Who doesn't like playing with different eyeliner styles? If you're feeling extra creative today and looking to spice up your eye makeup game, you've come to the right place. I've created eight alternative eyeliner looks that will make you want to wear eyeliner nonstop. From bold graphic designs to simple everyday shapes, these styles will surely inspire you. Prepare your brushes and, most importantly, your eyeliner products.
#1. Small Eyeliner Wing for Hooded Eyelids
Let's start with the most versatile eyeliner look. It looks especially good on small and hooded eyelids. This small eyeliner wing can be drawn with a liquid, cream, or pencil eyeliner in a matter of a few seconds.
How to apply:
Simply go along the lashline with the makeup product o your choice, and slightly draw the line outside it, towards the tail of your eyebrow. Tightline with black kohl for night-out makeup or brown eye kohl for a more natural everyday makeup look.
#2. Bold Pin-up Eyeliner
Pin-up or classic cat eyeliner is the most popular look among makeup enthusiasts. If you need a thorough step-by-step eyeliner tutorial, you can find it on my blog. Essentially, it is the same as the small eyeliner wing, but with a little more drama and thickness to the base of the wing.
How to apply:
Use a nice, pigmented eyeliner for your pin-up look. Start in the inner corner of your eye and slowly, stroke by stroke, go alongside your lash line. In the middle of the eyelid, start dragging your line upwards, to the tail of the eyebrow.
#3. Split Eyeliner Look
The next eyeliner look is perfect for those who love experimenting with alternative makeup. I called it a split eyeliner, but it can be also a variation of a double eyeliner. No matter what you call it, this wing stays one of the most eye-catching!
How to apply:
The upper eyeliner is the sharper and a little straighter version of the pin-up version. For the bottom eyelid, use a sharpened eye pencil to sketch the shape of the line, fill it in, and blend it with a matte eyeshadow. Add a small wing at the end of the line for the extra crispiness of this look.
#4. Sharp, Graphic Eyeliner
Black and sharp graphic eyeliner is a timeless makeup trend. Creating this wonderful eyeliner shape adds an edgy, almost wild element to every makeup.
How to apply:
To achieve this style, begin at the inner corner of your eye, close to the lash line, and slowly draw a thin line across your upper lid, gradually increasing the thickness as you move towards the outer corner. Keep the line as close to your lashes as possible for a seamless appearance. Once you reach the outer corner, create a wing by extending the line slightly upwards and outwards. To ensure sharpness, use a small angled brush dipped in concealer.
#5. Bold Punk Eyeliner
This is yet another variation for the iconic graphic eyeliner with an added semi-line to the crease. Certainly, you don’t have to draw a thin line with the same eyeliner product. For an extra twist, use a different color of liquid eyeliner, or draw it with a vivid eyeshadow.
How to apply:
Lightly sketch the desired shape of the line with the help of a sharpened eye pencil. Then draw over the sketch with the product of your choice and clear up the edges.
#6. Thick Arabic-inspired Wing
One of the most outstanding features of this eyeliner style is the connection between the upper and lower lines in the inner corner. You can never go wrong by choosing the Arabic-inspired wing: it is sharp, it is bold, it is simply stunning!
How to apply:
Using a liquid or gel eyeliner in a deep black shade, begin by drawing a diagonal line from the outer corner of your eye toward the end of your eyebrow. From the endpoint of your wing, draw a line back towards your lash line, creating the base for your wing. Make this line slightly curved, following the natural shape of your eye. To connect the wing with the rest of your eyeliner, draw a line along your upper lash line, starting from the inner corner and extending towards the outer corner.
#7. Thin, long Eyeliner for Small Eyelids
If you have small or hooded eyelids and thick eyeliner styles don’t work with your eye shape, don’t fret! You can always pull off a thing, but a long eyeliner look.
Begin by lining your upper lash line from the inner corner of your eye. As you move toward the outer corner of your eye, gently increase the thickness of the line. To elongate the eyes, extend the eyeliner slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye in a subtle wing or flick. Finish the look by adding a small wing in the inner corner of the eye.
#8. Double-winged Eyeliner Look
This is also one of my favorite styles – double wing for a stunning, appealing makeup look. If I could, I would wear it every day, but it works best with evening and night makeup.
How to apply:
Firstly, draw one eyeliner wing. It should be soft and bold, extended slightly beyond the outer corner of the eye. Add a second, smaller wing alongside the first wing. The second one should be slightly shorter in length. Ensure a smooth and precise application for a polished finish, otherwise, it may look too grungy. I have a very detailed tutorial for this double eyeliner look on my Youtube channel.
Let's summarize...
No matter what style of eyeliner you prefer, it has to be mastered to perfection. The sloppily applied wing can ruin even the most beautiful eyeshadow color and blending job. The secret here is to be patient, practice before any important event, and sketch. I wish you all the best of luck with your eyeliner looks. Enjoy the process and have fun creating your eye-catching styles!
Lots of love,
Liz