The Trick To Achieving The Perfect Winged Eyeliner Every Time
The Trick To Achieving The Perfect Winged Eyeliner Every Time
By Khanak Mehta
They say that the more you practice makeup, the better you get at it – like pretty much any other activity, right? Unfortunately, winged eyeliner seems to be the exception to the rule. Hours and hours of practice can help you ace that perfect clean girl base or an ombre lip, but when it comes to winged eyeliner, the most you can do is pray to the makeup Gods and hope for the best.
Well, we know how that feels – which is why we’ve put together this guide to help you get the perfect winged eyeliner every single time. Don’t believe us? Try out some of our tips and tricks and get ready to be surprised!
The best eyeliner type for winged eyeliner
While getting the perfect winged eyeliner majorly depends on your eye makeup skills, investing in the right product can make a world of difference – trust us. If you’re a beginner when it comes to eyeliner, or just can’t seem to steady your hand just yet, an eyeliner pen is your best bet. Avoid liquid eyeliner as the brush can be slightly tougher to manoeuvre, and gel pots may help with precise application, but reapplying them over the same area may make the product drag. Once you’re comfortable with a pen-style eyeliner, you can experiment with other formulas as well.
How to create the perfect winged eyeliner
When it comes to creating the perfect winged eyeliner, there is no ‘one size fits all’ rule. You may find that working free hand is best for you, or using a guide may be more comfortable. The point is, indulge in lots of trial and error and find out what suits you the best – keep reading for an overview on some of the top methods.
There is also a loophole that has its own learning curve but can be your 5-minute makeup saviour – a winged eyeliner stamp! Yes, that exists, and it acts as a great guide for eye makeup newbies.
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Winged eyeliner guide: Free hand
Yes, we know it sounds impossible, but it is very much possible to perfect a winged eyeliner look with no extra guiding products. The trick is to work backwards – create a line connecting to your lower lash line and angle it upwards, at a 45-degree angle. From that, create a triangular shape and fill it in. Then, connect it to your upper lash line, slowly moving inwards. Once you’ve got your shape ready, fill in all the empty space – and you’re done! Remember to go slow and work with shorter strokes to get it just right.
Winged eyeliner guide: Bobby pin
Your bobby pin isn’t just a saviour for all your flyaways, but for your winged eyeliner, too. This hack is perfect for placing your wing shape correctly. Just take your eyeliner – this can be any formula, whether it’s liquid, gel, or a pen – and apply the product onto the open ends of a bobby pin. Then, place it against the outer corner of your eye, just the triangular part, and press it gently. This should help transfer the eyeliner onto the area, and give you an easy guide to work with. Super easy, isn’t it?
Winged eyeliner guide: Tape
Tape is one item that has been featuring in makeup hacks for years now. It’s not just a great guide to contour your face, though – it can be a guide for your winged eyeliner, too! Here’s a step-by-step winged eyeliner hack with tape. Just cut off two small pieces and apply and remove them from the back of your hand a few times to reduce the stickiness. Then, place one piece near the outer corner of your eye, angling it upwards. Place the other one next to it to create a triangular shape – this will essentially be the shape of your winged eyeliner. Fill in the gap between those two pieces, and you’re done!
Winged eyeliner guide: Card
Still wondering how to apply winged eyeliner? Your metro or bank card isn’t just convenient for your everyday life – it can also be super helpful for your makeup looks. This option is the easiest on the list, according to us. Simply place the card up against the outer corner of your eyes at a 45-degree angle and use that as a guide for your wings. If you are planning on experimenting with a double wing, this is a great hack to use since you can move the card around easily and not transfer any eyeliner onto your skin either.
More hacks for the perfect winged eyeliner
Still looking for a winged eyeliner guide? We’ve got some more ideas up our sleeve!
- The secret to perfect makeup is lying in your kitchen cupboard. Yes, we’re talking about spoons! This tool may not be the first that pops into your mind when it comes to makeup, but it can be one of the most helpful ones to use. Use the straight edge of its handle to make the lower part of your winged eyeliner shape, and then the curved part of the spoon to complete the triangle. This will also give the shape a natural curve, making your skills look like they’re pro-level!
- Time for a mini-craft session – the best way to get the perfect winged eyeliner for your eye shape every time is to create your own template. Pick up any extra business cards you have lying around and get down to (beauty) business. Just place it against your eye, trace the shape of your winged eyeliner on it, and cut that out. Next time you do your makeup, flip it over and use the template on both eyes for an even winged eyeliner.
Easy tips & tricks for the perfect winged eyeliner
- No winged eyeliner tutorial out there is a replacement for lots of practice – we're just being honest. So, try doing a winged eyeliner every time you do your makeup, and we promise you that you’ll get better over time. We suggest doing it every evening, right before you wash your makeup off. This way, even if you mess up, you can just wipe it away.
- Following that, remember to go subtle if you’re ever unsure about your look or are just starting out. A kitten wing is the easiest thing to master, try to get that right before you channel your inner Amy Winehouse.
- Keep your elbows supported on a table or balanced surface when you’re doing your eyeliner. This will help keep your hand steady and avoid mistakes. Remember to breathe!
- Made a mistake? No problem. Clean up any stray lines with a concealer that matches your skin tone. Use a precise brush to make sure that you get the shape right.
- Use an angled liner brush that is slightly dense instead of the brush that comes with your liquid eyeliner. This will help you get more control over your application and lead to lesser mistakes.
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Wing it right!
Now that you know how to do winged eyeliner, you can go ahead and experiment with your makeup looks. From subtle, natural winged eyeliner like a kitten flick, to a bold winged eyeliner look like a double wing, the possibilities are truly endless. Don’t forget to shop our top eyeliner picks to make your job easier, too.
Winged eyeliner 101
Q. What are the basic winged eyeliner steps?
It is generally suggested that you start by making the outline of your winged eyeliner, and then filling it in with the product. This will give you a guide to work with.
Q. Will my eye shape suit winged eyeliner?
Yes, the beauty of winged eyeliner is that it suits all eye shapes and sizes. So go ahead and let your inner makeup artist out!
Q. Is winged eyeliner the same as cat eyes?
Yes, a specific style of winged eyeliner can be called cat eyes as well – this is when you make your wing slightly larger than a kitten flick.