How to Do Winged Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes
I remember the first time I tried doing a winged eyeliner look.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was armed with a budget liquid liner, a shaky hand, and way too much optimism.
I had hooded eyes, but I didn’t know it back then, I just thought I had “weird eyelids” because no matter how hard I tried, the wing would either vanish into my crease or bend in awkward places like it had a mind of its own.
It was frustrating. I wiped and redrew the wing at least seven times before giving up, mascara smudged, confidence a little bruised.
But I didn’t stop. Years later, after watching countless tutorials, talking to makeup artists, and experimenting every morning before work, I finally cracked the code.
If you’re struggling with how to do a winged eyeliner for hooded eyes, I promise, it is possible.
This guide is everything I wish someone had told me back then.
Understanding Hooded Eyes – My Biggest Lightbulb Moment
The game changed the day I realized I had hooded eyes.
If your eyelids seem to “hide” when your eyes are open or if your crease swallows up most of your eyeshadow or eyeliner, chances are, you’ve got hooded lids too.
And the thing is not all hooded eyes are the same.
From my observations and trial runs, here are the most common types:
- Prominent Hoods: The fold sits heavily over the lash line.
- Nested Hoods: More subtle, tucked near the inner corners.
- Puffy Hoods: Slightly protruding, often mistaken for swelling.
- Asymmetrical Hoods: One eye droops more than the other (yep, that’s me).
- Downturned Hooded Eyes: Tilted outer corners that need a lifted effect.
Understanding your unique anatomy is step one in perfecting winged eyeliner for hooded eyes. Once I grasped this, everything changed.
Step by Step: My Foolproof Winged Eyeliner for Hooded Eyes Routine
1. Prep Is Everything
If I skip this, I always regret it. Hooded eyes tend to smudge, so priming is crucial.
- I use an oil-free eye primer (Urban Decay’s is gold).
- Then I lightly set it with translucent powder (RCMA No-Color Powder is my holy grail).
- If I’m wearing a shadow, I do it before the liner.
2. Map Your Wing Eyes Open
You must draw your wings with your eyes open.
If you draw it while your lids are pulled tight or closed, the line will warp once your eye returns to its resting position.
Here’s how I do it:
- Look straight ahead into a mirror.
- Hold an angled brush or pencil aligned from your nose to the tail of your brow.
- Mark the angle with a light pencil or shadow.
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3. Sketch the Shape (Don’t Jump to Liquid Yet!)
Use a pencil first. I trace a small wing and gently connect it to the lash line, stopping at the outer third of my lid.
This is key in learning how to apply winged eyeliner for hooded eyes properly.
4. Fill in the Wing (Keep the Eyes Relaxed)
Relax your face. Seriously don’t raise your brows, don’t tug your lid.
Just look naturally ahead and start filling in the wing using small strokes.
Use the “batwing” trick, a clever adaptation where your liner curves into a V-like wedge that looks odd with closed eyes but flawless when open.
5. Trace With Liquid Liner
Once the shape looks good, I go over it with a felt-tip or brush-tip liquid liner. I love the Maybelline Hypersharp Wing for precision. Start thin, layer if needed.
6. Clean and Sharpen
Dip a pointed Q-tip into micellar water or makeup remover to fix mistakes. Concealer on a flat brush can also help carve out the shape perfectly.
7. Tightline for Depth
To enhance the look, I tightline the upper waterline with a waterproof pencil. It creates the illusion of fuller lashes and makes the wings pop.
8. Finish with Mascara and Curling
Curled lashes + a volumizing waterproof mascara = the final touch. This helps keep the eyes open and lifted.
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My Go-To Products for Winged Eyeliner on Hooded Eyes
- Pencil: MAC Eye Kohl in “Smolder”
- Felt-tip Liquid: Maybelline Hypersharp Wing
- Gel Pot: Inglot AMC Gel Liner #77
- Powder Detailer: Matte black eyeshadow + setting spray
Different Wing Styles That Work for Hooded Eyes
Small Winged Eyeliner: Perfect for minimal, everyday definition.
Kitten Wing: A more youthful, soft flick.
Batwing Liner: Great for creating that illusion of a lifted shape, especially when closed eyes distort the line.
Floating Wing: A dramatic editorial look drawn above the natural crease.
Reverse Wing: Liner placed on the lower lash line for a sultry, lifted illusion.
Negative Space Liner: A bold artistic shape that follows the hood’s edge.
Best Techniques for Specific Hooded Types
- For Downturned Eyes: Start the wing slightly higher, angling up to counteract droop.
- For Asymmetry: Do one eye fully before starting the other to match better.
- For Puffy or Prolapsed Hoods: Avoid thick lines; use thin, precise strokes.
Tips and Tricks I Live By
- Always rest your elbow on a surface for stability.
- Don’t stretch your skin when applying.
- Use magnified mirrors for better visibility.
- Clean-up is part of the process, not a sign of failure.
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What I Wish I Knew Earlier
- Not all tutorials apply to every eye shape.
- Simplicity wins; a thin line often looks best.
- Practice makes perfect, but only if you work with your features, not against them.
Final Thoughts
Doing a winged eyeliner for hooded eyes may feel daunting at first, but it’s not impossible.
The trick is knowing your shape, respecting your unique features, and practicing with intention.
Now, I do my liner in under a minute. It lifts my entire face and adds structure to my eyes.
Honestly, It just makes me feel powerful.
So, if you’ve ever felt like winged eyeliner wasn’t for you, I’m here to say: that it absolutely can be.
