The short answer, and get this one right: the magnetic liner has to still be wet when you place the lash on it. Nikol is unambiguous — "you have to still have it wet when you apply the magnetic lash, you can't let it dry, so you have to work quickly." This is not a liquid liner you set and then build on. Apply it fast, put the lash straight onto the wet line, and only then go back and tidy the liner.
Two different systems, and one is much easier
If you tried magnetic lashes years ago and gave up, you probably tried the first generation.
| System | How it works | The problem |
|---|---|---|
| Magnet sandwich (older) | Two magnetic lashes, one above and one below your own lashes, clamping them between | Fiddly to line up, and the magnets fight each other. Nikol's viewers told her it was "impossible" |
| Magnetic liner (current) | A gel liner containing iron particles; a single lash adheres straight to the line | Only that you have to work fast |
Her verdict on the difference: the liner version "definitely is a lot easier than smashing your lashes between two other lashes."
Worth knowing that the sandwich kind did work for her — she got them on by accident doing it backwards, and they held all day on a production shoot. But once the magnets "start doing their own thing," repeated attempts get harder.
The method, in the right order
- Curl your lashes and apply mascara first. Magnetic lashes tend to be very fine and wispy — natural rather than dramatic — so your own lashes need to be dark and thick underneath them. See front-loading at the base and making the curl hold.
- Load one side of the little brush. The kit brush is small and angled. Scoop enough gel onto a single side of it so you are not going back for more mid-application.
- Draw the liner fast, and do not aim for perfect. "I don't care if it's not perfect — I'm going to go back and fix that." A thin line at the lash root is plenty.
- Place the lash immediately, onto the wet line. This is the whole technique.
- Now perfect the liner. With the lash on and holding, go back over the line — taper the outer end, fill any gap, smooth the top edge so it reads as one piece. "Now I don't care if it dries quickly, because I'm just going to taper it down and smooth everything out."
- Optional: soften it once dry. A black powder smudged over the line takes the hardness off, if a crisp liner is not your style.
That reversal — rough line, lash on, then perfect the line — is what makes the wet-liner requirement manageable instead of stressful.
You cannot reposition it
The honest limitation, in her words: "if I misplaced it, I would have to start over. That's the only bummer about this."
Once the lash meets the wet liner it is committed. Which is why placing it correctly matters more than drawing a tidy line first — and why the whole sequence is built around getting the lash down while you still can.
The packaging problem to watch for
This is a manufacturing complaint rather than a technique note, and it will save you a lash.
The lashes are fixed into the tray with strong adhesive dots placed on the lash hairs rather than on the band. Pull the way you would with a normal strip lash and you tear it.
Nikol does not soften this: "you have to really almost pick off each individual lash — I think this is a big mistake for the company to do this." And she is clear it is not the magnets causing the trouble: "it's not the magnetic set that is causing the problem, it is getting caught because it has that adhesive stuck on the lash."
Use tweezers, work the hairs free of the glue dot individually, and take your time. Metal tweezers are better here because the lash will not stick to them.
Removal, and fixing a mistake
Magnetic liner needs an oil-based or waterproof eye makeup remover. An ordinary oil-free pad will not shift it — which matters both for taking the look off and for the moment you get gel liner on your fingers, because it will not simply wipe away.
And if you are starting over: get the eye completely dry first. Fresh gel liner on damp skin will not hold the lash.
Who this is genuinely good for
- Anyone who has given up on lash glue. No judging tack, no sliding, and no glue remnants — Nikol's own complaint about strip lashes is finding leftover glue "days later."
- Sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. These kits are typically latex-free and paraben-free, which is much of the appeal.
- Anyone who wants weightless lashes. "They feel wispy — I don't feel like there's anything on my eyelid."
If you would rather use conventional strip lashes, the technique that makes those work is placing the center first.
Mix and match brands
A useful piece of freedom: any gel magnetic liner works with any brand's magnetic lashes. The magnets grip iron particles in the liner, and neither is proprietary to the other.
So if the lashes in your kit are too natural for what you want — and Nikol notes hers are very fine and wispy rather than dramatic — buy a fuller, more glamorous magnetic lash from anywhere and keep using the liner you have.
The magnetic liner and lashes shown are third-party products and are not sold by Nikol Beauty.
Frequently asked questions
Should magnetic eyeliner be wet or dry when you apply the lash?
Wet. The lash has to go onto liner that is still wet, which means working quickly — this is the opposite of how you use an ordinary liquid liner. Letting it dry first is the most common reason magnetic lashes fail to hold.
How does magnetic eyeliner work?
The gel liner contains iron particles. Magnets in the lash band grip those particles, so the lash adheres directly to the line you have drawn with no glue involved anywhere.
Can you reposition a magnetic lash?
Not once it has landed on wet liner. If it goes on crooked you have to remove everything and start again, which is why you place the lash before perfecting the liner rather than after.
Do you put mascara on before magnetic lashes?
Yes. Curl your lashes and apply mascara first. Magnetic lashes are usually fine and wispy, so your own lashes need to be dark underneath or the effect looks thin.
Are magnetic lashes easier than glue lashes?
The liner type is, considerably — no glue to judge and nothing to slide around. The older magnet-sandwich style, where two lashes clamp your own between them, is harder than glue rather than easier.
How do you remove magnetic eyeliner?
With an oil-based or waterproof eye makeup remover. Ordinary oil-free remover will not shift it, and the same applies to getting gel liner off your fingers.
Why did my magnetic lash tear when I took it out of the box?
Because manufacturers often fix the lash to the tray with strong adhesive placed on the hairs rather than the band. Use tweezers and work the hairs free individually instead of pulling the strip out.
Do magnetic lashes work with any magnetic liner?
Yes. Gel magnetic liners and magnetic lashes are cross-compatible across brands, so you can pair a fuller lash with whichever liner you already own.
Are magnetic lashes good for sensitive eyes?
Often, yes — they are typically latex-free and paraben-free, and there is no adhesive sitting against the lash line. That combination also suits contact lens wearers.
Start here
Do the whole thing on one eye first, and accept that the liner will look rough while you do it. Mascara on, one side of the brush loaded, a fast thin line, lash straight down onto it — and only then go back and make the liner look deliberate. If it holds and you like it, do the other eye. The order is the technique.
