Holding lash tweezers might sound like a walk in the park, but there’s so much more to it than meets the eye. These precise little tools may seem small and insignificant, but to a lash artist, they’re a crucial device for creating gorgeous, perfectly applied false eyelashes.
The style, type, and quality of a pair of lash tweezers all play a major role in the outcome of a lash application. But the real power lies in the hands that hold them—that’s where the skill comes in!
If you’re a beginner lash artist or simply want to elevate your lash precision game, allow this guide to show you the way. We’ll run you through the most important different tweezer types, how to hold lash tweezers correctly, and common mistakes to avoid. You’ll become a tweezer pro in no time!
Different Types Of Tweezers
If you’re new to the world of eyelash extensions, you’d be excused for thinking that most tweezers are the same.
But when you dive a little deeper, you’ll discover a whole range of lash tweezer types, all of which have their own unique designs and purposes.
Belo’s lash tweezer collection features a broad range of tip types and styles, from isolation to hybrid and everything in between. As a lash artist, you’ll need to know what each set of tweezers does and how to use them. So, let’s get plucky!
Fiber Tip
Fiber tip tweezers are the bread-and-butter tweezer type for most lash artists. Instead of a smooth tip, the inside of this tweezer type is ingrained with a hex (criss-cross) pattern that allows for a much stronger tip grip.
Non-Fiber Tip
While fiber tips are generally better for a tight grip, non-fiber tip tweezer varieties can come in handy in their own way. These smooth, stainless steel-tipped tweezers are perfect for positioning wide, fluffy volume fans that are consistently neat and precise.
Curved Volume
Curved volume tweezers have large, rounded tongs that create more space in the “sweet spot” of an eyeline’s natural curve. They’re a popular choice for applying volume lashes.
Isolation Tip
Isolation tip tweezers are true classic tweezers that have a very sharp, thin tip. They are designed for isolating individual lashes with ease. Isolation tips can be used for a wide variety of different lash types and are an essential tool in every lash technician’s kit.
Hybrid
A hybrid lash tweezer combines all of the above characteristics into one. This functional tool is angled and textured yet curved like a volume tweezer, giving it a multi-use aspect.
90 Degree
Ideal for volume and mega volume applications, 90 degree tweezers have a slightly rounded tip and small surface area, making them perfect for creating fluffy volume fans and achieving a wide-eyed effect.
45 Degree Boot
Perfect for creating volume fans, 45 degree boot tweezers have a large surface area and a 45-degree angle, offering excellent control and precision in volume and mega volume applications.
Dainty Volume
Designed for finesse, dainty volume tweezers have a slim profile and minimal surface area, making them ideal for precise fan creation and handling promade fans for volume lashes.
How To Hold Lash Tweezers: A Step-By-Step Guide
When it comes to knowing how to hold lash tweezers properly, there are a few goals to keep in mind: precision, grip, comfort, and reducing hand fatigue.
Improper tweezer holding can cause the muscles in your hand to become tight and tired, making it harder to maintain control over the tool. When you know how to hold lash tweezers the right way, you can experience better fine motor control and neater, more professional lashes.
Here are our four simple steps for holding lash tweezers that every Belo babe can follow with ease:
Step 1: Sterilise your hands, station, and lash tweezers
Cleanliness is key! Before you pick up your tweezers, make sure your hands, tools, and workstation are sterilised. Clean tools work better and reduce the chances of irritation, allergic reactions, and other client issues you don’t want.
Step 2: Grasp the tweezers in your dominant hand
Once your hands and station are all squeaky clean, you’re ready to pick up your tweezers and grasp them in your dominant hand. The best way to hold lash tweezers is to grasp them firmly with three fingers: your index, middle, and thumb.
Your thumb should be on the opposite side of the tweezer to your other two fingers. Adjust your hand until you have a firm but comfortable grip on the tweezers.
Step 3: Maintain a steady hand
Once your tweezers are firmly in your hand, you’re ready to use them to apply a flawless set of lashes. Remember to maintain a steady hand and take breaks as necessary. Gripping too tightly can lead to tired hands that shake and compromise your control over the lashes.
Tips And Best Practices For How To Hold Lash Tweezers Like A Pro
By now, you know the basics of how to hold lash tweezers. But what are some additional tips you can use to level up your lash tweezer game even further? Here are our five best practices:
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Adjust grip pressure throughout lash applications
If a particular hand position isn’t working for you, don’t push through it at the risk of injuring yourself or affecting your lash application process. Adjust your grip when needed and take little pauses if you need to. Teamwork makes the dream work. Your tweezers and your hand should be besties!
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Do hand and finger stretches before a session
If hand cramps are something you experience or are concerned about developing, try out a couple of hand stretches before tackling a set of lashes. This can be achieved by gently rotating your wrists in each direction, flexing your joints, and wiggling your fingers around.
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Warm-up
Hand and finger stretches don't only help you prevent cramps, but they also warm your hands up. Warm hands are much easier to work with as they’re less stiff, so you have better tweezer control. They also feel much better for your client, too. No one wants an icy hand on their face, especially not when they’re relaxing and having their lashes done.
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Invest in an ergonomic chair
The connection between your chair and your lash tweezers may not be obvious, but it is there. The position that you sit in has an influence on how relaxed the rest of your body is, so if you’re sitting in an uncomfortable position, it can negatively impact how you use your tools.
Investing in an ergonomic chair is a decision that you’ll reap the rewards of throughout your career. More comfort means better focus, a stronger body, and better lash artistry outcomes.
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Clean your lash tweezers before and after every use
Dirty tweezers are not only unhygienic, they’re also much harder to work with. Clean your lash tweezers between every use to ensure they are kept in the best possible condition and can do their duty with excellence.
Common Tweezer Mistakes To Avoid
Avoiding common lash tweezer mistakes is just as important as embracing best practices. Avoid these mistakes to upgrade your tweezer game and prevent injuries:
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Using one tweezer for every lash type
There’s a reason why there are so many different types of lash tweezers! They have all been designed with unique purposes in mind for more exact control and the ability to work with a wide variety of different lashes, from Classic to Volume.
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Not cleaning tweezers before and after use
Tweezers come into contact with sticky glues, primers, lashes, and dust all the time—all of which can make it difficult for them to function as they were designed to.
Sticky tweezers are hard to grip lash fans with properly, making it difficult to create secure, flawless lashes for your clients. By cleaning them every time before and after use, you can ensure that your lash tweezers are always ready for action!
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Using an improper grip method
It can take some time to figure out the best way for your hands to grip lash tweezers. While remaining aware of the best grip methods, feel free to make minor adjustments if they feel more comfortable to you. You can also ask for advice from friends within the lash community.
Master The Tweezer Squeeze
Artists have paint brushes, and lash technicians have tweezers. These unique little tools play a pivotal role in the world of lash extensions, so mastering the basics of using them is something every lash technician can benefit from.
Knowing how to hold lash tweezers correctly can improve your application control, prevent your hands from getting tired while you work, and equip you to produce even more beautiful lashes.
The power to be fabulous is (literally) in your hands!