Long, curly eyelashes have always been associated with femininity. Most romance novels make at least one mention of the heroine batting her ample eyelashes at the man of her dreams, and female sex symbols from Bette Davis to Kim Kardashian have made the cameras melt with their full (and fake) sets of lashes.

Some women were blessed with naturally curly eyelashes, and need to add nothing except for a maybe a bit of mascara to make them picture perfect. For the rest of us, it takes some work to give our lashes a long and sweeping look. Wearing false eyelashes on a regular basis isn’t very practical, so we stick with the tried and true methods of enhancing our eyes: mascara and eyelash curlers.

Curling your eyelashes can complete your look for day or night. In the daytime, curled eyelashes can make you appear more alert, awake and up to the task. For evening, your curled eyelashes can be given an extra coat of mascara and paired with some smoky eye shadow for sexy, sultry bedroom eyes. All it takes is a good eyelash curler and some practice.

Eyelash curlers can be somewhat intimidating at first sight, and for novices, they can be a bit difficult to master. The first step is getting over the squeamishness; only in the service of beauty would anyone intentionally aim a metal pinching object at her eye! Despite their appearance, eyelash curlers are relatively safe and very effective tools for enhancing the eyes.

Whether you’re on your fist adventure in eyelash curling or a veteran curler on the hunt for a new and better device, it pays to do your homework and learn about what different brands of these beauty tools have to offer.

Plastic Eyelash Curlers

Plastic eyelash curlers are often maligned for being cheap-looking and not as effective as the traditional metal variety. While metal curlers generally provide a stronger curl, there are some decent plastic curlers available. The Dramatic Definition Travel Eyelash Curler by Sonia Kashuk ($9.99) is a high-quality plastic eyelash curler sold exclusively at Target stores. This curler sports a unique shape that works with a variety of eye shapes. It works particularly well for Asian eyes and for women with thin fine lashes. The compact design folds so it can be stowed easily in even a small makeup tote.

The Tweezerman Super Curl ($9) is also made of plastic, but with its shiny finish, it looks a lot like a metal model. The Super Curl is made to reduce the eyelid pinching that sometimes happens with eyelash curlers. Its extra-wide design helps women with large eyes capture all their lashes at once, and it gives you the convenience of having 3 replacement silicone curling pads included in the package.

Classic Metal Eyelash Curlers

Metal eyelash curlers have been around for a long time. They’re effective, they’re durable, and they tend to be economical. That doesn’t mean that all metal eyelash curlers will give you consistently positive results; many women have come across metal eyelash curlers that pinched their lids or left lashes damaged. If you’re shopping for a traditional eyelash curler, avoid the ultra-cheap brands if you can. They can be misshapen, bumpy, or easily breakable. It’s worth the extra few dollars to buy a good solid curler from a reputable brand name.

The Revlon Cushion Grip Eyelash Curler (average price $4.65) is one of the best-known and most affordable drugstore brand curlers around. It’s sturdy, well crafted and easy to use. Granted, it comes in one basic style so it may not perfectly fit every woman’s eye shape, but if you have round to average eyes and want a basic everyday curler, this is definitely one to try.

Professional Brand Curlers

If you’re serious about your eye makeup routine and you have some extra money to spend, you may be interested in some professional brand eyelash curlers. Many of these curlers look almost identical to your garden variety store brand curlers, but they have some extra benefits and features. For example, budget eyelash curlers can often bend lashes up at an angle rather than creating an actual curl, and don’t always get your corner lashes, so curling all your lashes is at least a two-step process.

Some higher-quality models, like the Japonesque Double Pad Eyelash Curler ($14), are designed to help you achieve a more natural looking curl more quickly by allowing you to curl your lashes in one easy step rather than two.

Have you ever thought about curling your lower lashes? This trick can help give you that ultra-feminine, doe-like appearance, but with most traditional curlers, it’s difficult or impossible to accomplish. The Eyelash Curler by Kevyn Aucoin ($20) allows you to curl you lower lashes simply by turning the curler around. Its unique cushioned design protects lashes from breakage and damage. It’s a sturdy, long-lasting tool that will be a part of your cosmetics arsenal for a long time.

Heated Eyelash Curlers

If your lashes are stubbornly stick-straight, getting them to hold a curl for any length of time can be a challenge. Heated eyelash curlers can be a godsend for those women who want their lashes to curl on the first try and remain set all day. Those of you who haven’t used a heated eyelash curler before, have no fear; they don’t get burning hot! These tools are designed for use on the delicate eyelid area, so they warm up just enough to be effective.

Hot Lashes eyelash curling set (average price $39.99) is a glamorous-looking beauty tool that warms up in seconds and claims to set your eyelashes for 18 hours. This strong curler comes in an attractive gold color and can be used with batteries or with an AC adaptor (sold separately).

If you’re in the market for something a little more affordable, you can check out the Ardell Heated Eyelash Curler (average price $4.19). This product uses gentle warmth to curl without damaging your eyelids or lashes. It doesn’t look as fancy as the Hot Lashes or other professional-grade heated curlers, but it’s an economical choice that performs well.