How to Do 60s Eyeliner

Co-authored by Melissa Jannes

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Travel back in time with a hip 60s eyeliner look that would make even supermodel Twiggy proud. After preparing your face, all that you will need is a black eyeliner pencil, a bit of liquid eyeliner, and false eyelashes to pull off this look. You can then impress friends and peers by mastering this throwback style.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prepping Your Face

1
Wash your face. Use warm water and a facial cleanser to clean your face with a clean washcloth. Rinse with warm water and then dry your face with a clean towel.
2
Apply concealer to your face. This will give your skin a base, so that any blemishes, dark under-eye circles, or beauty marks will be hidden.^{[1]
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Research source} Draw a triangle with the base under your eye and the point toward your cheek. Then, blend it into your skin with a brush.^{[2]
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3
Apply a light powder underneath your eyes. Wait until your foundation dries completely before applying powder. Use loose powder, as this will appear the most natural on your face. Powder will prevent eyeshadow from smudging. If any makeup is misapplied, simply brush it away with a makeup brush.^{[3]
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- Loose powders come in two forms: translucent and colored. Colored works to correct tone, brighten your face, and reduce redness. Translucent powders are your best bet for the 60s look because they don't change the color of the foundation.^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying Eyeliner to Your Eyelids

1
Start at the inside corner of your eyelid. Draw a thin line with your black eyeliner on your upper lash line, and gradually thicken it as you grow closer to the outside of your eye.^{[5]
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- Use a black eyeliner pencil to maintain control. Liquid eyeliner can also work, but it is much more difficult to draw with, and not as easily removed.^{[6]
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  Melissa Jannes
  Beauty Stylist
  Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.}
- If you make a mistake, use a dampened cotton swab to dab at and remove the makeup.
2
Extend the line past the edge of your eyelid. Draw a thin, diagonal line, forming a wing on the side of your eye. The diagonal should be about 45 degrees up from your eyelid, and the line should be drawn in the direction of your eyebrow, but should end before the eyebrow. Be sure that the wing is extended in proportion with your eye size and shape.^{[7]
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- Keep your eyelid flat while drawing the wing. Tilt your head back and keep your eye slightly open as you apply the liner, if you find that it helps.
- Keep your hand steady. Rest your elbow on a flat surface while you draw to reduce the chance of errors.
3
Thicken the winged line. Use your eyeliner pencil to smooth out and fill in the corner where the wing extends toward your eyebrow. The thinnest part of the eyeliner should be nearest to the corner of your eyelid. It should appear to thicken as it extends past your eye.
4
Apply a white eyeliner to the bottom of your eye. This should extend along the waterline of your eye, and will help make your eyes seem brighter and more exaggerated.^{[8]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Accentuating Your Lashes

1
Use liquid eyeliner on your lower lashes. To add more drama to your eyes, paint on your lower lashes. This will allow the lashes to appear magnified, and attention-grabbing.^{[9]
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2
Start at the outer edge and work toward the corner. Use liquid eyeliner to make sure that each line is thicker at the top near your eye and tapers to a thin point. Draw a few extending bottom lashes with the liquid liner.^{[10]
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3
Use fake lashes to further exaggerate eyes. If you would rather, you can use fake lashes instead of simply the liquid eyeliner. Apply the fake eyelashes to your top lid, and then add a bit of mascara so that the lashes blend in.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I get better at applying eyeliner when first starting out?

Melissa Jannes
Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.

Melissa Jannes

Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I would start with an eyeliner pencil. Get comfortable with using that before you start using a liquid eyeliner. You can also use a black matte eyeshadow with an angled liner brush instead of using eyeliner at first. It's a little more forgiving and easier to apply.
Question

How do I apply eyeliner in the style of Twiggy and Pattie Boyd?

Community Answer

Apply a thin line of black eye shadow on your crease. Apply a nude shade eye shadow to the rest of your eyelid. Then line your eyes with eyeliner (and do not make a wing).