Lashed Up

Cosmetic-conscious women have dutifully painted their lips vermilion one season, chalk white the next, applied pancake, powder and rouge with abandon (when Vogue endorsed The Ruddy Look), cut down on foundation bases (when Harper's Bazaar approved of Naked Cheeks). Hair styles have changed so often during the past ten years that even the beauty business began to grow bored with it all, threw in the sponge and recommended wigs. But that was last year's news. This year the eyes have it.

The Big-Eyed Look, achieved with the aid of mascara, eyebrow pencil, eye liner and eye shadow, has been around for a while. But until recently, only show girls admitted to wearing false eyelashes, and they, poor things, are a notoriously shameless lot. Now, astonishingly, false eyelashes have been declared chic. And not only chic, but essential. Overnight, beauty salons have engaged eyelash "falseticians" who, for an average price of $5, will measure and trim the customer's falsies as well as instruct her on how to apply and remove them.

Individual lashes are attached, one by one, to the customer's own (presumably stubby) ones, will last for a minimum of two or three weeks. They should be applied by professionals (Revlon specializes in the service). The "streetwear" length costs $10, the longer versions close to $20. More common are the strip eyelashes, which adhere to the lid for only a day and a half at a wearing but can be used and reused. The most realistic, and currently most popular, are made of human hair (imported from England and France), but they must be applied--with paste--by a mighty deft hand. Average cost: $6. Installation is do-it-yourself. The classier lashes are made of seal fur, cost an average $10, plus an extra $4 for fitting and styling. Manhattan's Janus Mann Eyelash Salon sells models in mink (for $50) and sable (for $80) to customers who want to match their coats. Women like them so much that they are wearing as many as three sets (layer upon layer) at a time, achieving a wild, bushy-eyed effect. Their lids may droop under the burden and their vision blur, but there seems to be no end in sight for the whole blinking business.

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