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I have a lot of breakage from years of flatironing my hair. So much to the point that when I wear a ponytail, those poor, broken strands stick up like the quills on a porcupine's back. I've used gels and sprays to lay them down, but those products can sometimes leave behind an unpleasant crunchy feeling. That stiffness makes me cringe, so I usually say, "Eff it," and just let my flyaways do their thing — that is, until recently. These days, I'm constantly in Zoom meetings, and while no one else may notice, I definitely see the breakage on full display. It's unsightly, so I decided something more substantial needed to be done.
I've been using the Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara in Clear on my brows for years. I find that it locks everything in once I apply my brow powder or pencil in the sparse areas. It's only $5 and a little goes a long way. Recently, I decided to run the spooley through my flyaways. Since it goes on clear, I thought, "Why the hell not?" After all, it's got a gel-like consistency and never makes my brows crunchy — it just keeps them in place. I gave it a go and I haven't looked back since.
Once I swiped the stuff on, my first thought was, "Wait... is this even safe?" I know, I probably should have thought about that first, but I contacted cosmetic chemist Ginger King and she reassured me that the mascara was not going to damage my hair. Phew!
"In general, mascaras won't ruin hair color, so it is safe to do, but only if you are not going to use the mascara again for your lashes," says King. I don't use this mascara on my eyes, but I do get nervous about the bacteria on my brows getting into my hair and vice versa. To prevent that from happening again, I ordered another tube of the clear mascara. For $5, it really is a steal.
Now for the application: When my hair is in a ponytail, I out take the wand, remove any excess gel off the brush head, and gently comb it directly onto those flyaways, slicking my hair back. When my hair is styled down, I just slick them in a downwards motion. Once my hair is all in place, I give it a second to dry — and that's it. The gel sets quickly without any crunchy residue left behind. It feels just like my natural texture, plus it's got a little bit of shine, and who doesn't like shine?
I asked hairstylist Justine Marjan for her opinion on the hack, and while she personally hasn't tried a clear mascara on her clients, she thinks it'll work like a charm. "It's not something I have ever done before, but it's honestly a genius idea and a great tip," she says. Hairstylist Joseph Maine agrees. He hasn't tried it either but believes it would likely work well in a pinch.
I can personally confirm that it does. A little clear mascara on those annoying flyways is a dream come true. You can thank me later.
Read more stories about hair care:
- I Tried “Bubble Braids" to Create Heatless Waves In My Hair
- The Best Hair-Care Routine, According to Your Hair Concern
- 7 New Ways to Boost Your Hair-Care Routine This Year
Now, watch 100 years of long hair:
