Traditional adhesive false eyelashes are amazing—except for the fact that they're messy, frustrating to apply, and impossible to remove without taking out a lash or two of your own along with it. Fun times! But what if I told you there’s a way to get the long lashes of your dreams for less money than eyelash extensions—and without all the sticky, tricky application and removal? Enter: magnetic lashes.

All you do is pop 'em on whenever you want a little extra lash and gently pull them off when you're done—simple as that. But are they dangerous? And which ones would be the best to use? I reached out to Ilyse Haberman, MD, an ophthalmologist at NYU Langone Health, to answer all of your questions about wearing magnetic lashes, followed by the best sets to buy and try. But first...

What are magnetic eyelashes?

Magnetic lashes come in a few different styles, but they're categorized by the way they attach to the eyelid. The strips have magnets along the base, but then can either be applied with a magnetic eyeliner or a second magnetic strip of lashes that go underneath your own lashes to cling to the falsies on top—basically, sandwiching your natural lashes between two magnetic strips.

Are magnetic lashes safe?

Once you discover how easy they are to apply (and how good they look on), you’ll probs want to wear magnetic eyelashes every single day. Buuut, that doesn't mean you should. “I’d recommend limiting the use of the magnetic lashes that sandwich your own natural lashes to avoid the potential of lash damage and traction alopecia,” Dr. Haberman says. FYI: traction alopecia is the medical term for hair loss that's caused by repeated pulling or tugging on your hair.

"The magnetic eyeliner is likely safer in terms of potential to cause traction alopecia, since the false lashes are being supported by the lid more than by the natural lashes themselves," she says. Basically, the lashes are sticking to the magnetized eyeliner, which takes some of the weight off of your natural lashes.

Oh, and don’t try magnetic eyeliner for the first time right before a big event, since there’s always the potential for contact dermatitis or allergy to the product itself, she adds, in which case you should stop using them ASAP. Other than that, you'll just want to be nice and gentle when it comes to application (more on that in a bit) and removal, since your lashes are pretty delicate.

Got it? Cool. Keep scrolling for our top 13 favorite magnetic eyelashes—along with tips and tricks for using 'em correctly.