Need help making cluster lashes and strip lashes look natural as a beginner

I’ve been trying to get into false lashes, both clusters and full strips, but I swear it feels like a gamble every time. Sometimes they sit perfectly and look super natural, and other times they’re crooked, lifting at the ends, or just straight up fighting for their life on my eyelids. I’m still a beginner, so I’m trying to figure out what actually works instead of spending 20 minutes fixing the same corner.

The glue timing is what confuses me the most. I never know when it’s “tacky enough.” If I put the lash on too soon, it slides around. If I wait longer, the glue is already half dry and won’t stick. I’m also not sure how much glue people actually use to make it hold without wasting time.

If anyone has a routine or little tricks that make the whole process faster and more reliable, especially for getting a natural look, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you. I just want to be able to put them on without feeling like I’m doing a mini boss fight every morning.