When you're thinking about makeup bag essentials , an eyelash curler rarely makes the cut. Even though it can give your eyelashes a curl boost pre- and post-mascara , its cumbersome nature makes it hard to tote around.

But luscious lashes may not require the traditional tool. We tested three easy techniques to achieve the desired length and volume , all with items that can be found in a pinch. Using just your fingertips, a spoon and hot water, you can take your lashes from blah to brilliant . Check out our results below:

Technique 1: Mascara, then warm fingertips. Results: HuffPostStyle intern Lauren Leibowitz is lucky to have a long set of eyelashes that frame her big green eyes . But they tend to only curl on the outer lashes. So, after she applied a few coats of mascara, Lauren pushed her eyelashes up towards her brows using her fingertips (she warmed them up by rubbing together). Three minutes later, she had a well-rounded flutter that held up for the remainder of the work day.

Technique 2: Warm fingertips, then mascara. Results: Michelle Persad, our fashion and beauty assistant, went in the opposite order of Lauren's method and first applied pressure to her eyelashes. She tightly pressed her warmed-up fingertips against her brow bone for a few minutes, then brushed on mascara. Instantly, her lashes appeared longer, fuller and curlier. However, this was short-lived as they fell after 30 minutes. Turns out applying mascara before pinching eyelashes yields long-lasting effects.

Technique 3: Warm spoon, then mascara.Results: As a beauty editor , I've heard about the warm spoon eyelash curling trick countless times. But I've always just stuck with what I know. My lashes have a bit of a natural curl, but tend to stick off straight in certain spots. After pressing the back of the spoon against my eyelashes for a few seconds (warning: be sure to remove your contact lenses beforehand), I noticed they curled up even tighter. Maybe a bit too much for my taste, but at least it lasted all day.

Have you ever tried curling your eyelashes without a lash curler? Which technique works best for you? Tell us in the comments section.

Check out the lashes on these ladies:

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