When you think of Gothic eye makeup, you probably think of thick, black lines around the eye and dark shadow. Although this is a tried and true Goth look, look around at your friendly neighborhood Goths and youll see swirls, designs, glitter, and even - gasp! -color. Many Goth girls and guys like to get creative with makeup, and dramatic is the word to remember.

Because thick, dark eyeliner is a Gothic staple, lets start there. Liquid eyeliner makes a smooth, sharp line, but it can be tricky to work with; a steady hand is a must. For a great smoky look, use a pencil liner dipped in matching eyeshadow. You can also use a dampened small brush and powder eyeshadow. You can never go wrong with black eyeliner, but remember that there are other colors out there, too. Purple, green, blue, even red and white can all look great lining the eyes.

If you draw thick lines all around the entire eye, your eyes will look smaller (dark colors make things recede). If thats the look youre going for, then great. Otherwise, dont close the lines in the corners, or line only the bottom half of your lower lid. You can also line the top and bottom lids in different colors. White eyeliner on the inside of your bottom lid will make your eyes look bigger and brighter, but be careful doing this if your eyes are sensitive.

You can also extend the eyeliner past your lids to create designs. This can be as simple as a small wing extending past the upper lid (think retro) or a little swirl, or you can get fancy and draw curly-cues, sharp points, and other designs all around the eye. Liquid eyeliner looks better than pencil for these types of designs. If you have trouble drawing with liquid, try drawing with pencil first and then going over with liquid. Again, remember that black isnt the only color---you can draw, accent, or fill in your designs with any color!

Use your imagination when creating complex designs. Avoid bat wings, spider webs, or anything right out of The Crow---these looks are considered by Goths to be clichd and childish. Look to others for inspiration (search the Internet for ideas), but be careful not to directly copy others looks. The great thing about Gothic makeup is that you have the chance to be as creative and dramatic as you wish to be! Why copy someone elses look when you certainly have some great ideas of your own?

When it comes to eyeshadow, again, do not be afraid of color. Yes, black is Goth-y, but so are all dark, jewel-toned colors, like emerald, plum, and dark red. Some Goths even like to use bright stripes of color, like bright yellow, turquoise, and fuschia. Layer colors to create coy cat eyes (purples and greens work great for this effect), use a variety of grays and silvers to make your eyes look vampy and smoky, or experiment with whatever dramatic looks you dream up.

Many Goths also love glitter. You can lightly sprinkle fine glitter over your eye makeup for a slightly shimmery effect. You can also try dampening a Q-tip, then dip it directly in glitter and apply to your eye. This looks great over eyeshadow. Be careful when applying glitter near your eyes---glitter in the eyes is no fun. Keep your eye shut while applying the glitter to that eye.

Dont forget the mascara! This is another area where you can experiment with color. You can use colored mascara over all of your lashes, or try applying black mascara to all of your lashes, then brush a bright color over the tips only. Even if you decide on black mascara only, mascara will make your lashes look longer and more luscious, which is great for a vamp-y Gothic look.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Spend an afternoon or evening in playing with makeup; dont try to create a brand-new look thirty minutes before a hot party. Practice applying eyeliner until you can do it with a steady hand. Sketch out complicated designs on paper first. Finally, experiment! With Gothic eye makeup, you have the opportunity to be wildly creative---take advantage of it.