Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial For The Bat Wing Eyeliner Look

Learn how to perfectly create this bold and modern take on the classic winged eyeliner.

Reviewed by Fiona Taylor, Hair & Makeup Artist
Written by Shreya Mukherjee, MA (English)
Edited by Asmita De, MA (English)
Fact-checked by Vaishali Sinha, MA (Comparative Literature)  • 

Bat wing eyeliner is a trendy, versatile makeup look that you can easily wear to any special event or party or, with enough practice, turn into an all-out glam Halloween head-turner. The term “bat wing” refers to the shape of the completed look, which resembles the soaring bend similar to a bat’s wing. It was created by Katie Jane Hughes, a celebrity makeup artist, and works best for people with hooded eyes. They may find it challenging to achieve a traditional liner look since the wing may end up getting buried in the crease. However, the bat wing eyeliner’s pronounced c-notch really assists in carving out the wing and giving hooded eyes the appearance of a slightly elevated cat eye.

protip_icon Keep In Mind
  • Formulation: Formulation Opt for waterproof liquid eyeliner to get that precise and defined winged look smoothly.
  • Practice: Formulation Get the hang of drawing accurate bat wings by practicing it on the back of your hand.
  • Build It Up: Formulation Start drawing small wings, then gradually build it up to the shape you desire. Use a light hand and quick, single strokes to nail the look.
  • Use A Card: Formulation If you face trouble creating straight and defined lines, use tape or a card as a guideline.

Bat wing eyeliner highlights the eyes’ natural shape and gives them a wide-eyed effect. Continue reading the article for a simple and comprehensive guide to the bat wing eyeliner.

How To Do Bat Wing Eyeliner

The bat wing eyeliner is a touch different from conventional eyeliner styles that you may be familiar with. It helps you to create dramatic makeup or gothic makeup looks and is also perfect for Halloween makeup. Despite their similarities, there are some basic distinctions between the cat-eye liner and the bat wing liner. In contrast to the straight line that a cat-eye liner forms from the outer corner to the inner corner of the eye, a bat-wing liner rotates and glides down from the crease in a c-shape to meet the lash line.

It’s a more daring alternative to the standard liner look and is simpler to apply to hooded lids than a cat eye. So, if you want to master this unique technique, here’s a step-by-step tutorial you can try out.

Easy 6-Step Tutorial For The Bat Wing Eyeliner Look

A simple bat wing eyeliner
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Image: Instagram @taylor.m_makeup

Step 1: Prime Your Eyelids

Applying eyeshadow primer to your eyelids will help create a smooth, even canvas for your beautiful eyeliner look. It will also help preserve your liner by preventing premature fading or smudging.

Step 2: Set The Primer With Some Powder

Set the primer with some loose translucent or compact powder. Choose a powder that matches your skin tone for the best results. The powder will make sure that your eyeliner doesn’t smudge or migrate onto your lid or brow bone.

Step 3: Make A Rough Sketch Of Your Preferred Design

Sketch out a dotted line of the bat wing with a pencil liner, or use a firm-angled eyeshadow brush in the same color as the intended eyeliner. Pencil liners are more malleable and can easily glide across your lids. This will help you accurately translate your vision if you are going for a creative, Batman-inspired graphic wing.

protip_icon Pro Tip
Put a mirror on the table in front of you, just below your eye level, so you can apply the liner while looking down. As a result, your eyelashes will be lower than usual and won’t obstruct your ability to apply the eyeliner.

Step 4: Create The Outline

Grab your favorite eyeliner and create thin, regular lines across your eyelid. By making just the outline, you leave less room for error. Since the lines will be thin, you can quickly correct any mistakes and smudges without ruining the entire look.

Step 5: Fill It In

Fill in the rest of the design once you are done with the outline. Avoid using too much product to prevent the eyeliner from running.

Step 6: Fix Any Smudges Or Stray Lines

Don’t worry if your eyeliner doesn’t immediately look flawless. Use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover or an eyeshadow brush with concealer to smooth out any angles for a clean and even finish. If you prefer a softer look, dip your eye shadow brush into the same shade as the one you used for the sketch and blend the c-notch into your crease.

However, using a liquid eyeliner right away can be a bit difficult. If you are looking for a more straightforward approach but are still unsure about accurately applying the bat wing eyeliner, check out this beginner-friendly technique.

Bat Wing Eyeliner For Beginners

Bat Winged Eyeliner For Beginners
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Image: Instagram @eldritchalchemist

If you are a beginner, opt for a colored eyeshadow or eye pencil to create the wing as they are more forgiving than a liquid eyeliner. This will allow you to make multiple mistakes before you can finally create the wing of your dreams.

  • To create a dramatic wing, use some cosmetic or Scotch tape at an angle underneath your bottom lashes. Then, trace along the edge of the tape with your pencil eyeliner.
  • Draw a second line from the tip of the outer wing towards your inner eyelid crease.
  • Now, slowly and steadily connect the second line to the base of your lashes in a crisp ‘c’ shape.
  • Use an eyeshadow brush to diffuse the pigment a little for a more natural look. Finish it off with some mascara and you are good to go!

protip_icon Pro Tip
Keep a neutral expression when applying eyeliner for a flawless look. Avoid pulling the skin around your eyes, as it can result in a crooked wing.

If you have hooded eyes and have been searching for a winged look that would beautifully suit your eyes, wait no more – as the bat wing eyeliner is here to save the day.

Bat Wing Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes

Bat Wing Eyeliner Hooded Eyes
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Image: Instagram @smooreo14

Hooded eyes are an eye shape where the eyelids are covered by extra skin and soft tissue around the brow but not the actual eye. So, the wing may get lost in the crease when you apply a traditional winged eyeliner to hooded eyes.

Bat wing eyeliner is an effective solution to this problem. It creates a sharp, defined wing that retains its shape and can double as a cat-eye look for hooded eyes.

  • Start by using a brown or black pencil to draw the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Be sure to apply the pencil evenly and use light pressure to create a smooth line.
  • Following alongside the line, create two or three ragged and uneven c-shaped notches that mimic bat wings.
  • Make a second line from the tip of the curved line to your eyelid crease, followed by another c-shaped notch connecting the second line to the base of your lashes.
  • Once you are done with the wing design, coat it with liquid eyeliner for a sharp and long-lasting appearance.
  • Follow it up with some shimmer eyeshadow and mascara to complete the look.

Olivia, a blogger, shares her experience of learning how to create the bat-winged eyeliner look. She also offers some advice, mentioning, “I always keep a paper towel next to me, just in case I can kind of like wipe stuff on do this, for my brow, pens too (i).”

If you have double eyelids, you can get away with practically any winged eyeliner style. So, consider amping up your basic bat wing for some extra oomph.

Bat Wing Eyeliner For Double Eyelids

Bat winged eyeliner for double eyelids
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Image: Instagram @muunstarrmakeup279

Double eyelids are merely arc-shaped creases in the skin of your eyelids. They do not have extra skin and fat around the eyes like hooded eyelids, and hence, their upper eyelid crease is clearly visible.

You can try a lot of bat wing eyeliner techniques if you have substantial visible space between your eyes and brows.

  • Since you are not constrained by the eyelid space, try bringing the eyeliner into your crease for a unique bat-wing look.
  • Highlight the wing with some glitter liner above your crease and a little bit of eyeshadow to deepen the look.

Lastly, here is an elaborate bat wing eyeliner technique to help step up your eyeliner game for Halloween. Check that out in the following section.

Bat Wing Eyeliner For Halloween

Bat Wing Eyeliner Halloween
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Image: sapplesauce666 / Instagram

This look is for the epic vampire lovers out there. If you want to showcase your amazing makeup skills for Halloween, go for this creative bat wing eyeliner look. The red-and-black combination gives the perfect spooky vibes and elevates the usual fake-teeth costume to a haunting vampire princess.

  • To make this edgy bat wing eyeliner look, use a super-pigmented and long-lasting liner and eyeshadow combination.
  • Prep your eyelids with some eyeshadow primer. Use a light-colored eye pencil to create the structure of the bat wing.
  • Create as many details as possible in the wing before using a liquid liner to seal the look.
  • Go over with the red eyeshadow to provide some depth and dimension to the masterpiece.
  • Don’t forget to line the inner corners of your eyes and coat your bottom lashes with red eyeshadow for some extra drama.
  • Apply some mascara before adding faux lashes to truly enhance the look.
  • Use some setting spray to preserve it all night for your Halloween shenanigans.
protip_icon Pro Tip
Apply the eyeliner before any other makeup, including foundation. This guarantees a smudge-free and fallout-free appearance – especially if you are working with a powdered product like eye shadow.

Infographic: How To Do A Simple Bat Wing Eyeliner

The bat wing eyeliner is one of the most popular eye makeup styles today in the world of beauty and cosmetics. This simple rendition is a creative and arguably bolder take on the traditional winged eyeliner. It is an incredible alternative for people with hooded lids, as it wonderfully compliments the shape of the eyes. Check out the infographic below to learn how to create the simple bat wing eyeliner.

how to do a simple bat wing eyeliner (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Whether you want to create a simple or a realistic wing with elaborate eyeshadow work, the bat wing eyeliner accommodates all eye shapes and delivers the most effortless, high-impact effect. This eyeliner style can be done with a liquid, gel, or pencil eyeliner to achieve a daytime or nighttime look. You can choose a conventional monochromatic design or enhance the appearance by adding a splash of color to the traditional black wing. This simple look adds an element of edge and versatility to your regular office wardrobe or funky Halloween costume. With a little patience and practice, the bat wing can be your go-to makeup look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it true that bat wing eyeliners make your eyes look bigger?

Yes. Bat wing eyeliners can give the illusion of bigger eyes. Elongate the wing outwards for smaller eyes and avoid heavy eyeliner on the upper eyelids.

Can you apply bat wing eyeliner to aged eyes?

Yes, you can apply bat wing eyeliner to aged eyes. But keep in mind that since they have wrinkles and uneven skin, you will have to stretch the eyelids for smooth application.

Can I sleep with winged eyeliner on?

Irrespective of the type of eyeliner, avoid sleeping with your makeup on. It is a harmful practice that may increase the risk of acne, rashes, and skin and eye irritation.

Can bat wing eyeliner be worn for everyday makeup?

Yes, apart from being the perfect Halloween look, this versatile eyeliner can add an element of edginess to your everyday work or casual look.

Key Takeaways

  • Celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes created the look and saved the day for people with hooded eyes as their eyelids would often smudge the silhouette.
  • The key is to use the eyeliner while keeping your eyes open and facing straight ahead.
  • The look is easy, highly flexible, and can be done with a liquid, gel, or pencil eyeliner for an everyday look.
  • It’s a quick, easy, and efficient way to dress up for Halloween without spending a ton on your costume or SFX makeup.
Bat Wing Eyeliner

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team


Discover the ultimate guide to creating a dramatic graphic bat wing liner look! Check this video for some effective tips and techniques to level up your eye makeup game!

Personal Experience: Source

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