Lash Guides

Do false lashes go above or below your natural lashes? For a traditional full strip lash, the usual placement is above your natural lashes, along the upper lash line on the eyelid side. But 'false lashes' now includes several systems, and some underlash clusters are designed to attach below the natural lashes. Magnetic designs can use still different placement mechanisms.

So the correct answer depends on the product type. Do not move a lash above or below the natural lashes simply because another style is applied that way. Follow the instructions for the specific system you own.

Quick Answer: Are false lashes placed above or below natural lashes?

• Traditional strip lashes: normally above the natural lashes, attached along the upper lash line.
• Some underlash clusters: specifically designed to sit underneath the natural lashes.
• Magnetic-liner lashes: attach to magnetic liner on the eyelid side above the natural lashes.
• Upper-and-lower lash-to-lash magnetic designs: use one magnetic piece above and another below the natural lashes so the pieces connect around them.
• LashNova: belongs to this upper-and-lower lash-to-lash category and uses a dedicated applicator; follow its UP/DOWN, position, and clamp sequence rather than treating it like a glue-on strip or an underlash cluster.

If you are learning a standard strip technique, see how to apply false eyelashes for the complete process.

Why traditional strip lashes usually sit above natural lashes

A conventional strip lash has a continuous band intended to follow the upper lash line. In the usual glue-on method, adhesive on the band attaches to the skin along the eyelid side of the natural lashes, not to the underside of the natural lash hairs.

The goal is to make the false-lash band and natural lash line read as one clean line while avoiding direct adhesive placement where the product is not designed to go. Exact positioning varies with the band and eye shape, so the product's instructions remain the authority.

Why some lash clusters go below the natural lashes

Underlash cluster systems are intentionally different. Small lash sections may be designed to attach beneath the natural lashes, creating a look where the attachment points are less visible from above. That does not mean an ordinary strip should be moved underneath. The adhesive, shape, segmentation, and instructions can be different.

If you are deciding between these formats, our lash clusters vs strip lashes comparison explains the broader routine differences.

What about magnetic lashes?

Magnetic lashes are not one universal mechanism. Where the lash sits depends on how the magnets create the attachment.

Magnetic-liner lashes

These lashes attach to a compatible magnetic liner applied along the upper eyelid. The false lash therefore sits above the natural lashes at the lined lash area.

Two-piece magnetic lashes

Some designs use a magnetic piece above the natural lashes and another below so the pieces attract each other around the natural lashes. Their placement should not be confused with an adhesive underlash-cluster system even though something is positioned below.

LashNova upper-and-lower lash-to-lash magnetic lashes

LashNova uses a no-glue, no-liner system with upper and lower soft magnetic lash pieces and a dedicated applicator. Align the UP/DOWN marks so both pieces are loaded correctly, position the applicator close to your natural lash line, and gently clamp to connect the magnetic pieces around the natural lashes. Do not reinterpret this routine as a traditional glue-on strip, an underlash cluster, or a magnetic-liner system.

For a fuller magnetic-specific tutorial, use how to apply magnetic lashes.

How close should false lashes be to your natural lashes?

Close placement usually looks more seamless, but 'close' is not permission to attach a product directly to natural lash hairs if its instructions call for skin placement. A traditional strip should follow its intended upper lash-line position. Underlash products should follow their own approved distance and attachment instructions. Magnetic systems should be positioned exactly as their mechanism requires.

If you feel pinching, pulling, persistent irritation, or something feels wrong, stop and reassess rather than forcing the placement. Users with a known eye condition or ongoing irritation should use caution and consult a qualified professional when appropriate.

How to tell whether your lash is in the wrong place

• The band sits visibly far from the natural lash line.
• The inner or outer corner repeatedly pokes or lifts.
• You attached an ordinary strip to the underside even though its instructions call for upper-lash-line placement.
• You treated a two-piece magnetic system like an adhesive cluster system.
• You feel pulling or discomfort and keep trying to press the lash into place.

If natural-lash stress is your concern, read false eyelashes and natural-lash damage. Correct application and removal matter; no lash category should be treated as incapable of causing problems when used incorrectly.

A simple way to identify your system before applying

1. One full band plus lash glue? You most likely have a traditional strip intended for the upper lash line; confirm the package instructions.
2. Small sections plus an underlash bond? You may have an underlash cluster system; use only its specified technique.
3. Lash plus magnetic eyeliner? The liner is the attachment surface.
4. Magnetic pieces designed to meet each other? Follow that above-and-below magnetic routine.
5. Upper and lower magnetic pieces plus a LashNova applicator? Use the UP/DOWN, position, and gently clamp sequence.

FAQ

Do strip lashes go on skin or natural lashes?

Traditional glue-on strip lashes are generally designed for placement along the upper lash line on the eyelid side rather than gluing the band directly to natural lash hairs. Follow the specific adhesive and lash instructions.

Can I put regular strip lashes underneath my natural lashes?

Do not assume a conventional strip is suitable for underlash placement. Use products specifically designed and instructed for that technique.

Do lash clusters go under your lashes?

Some cluster systems are designed for underlash application, while others may use different methods. The product directions determine the correct orientation.

Where do magnetic lashes go?

It depends on the magnetic mechanism. Magnetic-liner lashes attach at the lined upper lash area. Lash-to-lash systems, including LashNova, use upper and lower magnetic pieces that connect around the natural lashes with a dedicated applicator.

Should false lashes touch my natural lashes?

The lash should sit in the position its system specifies. Avoid improvising attachment directly onto natural lash hairs when the product is designed for skin or another attachment surface.

Quick Next Step

• Identify whether you have a traditional strip, underlash cluster, magnetic-liner system, or upper-and-lower lash-to-lash magnetic system.
• Follow that system's orientation rather than copying a different lash type.
• Prioritize close, even placement without forcing the product.
• Stop and reassess if the placement pulls, pinches, or causes ongoing irritation.

Final Thoughts

Traditional strip lashes generally go above your natural lashes along the upper lash line, while some purpose-built clusters go underneath. Magnetic systems add other mechanisms, so 'above or below' is ultimately a product-design question. Identify the system first, then use the placement it was actually designed for.