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The 9 Best Eyelash Curlers of 2024 Gave Us Fluttery Lashes Sans Mascara

Lush, lifted lashes that last.

Eyelash curlers we recommend displayed on a blue counter with a blue tile background

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

An eyelash curler might not be the most exciting beauty tool in your collection but don’t underestimate the power of a really good one. If you, like so many others, struggle to achieve the curled lash look of your dreams due to straight or droopy lashes, finding a lash curler that works for you can change your makeup game entirely. An eyelash curler helps temporarily elongate the lashes and points them up (rather than straight out), making them look longer, fuller, and more voluminous.

But with tons of options out there—many of which look almost identical—it can be difficult to figure out which one will work best for you. Or, perhaps you assume that they’re all the same? They’re not—we promise (some less traditional ones heat up!). To take the guesswork out of it, we put 29 eyelash curlers to the test, and chatted with Michael Brown, an Australia-based makeup artist, to help us understand what makes a good eyelash curler. The list below reflects all that—time to get your lashes curling!

What We Like
  • Pain-free lash-curling

  • Eyelashes appeared wider and more lifted

  • Comfortable every step of the way

What We Don't Like
  • Slots for fingers are a bit small

Material: Metal frame, hypoallergenic silicone pads

This classic eyelash curler is designed for people with almond-shaped or deep-set eyes, but the extra wide opening makes it a great option for people with hooded eyes, too. During testing, we were seriously impressed —it made our eyes appear wider and more awake. The difference was truly remarkable when looking at our newly-curled lashes and regular ‘ol lashes side by side. The curler offers a nice lift, giving our eyelashes a puffed-up, fanned-out effect. 

Using this tool was a breeze from start to finish—from how comfortably the grip sat in our hands to how gently the clamp curled our lashes. If we could change anything it we would make the slots where the fingers grip the curler a bit larger to accommodate people with larger hands. 

What We Like
  • Curls lashes quickly

  • Comes with replacement silicone pads

  • Feels comfortable close to the roots 

What We Don't Like
  • Might be too small for those with larger eyes

Material: Metal frame, silicone pads

Looking to snag a great eyelash curler for a bargain? This option is affordable and effective, making it great for beginners. It helps curl and volumize pin-straight lashes with ease, even on those with small or narrow-set eyes. It also comes with replacement pads, so you won’t have to purchase those separately. In addition to helping us achieve lifted lashes, we appreciated that the tool never caught our lashes or caused discomfort while using it repeatedly during testing.

What We Like
  • Curls the lashes quickly

  • Wide enough to capture all lashes

  • Design prevents user from being too forceful

What We Don’t Like
  • The angle can be tricky to master

Material: Metal frame, silicone pads

Laura Mercier is arguably most known for its iconic loose-setting powders, but don’t sleep on this lash curler. The classic design is enhanced by a double-handled grip that steadies your hands as you curl your lashes. The brand claims that just one squeeze is all it takes to form a curl—and we have to agree. During testing, we achieved a lifted, curled look with just one pump. We especially love this one if you tend to be a bit aggressive when curling your lashes. When we clamped our lashes pretty hard (per usual...), the tool prevented us from applying too much force. The only thing we weren’t thrilled with was the angle of the curler. It took a couple of tries to master the grip so we wouldn’t accidentally nip our eyelids, but once we got the hang of it, we loved the results. 

What We Like
  • Standard curler that's easy to use

  • Effectively curls short lashes

  • Can access the base of the lashes

What We Don’t Like
  • Can be too narrow for some eye shapes

Material: Metal frame, silicone pads

If Chanel ballet flats aren’t in your budget at this time (because same), this is the next best thing to add a little luxury to your everyday life for just $30. A slightly more elevated version of the classic eyelash curler, this one works to lift every lash with minimal effort on your end. It gently cradles lashes and lifts them from the root to the tip, offering a subtle curl that lasts for several hours without a smidge of pain or discomfort. It's also perfect for short or thin lashes—it creates a beautiful, elongating effect. The only thing we wish we could change is that this curler can be a bit narrow for some eye shapes. While we didn’t have any issues with it, some reviewers online pointed out that the curler didn’t reach the outer lashes on their larger-sized eyes. 

What We Like
  • Weighted, luxe feel

  • Doesn't cause pinching

  • Thin pad allows for precise curl

What We Don’t Like
  • Might not work as well on smaller or almond-shaped eyes

Material: Matte black metal, silicone rubber pads

This incredibly popular, award-winning eyelash curler is excellent for wide-set or round eyes because it will grip even the outermost lashes. The curler has a weighted and luxurious feeling and a sleek matte black finish to match. Its ergonomic design and bouncy silicone pads ensure you don’t need too much force to yield results—and pinching, lash breakage, and discomfort are virtually non-existent. During testing, we found that the thin silicone pad allowed for precise clamping, leaving us with beautifully curled lashes in no time.  

What We Like
  • Wide design ensures all lashes are gripped

  • Results range from natural to ultra-curled

  • Reaches inner and outer corner lashes with ease

What We Don't Like
  • Some may find it too small for large or round eyes

Material: Metal frame, silicone pads 

Another award-winning lash curler, this one is excellent for almond-shaped eyes—the exaggerated curvature targets every lash—even harder-to-reach lashes in the inner and outer corners of the eye. The curve of the rim is a bit more exaggerated than many other curlers on the market, which ensures that every eyelash is evenly curled (even those inner or outer corner ones that might be harder to reach). The firm finger grip adds to the appeal—it makes the whole lash-curling process feel sturdy and comfortable. When we tested for curling power, we were impressed with the results: we achieved a subtle lift by squeezing our lashes just once and a more dramatic curl by applying three squeezes and slightly more pressure. It may not be the best for those with rounder eyes due to the shape.

Read Full Review: Shiseido's Eyelash Curler Gave Me Next-Level Lift and Curl

What We Like
  • Simple and comfortable to use

  • Doesn’t apply excessive tension

  • Comes with extra lash pad stored in the curler

What We Don't Like
  • The curl doesn’t last as long as we’d like

Material: Metal frame, Soft silicone pads

Eyelash curlers can be bulky, especially when traveling. While this compact design was made specifically with travel in mind, it gets the job done whether you’re on the go or not. Rather than featuring loops that put your fingers through to clamp the lashes, it’s powered by a small lever in the back of the tool—all you need to do is gently press down to create the curl. During testing, we loved how effortless using the tool was, as well as the beautiful, wide-eyed results it provided. Also nice: The soft padding protected our lashes from damage (i.e., in the form of too much tension and pressure on the downward clamp) while still garnering an effective curl. The curl doesn’t last quite as long as the curls we achieved from other options, but the travel-friendly design makes up for that. 

What We Like
  • Can customize results

  • Contains two different heat settings

  • Doesn’t pinch or cause discomfort

What We Don't Like
  • Takes longer to achieve results than with a regular curler

Material: Metal and plastic comb

Think of this pick as a curling iron for your eyelashes. Now, that might sound dangerous, but this heated lash curler boasts a design that protects the skin near your lashes from the heat. It features a comb-like mechanism that heats up before you brush it through your lashes. You use it by following the same motion you make when brushing your hair from root to tip—this creates a lifted effect. 

During testing, it ironically earned a top score in the ease of use category. We loved that we could achieve a naturally lifted look rather than an ultra-defined crimp. Just beware that using this heated option will take a bit longer to yield results than a traditional curler—you have to heat the lashes for 20 seconds to get the desired effect. 

What We Like
  • Padded handles for comfort

  • Limited tension to prevent discomfort

  • Soft, bouncy curling pad

What We Don't Like
  • Some reviewers find it’s not forceful enough to create a dramatic curling effect

Material: Metal frame, silicone pads and grips 

Using an eyelash curler can take some getting used to—which is understandable, considering it involves placing a hard tool so close to the eyes. So, finding one that ensures you have a good grip can be game-changing. Rather than having thin metal handles, this curler features padded handles that are wider than most to allow for a solid grip and prevent it from slipping out of your grasp. 

The padded handles made us feel like we had complete control, while the squishy lash pad helped to ensure we didn’t damage our lashes. (This combination makes it another great option for beginners.) We achieved a curled effect in just a few pumps, but some online reviewers feel that the ultra-soft pad and limited tension prevented them from getting a pronounced curl. 

What to Look For in an Eyelash Curler

  • Shape: The shape of the actual curler is an important feature to consider as you want something that will work with the shape of your eye, explains Brown. Elongated eyes will see best results using a longer, more oval-shaped curler, like the Shiseido Eyelash Curler, whereas rounded or hooded eyes should look for something shorter and more circular, like the SURRATT Relevee Lash Curler.
  • Curling mechanism: Most eyelash curlers use a clamping motion to mold a curvature into the lashes—but there are other options. If you find that clamping your eyelashes causes you discomfort or you struggle to maintain a steady hand, using a heated lash curler that works like a comb, like the Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-LIFT Heated Lash Curler, could be a better option for you.
  • Grip: If you want a steadier grip on the tool, look for a lash curler that has padded handles to guide you and support you while you clamp. We like the Dior Backstage Lash Curler for this reason, as it really ensured a sturdy grasp during testing. 
FAQ
  • How do you use an eyelash curler?

    Brown explains that when it comes to using an eyelash curler, it’s all about technique. “Start with clean lashes and move the curler towards the base of the lash, clamping slowly to not pinch or pull out any hairs,” he says. “Once it’s tight, use a gentle pumping motion to open and close the curler around the lashes while simultaneously moving the curler outwards. Once you get to the center of the lashes, stop and go straight in with mascara to lock in the curl.” Keep in mind that a heated eyelash curler will create a longer-lasting curl.

  • Are eyelash curlers safe?

    Brown explains that if you use the curler correctly, it’s completely safe. “Just be sure not to pull or tug at the lash,” he adds.

  • Should you use an eyelash curler before or after mascara?

    Brown suggests using an eyelash curler before applying mascara. If you use it after, you’ll increase your chances of damaging or pulling out your lashes because the tool can stick to the mascara.

  • How do you clean an eyelash curler?

    Regularly cleaning your eyelash curler is extremely important to avoid infections in the eye area. Some eyelash curlers come with removable pads that can be replaced when things get grubby. But for regular cleaning, try using a cotton bud soaked in micellar water or makeup remover and gently sweep it across each pad. You could also remove them and wash them in warm, soapy water for a deeper clean.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.

Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she reports on beauty and style. She has short, stubby lashes and relies heavily on eyelash curlers to achieve the fluttery, flirty lashes she loves. 

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough eyelash curlers from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Updated by Ally Hirschlag

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