Long eyelashes have always been a coveted physical feature among women, so much so that we have an entire industry built around the sale and mounting of fake eyelashes. However, long lashes are not as popular among men. Some “alpha types” apparently consider them too feminine and will have them trimmed for a manlier look, despite the serious health risks of such a procedure.
Videos of young men having their eyelashes cut or trimmed at barber shops or beauty salons started showing up on TikTok and other social media platforms last year, but instead of quickly fizzling out, they apparently turned into a global trend.
Associated by some with ‘looksmaxxing,’ eyelash trimming is not only bizarre, it’s downright dangerous, as it exposes the eyes to a lot of risks. Eyelashes are not purely cosmetic, they serve an important function – protecting your eyes from harm, so cutting them down to stubs can have serious health consequences.
Eyelashes prevent dirt and debris, including dead skin cells and sweat, as well as UV rays from entering the eye, and trimming them exposes people to infection, itchiness and frequent discomfort. Yes, they do grow back in time, but that takes months.
Potential infection and discomfort aside, the risk of damaging the eye during the trimming procedure should be enough to discourage people from shortening their eyelashes. Having sharp, fast moving metal blades so close to your eyes is extremely dangerous, and one wrong move could have disastrous consequences.
Although trimming eyelashes has been associated with masculinity among men, the reality is that there is no scientific merit to that concept. Eyelash length is a genetic inheritance, so it can occur in both men and women. The fact that long lashes are considered feminine is a purely cultural belief.
We have covered quite a few bizarre cosmetic trends over the years, from China’s “High Skull” skull reshaping procedure, to Thai women reshaping their lips into buffalo horns, but this one has to be one of the most unusual of them all.
