STYLE

Your biggest hair/nail/makeup phobias? Yeah, they’re about to become your new go-to's. Watch and learn...

BE HONEST: What’s the thing you’re most afraid of, like sending-chills-down-your-spine scared? Maybe it’s spiders or zombies...or maybe it’s, uh, the first time you try to curl your lashes (eek), attempt an adorably complicated nail design (daunting) or try to fix your messed-up cat-eye less than 10 minutes before your homecoming date arrives (seriously terrifying). Freak not, fam: By breaking ’em down into easy-to-master steps, we’re turning these makeup monsters under your bed into, well, trends you’ll *actually* be excited to try this fall.

TRIMMING YOUR BANGS

Elizabeth Olsen by @CLAYTONHAWKINS
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 

THE EEK: You know you’ll look amaze with fresh fringe, but with a single aggressive snip, you can totally butcher those bangs.
FEAR NOT: If you don’t have any fringe rn, hit pause and make a salon appointment. Trust us. But if you just need a tiny trim, go for it. “My rules: Cut conservatively and use very sharp scissors,” says Olivia Van Pelt, hairstylist and owner of Olive Beauty Co. Only trim your bangs when they are dry and styled, she suggests. Cut side bangs on more of an angle, and tidy up straight-across bangs by holding the scissors vertically while cutting upward for natural texture.
TRY: Macs Professional Razor Edge Barber Hair Cutting Scissors, $15, amazon.com

CURLING YOUR LASHES

@lauraharrier
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻 👻 👻

THE EEK: This thing is a medieval torture device, right?
FEAR NOT: Line up your lashes in the opening of the curler, lower your gaze and gently squeeze at the base of your lashes, repeating a few times up and down your lashes for the perfect curl. Then, just seal the deal with your fave mascara.
TRY: Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $23, sephora.com

APPLYING FALSIES

@chloebailey
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻 👻

THE EEK: The tweezers! The proximity to your eyes! The glue! Who wouldn’t be scared?
FEAR NOT: Measure lash strips against your eye, take them down then trim to fit. “Squeeze a tiny bit of glue along the strip and let sit for a minute,” reveals Sebastien Tardif, co-founder of Veil Cosmetics. “The glue should be tacky so it instantly sticks to your lid.” Use tweezers to place each strip directly above your lashes and make sure they’re secure in three spots: the center, the ridge and the outer corner. Press your real lashes together with the faux for a seamless finish.
TRY: L.A. Colors Dramatilash Multi-Pack Eyelash Kit, $5, riteaid.com

PLUMPING YOUR LIPS

@jennierubyjane
FEAR FACTOR: 👻

THE EEK: We love the look of soft, pillowy lips, but overlining them is so 2015 (and injections are a definite “no thanks”).
FEAR NOT: For a pout that pops, go for a gloss formulated with cinnamon, peppermint or menthol, reveals Tardif. These natural irritants will make your lips temporarily swell a bit, giving you a lush look that’ll last at least the night.
TRY: Florence by Mills Work It Pout Plumping Lip Gloss, $14, ulta.com

LINING YOUR WATERLINE

@maudeapatow
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 

THE EEK: An eyeliner pencil on the *literal* last line of defense between your cornea and the world? IDK...
FEAR NOT: This one is surprisingly easy to master, shares Tardif. “Use your index finger to gently press under your lower lash line so your waterline sticks out and away from your eye.” Then, use short, gentle strokes to draw on your waterproof liner—cue all the ’90s-inspired dreamy effects.
TRY: Neen Side Eye Liner, $19, weareneen.com

FINESSING A FRENCH MANI

@julieknailsnyc
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻

THE EEK: We all love a good nail art moment, but you basically need to be Picasso to recreate the looks on your FYP.
FEAR NOT: If you’re not the *most* artistic, go for a classic (and easy-ish) French. “Set aside plenty of time to do this,” says LeChat Nails educator Syreeta Aaron. First, let your base color dry completely. Then, apply stencil stickers as a guide to paint your tips evenly (white is timeless, but if you’re feeling extra, we heart a metallic sparkle). Let the nails fully dry before removing the stickers—then finish off with a top coat.
TRY: Orly 1⁄2 Moon Guides, $6, orlybeauty.com

DRAWING MATCHING CAT-EYES

@florencepugh
FEAR FACTOR: 👻 👻

THE EEK: One side is done, but the other is a teeeeny bit too thick. Easy to fix, right? Not always...
FEAR NOT: “Start with the eye you struggle the most with,” says Tardif. That way, if things go awry, you only have one eye to fix (or can mimic any minor errors on the other side). Start at the inner corner and draw a line outward, flicking it up in the direction of the tip of your brow. Then, connect your lash line with the tail of your liner and fill in the blank space. Just dip a pointy cotton swab in some makeup remover to clean up any edges without messing up the rest of your makeup.
TRY: Diane 100% Cotton Pointed Tips Swabs, $3, amazon.com

Want some more tricky how-to's? Check out these articles!
💄 The bold beauty trends you *need* to try this back-to-school szn
💄 Your guide to the best eyeliners
💄 How to actually blow-dry your hair

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our October/November 2022 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

by Erin Reimel and Erin Sargent | 10/1/2022