyelashes in a splurge and then promising myself I won't do it again, setting an upcoming special occasion as a target to have all of my eyelashes back for. And more times than not, I let myself down again. We all set goals in life; whether it's career goals or more personal ones, having something set in our minds to work towards drives us forward and supposedly motivates us in achieving whatever it is that we want to achieve. With trichotillomania, this would work in theory. But after over a decade of continually setting myself targets only for me to 'fail myself', I have to ask, is it worth it? Should we keep setting these goals for ourselves, or is it only adding to the pressure and making the situation worse?

Make-Up Tips & Products For Sparse Or No Eyelashes

If you suffer from hair loss, you will understand that it can sometimes overwhelm your life. Something that you have no control over, even if it is 'just hair', can have a huge affect on your physical appearance and your emotional state of being. Having trichotillomania and pulling my eyelashes out since I was 3 years old has taught me that hair is actually so important to me, and as a result, my appearance has been a meticulously thought-out operation for the sake of resisting judgement from the outside world. I never knew eyelashes would become such a focal point in my life, but experiencing hair loss has taught me ways to deal with not having lashes, and how to cover up these gaps. These tips and tricks will also apply to anyone who has sparse or stubby lashes (as well as none whatsoever), as I share with you my favourite products to boost growth or give the illusion of fuller lashes.

Kiss Blooming Lash Collection: A Review For Trichotillomania

Having had no eyelashes for pretty much all of my life, I like to think that by now I'm a bit of a connoisseur of false lashes. Although I have given up wearing them on a day to day basis (let's face it, in an office no-one cares if you have eyelashes or not), I still think they are a great way of not only covering up signs of hair loss but also preventing pulling; if you go to pull your eyelashes you'll end up taking the whole false lash strip off so it works quite well as a deterrent! One of the first brands I dabbled in when I initially discovered the beauty of false lashes was Kiss. Their lashes transformed how I saw trichotillomania and how the disorder made me feel- for the first time I actually felt like a normal human being with natural-looking eyelashes. Their (relatively) new 'Blooming Lash' collection could be another life-changing range for those with hair loss. Here's why...

BFRB Awareness: Story #3

Trichotillomania Update (And Why It's OK To Not Be OK)

I did something bad. I was doing so well, had a full set of lashes, and then received some bad news. I cried, my heart broke, and my eyelashes were destroyed. All of that time and hard work trying to grow them back through, and my happiness at being able to wear mascara and ditch the false lashes...all disappeared in one ten minute splurge. I hated myself for ruining my eyelashes yet again, for forcing myself back into the routine of covering up the ugliness, and once those ten minutes passed I was filled with utter disappointment, guilt, regret and self-loathing. I used some bad news as an excuse to pull out my hair, but was left feeling heaps worse than before.

The Best False Eyelash Glue For Hair Loss Sufferers

It goes without saying that I am a bit obsessed with false eyelashes. I have been wearing them for about 5 or 6 years (basically since I realised I could get away with them at school) and have been on a long and often fruitful journey to find the perfect pair ever since. With so many designs to choose from, life becomes a little easier for those who suffer from hair loss; instead of putting up with baldness, you can stick on a pair of natural-looking false eyelashes and, a lot of the time, people won't even be able to tell that they are not yours. However, it's all well finding a good, natural design to pass off as your own (you can read a few of my favourites in this post here), but if the glue isn't strong enough to hold them down onto bald eyelids, the moment of finding your perfect pair is ruined.

Natural Eyelashes With Eylure: An Easy Way To Cover Hair Loss

I've tried my fair amount of false eyelashes in my time. Having trichotillomania has meant that I've forever been on the lookout for a fabulous fake flutter to disguise my own lack of eyelashes. Eylure were the very first set of false eyelashes I tried, aged about 15. Back then, Eylure were pretty much the only brand to turn to. Since falsies have exploded into the beauty market, there are so many different brands and styles to choose from. I've fallen in love with Kiss, had a brief affair with Primark, and also discovered Tanya Burr and the Vintage Cosmetic Company. But, since their re-brand and launch of a huge range of varying styles, I've found myself crawling back to Eylure.

Kiss 'Flirty' False Lashes For A Big, Bold Flutter

A while ago I featured some lashes which completely changed my life. You may wonder how some false eyelashes can transform someone's life, but when you have trichotillomania, you are on a constant mission to discover products that will help you cover up your hair loss whilst still looking natural. Kiss provided this for me. Their 'Iconic' set boosted my confidence more than any other make-up product, leading me to recommend them to any fellow sufferer or beauty enthusiast I can. I thought I would try out some more of their range, aside from their more natural, reserved lashes, and opted for this bolder set, 'Flirty'.

Life With Trichotillomania

I have suffered from Trichotillomania for 18 years. Seeing as I was so young when I started (3 years old, or at least that's what my family and I assume), I can't even remember why I first reached for my eyelashes.

What Is TTM?

Trichotillomania (TTM) is a hair-pulling impulse disorder, or body focused repetitive disorder, which affects between 1-3% of the population. Although it is statistically more likely for sufferers to be female, men are affected by it too. Most people with the disorder are presumed to develop these tendencies in their teenage years, but it is not uncommon to hear of stories, like mine, where it develops in any stage of childhood.

Trichotillomania Top Tips: Eye Make-Up

As many of you know from previous posts, I suffer from trichotillomania; pulling from my eyelashes since I was 3, and eyebrows since I was about 14. As I reached Secondary School (unfortunately an all-girls school), I discovered make-up and how it can alter your appearance. It was a God-send. Being in an all-girls environment, I grew more self-conscious and aware of what I was doing in regards to TTM, my appearance, and most importantly what others thought of my appearance. Make-up became an escape, a way to mask not only my imperfections, but my disorder.

NEW: Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink Eyelashes

It only seems like recently that I posted a review of some Kiss lashes but here we are again with a brand new collection. To be fair, Kiss are joint number one on my list of favourite false eyelash brands (alongside Eylure), and my love for them is both well-justified and nostalgic as their Iconic lashes were the first pair of falsies that ever made me feel confident with trichotillomania (way back, aged 15!). Their lashes are always so comfortable to wear and often display a combination of all the things I look for in order to cover my own lack of eyelashes. From the perfect length, a super-natural multi-angle feature as seen in their new Blooming Lash range, to the subtle overlapping of lashes near the base to hide any gaps, their lashes are often the first ones I reach for if I need a little confidence boost. Although their new faux mink collection isn't as natural-looking as some others I've featured in the past, these are still gorgeous lashes that make the perfect pair to apply for a night out.

BFRB Awareness: Story #2

Eyelash Primers And Why You Should Be Using One

When you have trichotillomania, it's a moment of sheer joy when you start to see those tiny little eyelashes making their way back through. You start creating a mental wishlist of every mascara you've been wanting to try out, waiting for this glorious moment when you can start rebuilding a full lash-line. Whether you have trichotillomania, naturally short lashes or just want to maximise the length for extra impact, you need to be using a lash primer underneath your mascara. We've all heard of using a primer underneath your foundation to boost longevity and even out your skin tone, but little did you know you should be using one on your eyelashes too if you really want that wow-factor flutter.

False Lashes by Kiss

No, these are neither eyelashes made by the radio station or the band. I found these Kiss false eyelashes in Boots when having a little look around for what I could recommend in my trichotillomania eye make-up post. I had seen them online briefly and was amazed by how natural they looked. They are neither 'too little', like I find Eylure's Ultra Natural lashes to be, nor too loud for everyday wear. The perfect balance!

Lacking In The Lash Department? These Kiy-oshi Serums Will Be A Lifesaver (Plus WIN A Pair To Try For Yourself!)

If there's one thing I always recommend to anyone who talks to me about trichotillomania or hair-loss in general, it's a good eyelash serum. Once a little-known beauty product, these conditioning serums are starting to get a lot more accessible. Whether you are urging your lashes to grow back through faster, or just trying to reinforce your existing lashes after mascara or false-lash damage, conditioning your lashes is just as important as conditioning the hair on your head or applying moisturiser to your skin. Your eyelashes and eyebrows aren't exempt from the same potential damage, and investing in a good serum such as this Kiy-oshi duo is a great way to ensure you keep your lashes looking their best.

Why Benefit's Roller Lash Is My Favourite Mascara For Trichotillomania Lashes

The Best Mascaras For Short, Sparse and Stubby Eyelashes

It's been a month since I had exams, and in that time my eyelashes have started to recover from a pretty hefty trichotillomania splurge. Little stubby hairs are starting to shoot back through (with the help of RapidLash) and I can finally start looking forward to the exciting prospect of wearing a bit of mascara again. When your eyelashes grow back through, they are thin, fragile and incredibly short, so if (like me), you can't wait to start applying mascara again, it's so important to find ones which are going to make the most of what little you have. I've got a few 'holy grail' mascaras for anyone with short, sparse and stubby lashes that I want to share with you, as I've found these to truly be the best ones for our circumstances.

NEW Eylure Pro Magnetic Lashes