On TikTok people are using hairspray instead of mascara Genius or madness?

There are countless unusual beauty hacks born on TikTok by now, but lately a new trend has emerged that is making millions of users debate. This time, the main character is not yet another miracle skincare product promising to erase every imperfection overnight or a new make-up application technique, but something that should definitely stay away from our face: hair spray. On the platform, videos of creators using hairspray on their eyelashes to keep them curled and perfectly fixed all day are going viral, as if it were some kind of extra-strong transparent mascara. But the question naturally arises: is it really worth it risking your eye health just to have perfectly frozen lashes all day long?

On TikTok, people are using hairspray instead of mascara

Where did the trend come from?

As often happens, the trend comes from a real problem. Many people are looking for a way to achieve longer, more lifted and open-looking lashes without having to apply layers of mascara every morning or resort to extensions. The issue is that for those with particularly straight lashes, keeping the effect of an eyelash curler throughout the day can be difficult. Then there are also those who simply do not like wearing mascara every day, especially considering the rise of the ghost lashes make-up trend. In viral videos, some users show how they spray a small amount of hairspray onto a clean mascara wand and then brush it through their lashes, while others apply the spray directly in an attempt to recreate a sort of "lamination effect". Of course, in front of the camera, the result can look convincing. The problem, however, is that the fact a beauty hack appears to work does not automatically mean it is a good idea. Especially when the product in question was created to hold a hairstyle in place, not to sit just a few millimetres away from our eyes.

Is hairspray on eyelashes safe?

The answer, obviously, is no: hair spray is not designed to be used around the eyes. Setting sprays are formulated to adhere to the hair fiber and keep it in place, thanks to ingredients such as alcohol, fragrances, solvents and film-forming resins. All perfectly fine when it comes to styling a hairstyle, but much less suitable when we are talking about eyelashes. The eye area is in fact one of the most delicate areas of the face, and the eyes can react even to small amounts of irritating substances. And the problem does not only concern the moment of application: even if you manage to avoid spraying the product directly into your eye, throughout the day the hairspray can come into contact with the ocular surface through the movement of your lashes, causing burning sensations and irritation.

So, is there an alternative?

Yes, and the irony is that the product TikTok is trying to invent already exists. In recent years, the beauty market has introduced clear mascaras, lash primers and specific products designed to hold the curl of eyelashes without adding colour or weighing them down. The principle is basically the same as hairspray: creating a lightweight film that helps maintain the shape achieved with an eyelash curler. The difference is that these formulas are specifically designed and tested to be used on the eye area.