NEW YORK?I was recently invited to a housewarming party that had two fabulous gay men awarding prizes to the one who most resembled a runway diva. The first thing that came to mind was: false lashes.

Come Saturday night, I showed up in an exaggerated beachy-bohemian ensemble highlighted by dramatic, sweeping lashes?a combination of falsies and multiple coats of Lancôme Hypnose Mascara.

In between fumbling with a tube of dried-up lash glue and arriving fashionably late due to some issues involving the proper application of said fringes, I realized how hard these things were to put on, especially if one didn?t wear them often.

So, here are some guidelines to make fake lashes more manageable. Trust me, they?re worth the effort!

1. Find good glue. This is a non-negotiable among faux-fringe fanatics and first-time users. The right glue formula is crucial in making sure the lashes stay on when you want them to, and come off painlessly when you need them to. One can?t go wrong with makeup artist brands such as M.A.C., Make Up For Ever, and Shu Uemura (or any Japanese brand for that matter).

2. Shop smart, and then customize. When it comes to choosing false lashes, there is not much difference between those that come in shiny acrylic cases from chic boutiques versus the generic ones from Landmark or Quiapo. The important thing is that you trim the lashes so they conform to your eye shape, or the look you want to achieve. (Snipping them down to three-fourths of their length lends the most natural look.)

3. Practice, practice, practice. Individual lashes are perfect for this task as they are easier to ?blend in? with your own eyelashes. Squeeze out a tiny amount of glue on the back of your hand, and dip the tip of each lash (use tweezers for easy handling) into this mini-puddle. Attach to the base of your natural lash line and blink in place.

4. Bring on reinforcements. Whether you wear single lashes or full-on frames, you?ll still need an eyelash curler, black liquid liner and mascara. Curl lashes before applying falsies. Once they?re on, line the tops of your lids and finish with triple coats of mascara. These extra steps ensure a seamless-looking fringe and a pair of long, fluttery lashes that could pass for real ones.

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.