What is a Tight Line?

Should you tight line? Yes. Does it make your eyes look smaller? Yes. Does it make your eyes bigger. Yes. Makes Sense? Let's discuss.

Tight lining. Have you heard of it? No doubt you have done it, either to yourself or if applying makeup to another, at one time or another. It is always in style and also trends in and out of fashion. It can be 70’s, goth, dramatic or a great trick for mature eyes. It can be done in multiple places around the eye, but has to be done correctly to work. Sound complicated? Well, it is. Mostly because there is a lot of confusion on exactly what a tight line is. Not only that, there is a lot of contradictory information about who can and “cannot” do it, where it is done as well as whether it is a style-staple or trendy “look”.

Let’s break it down and get into it.

Examples of tight lining and Rhianna showing how this technique tightens the space but brings notice to the eyes.

Definition of a Tight Line

A tight line is an eye-lining technique that “tightens” down the space around the eyes. There are many different eye-lining techniques that I teach at Terri Tomlinson Makeup Training Academy and tight lining is one of the most impactful of them all. It is called a tight line because it is placed very tightly against the eyeball. When we say it “tightens” the space of the eye, we refer to the very defined space it creates on the eye, almost within the eye.

Many people do not like to tight line because it makes the eyes smaller. However, the payoff is that it makes the eyes uber-defined! So, yes they might look smaller but they are very very noticeable. Tight lines are often the base of a smoky or dramatic eye because it defines the space where the drama is happening. But they are also used alone, in various styles and decades.

So any liner method that is done right next to the eyeball is considered a tight line. There are 2 spaces within the anatomy of the eye where this occurs.

Where & How Do You Tight Line?

Tight lining can be done in 2 places around the eyes, as 2 different methods. As an educator I find that it is very helpful to break these down into individual techniques so that we can discuss them, use them properly and have more control over an application.