How to Match Colored Lashes to Eye Color

A can’t-miss way to add a little something to the eyes, and deepen their natural color at the same time, is to add a few colored fans.

Just a few colored lashes at the outer corner can noticeably change how the eyes read, making their color pop. Or the opposite. So it really matters to match the lash color to the client, so the change is for the better.

Or, instead of just a couple of fans, you could do a makeup effect or ombre set.

How to choose lashes that make your client’s eye color pop

A lot of artists mistakenly assume the safe bet is to match the lash color to the eye color: green lashes for green eyes, say. But that pairing actually makes the eye color duller and flatter, because similar colors “compete” with each other.

Matching lash color to eye color is built on contrast, and you use the color wheel to find contrasting colors. Makeup artists, designers, stylists, and other creatives use it too. A contrasting lash color lights up and highlights the color of the iris.

Complementary (contrasting) colors are the ones on opposite sides of the Itten color wheel. Their pairing looks lively and energetic, especially at full saturation.

A cheat sheet for matching lash color to eye color

Brown eyes: light blue, blue, violet, lilac, green

Green eyes: violet, purple, lilac, pink, fuchsia, burgundy

Blue eyes: hazel, cocoa, gold, pink

Don’t be afraid to experiment and offer your clients unexpected options. A unique style and on-trend effects help you stand out from other artists and build a waitlist of clients.

And so your photos sell your work without a word, see also:

How to photograph lashes the right way

How to edit your lash photos beautifully in 75 seconds