Shaving Eyelashes for Masculinity? Experts Warn Against ThisTikTok Trend

A bizarre new trend is gaining traction in male-dominated corners of TikTok and other platforms, where fashion and health collide in a troubling way. The trend? Men shaving off their eyelashes to appear more “masculine.” Medical experts are warning: it’s not just a bad idea—it’s dangerous for your eye health.

A history of lashes and beauty. Eyelashes have long been tied to beauty trends. In the 19th century, French perfumer Eugène Rimmel invented one of the earliest commercial mascaras—so iconic that his name became synonymous with the product in many languages. Since then, the beauty industry has produced mascaras, curlers, lash lifts, and serums, all aiming to enhance the lashes. For stars like Elizabeth Taylor, striking lashes became part of her legacy.

Goodbye, eyelashes. Now, a growing number of men are doing the opposite. On platforms like TikTok, videos show men shaving or trimming their eyelashes in search of a more rugged or masculine appearance. The tools vary—clippers, scissors, even barbershop razors—but the intent seems clear: less eyelash, more “man.”

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Why? According to CNN, the trend stems from the perception that long lashes look feminine. In one viral clip shared by Truth the Barber Artist, a man asks his barber to shave his lashes because his wife criticized them for looking “too long” and “girly.” Another video from a barbershop in Auckland, New Zealand, shows a barber trimming a teenager’s lashes at his request. “Client wanted to look more masculine,” the barber explains.

This isn’t just a fringe phenomenon. TikTok is filled with clips of men opting for lash-free looks in the name of masculinity. Others claim different motivations. Some say they shave their lashes believing it will make them grow back longer and thicker—though that’s not supported by science.

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Still, most commentary links the trend to ideals of toxic masculinity. “No, they are not doing this so that their eyelashes will grow thicker and longer,” one TikTok user says. “They are doing this because of toxic masculinity.”

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From online joke to offline risk. Whether the trend began as a joke or a serious grooming tip, it has spread widely enough to make headlines in The New York Post, BuzzFeed, and CNN. And now, it’s triggered serious concern among health professionals.

Doctors say: don’t do it. That’s the resounding message from eye care specialists. “Eyelashes are vital for both visual experience and eye health,” Vickie Lee, a consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon at Imperial College London, told CNN. “They act as a barrier and trigger the protective blink reflex. They help reduce airflow over the eyes, maintain moisture, filter sunlight, reduce glare and improve visual quality,” she added.

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Ophthalmologist Ashley Hayden echoed the warning in an interview with HuffPost. “Trimming your eyelashes is not at all recommended,” she said. “The more you interrupt the natural life of your lashes, the worse it will be for your eyes.”

However, this odd trend isn’t happening in a vacuum. It reflects a broader rise in online narratives around masculinity, particularly in the so-called “manosphere,” where grooming, gender norms, and identity are hot-button issues.

Image | TikTok

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