There’s something about winged eyeliner that makes us dreamily think back to the ’60s when big-haired bombshells like Anita Ekberg, Anna Karina and Brigitte Bardot ruled the scene. If you’re jonesin’ for a bit of their glamour, check out this tutorial on how to achieve the perfect winged eyeliner. 

MUA Tips: How to do Winged Eyeliner Makeup

There’s nothing more classic than a sleek, winged eyeliner. Commonly referred to as the “cat eye,” winged eyeliner was a major trend in the ’60s and has, since then, become a makeup look staple.

But, as we all know, perfecting winged eyeliner can be as difficult as being asked to paint Starry Night from scratch. Especially if you’re a perfectionist who refuses to leave her/his house if your flick falls at a 46, instead of 45, degree angle.

For those who’ve resorted to stencils and tape, this tutorial is here to teach you how to pull off a cat eye just like a celebrity makeup artist would. And when we say Celebrity Makeup Artist, you know we’re talking about the one and only Johny Saade.

The tutorial below will teach you how to get a bombshell winged eyeliner, not one that makes you look like you’re in an Amy Winehouse tribute band.

Watch Johny make winged eyeliner look like a piece of cake, then learn how to DIY.

Now for the step-by-step guide to creating the perfect wing. 

Before doing anything else, determine your eye shape first. This will help you create a wing that’s suitable for your face and eye shape.

Choose a product you feel comfortable working with. It can be a gel or liquid eyeliner, or a thin bent liner brush. The eyeliner we like to create our wings with is Benefit Cosmetics – They’re Real Push-Up Liner. It’s angled felt tip applicator makes it super simple to create the perfect flick.

3 Steps to a Perfect Wing

1. Start by drawing your wing on the outer part of your eyes. Draw a diagonal line from the outer corner upwards to the end of your brow. Do this with light, quick strokes, making sure to decrease the amount of pressure on your eyeliner in order to create a thinner line the higher you go up. My flicks tend to stop at my crease, but do what feels right and works for you.

2. From the diagonal line, drag your eyeliner towards your lashline, creating a small triangle that you’ll then fill in. This is the “winged” portion of the look.

3, After you’ve established your wing, draw a thin line from where it starts to the inner corner of your eye, making sure the line connects evenly with the flick.

Practice Makes Perfect

Nailing the perfect wing takes patience and practice, lots and lots of practice. There will be days where you’ll definitely have to adjust one eye to be symmetrical with the other and vice versa. Remember that even professionals mess up, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time around! Don’t quit and as Journey once said, don’t stop believing!

Consider yourself a cat eye expert!

What are your winged eyeliner tips? Share them with us below, on Facebook or Twitter.