A cosmetic product applicator (10, 100, 200, 300, 400) comprising: an applicator head (12, 102, 202, 302, 402) comprising: a hollow sleeve (18, 108, 208, 308, 408) that is at least partially flexible, with at least the partially flexible portion of the sleeve being fitted with a plurality of bristles (14, 104, 204, 304, 404); and a rod (110, 210, 310, 410) having a proximal end (112, 212, 312, 412) and a distal end (114, 214, 314, 414), the rod being movable with respect to the hollow sleeve, with at least the distal end being movably accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the distal end of the rod comprising at least one deforming arrangement (116, 216, 316, 416) snugly accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the at least one deforming arrangement being arranged to deform the flexible portion of the hollow sleeve proximate the deforming arrangement, thereby varying the relative angles at which the bristles, proximate the deformed portion(s) (118, 218, 318, 418) of the hollow sleeve, extend from the hollow sleeve, the cosmetic product applicator being characterized in that the bristles on the deformed portion(s) of the hollow sleeve flare open to define a lash release configuration (122, 222, 322, 422), and simultaneously the bristles on the sleeve adjacent the deformed portion(s) of the sleeve are forced closer together to define a lash grab configuration (124, 224, 324, 424). an applicator head (12, 102, 202, 302, 402) comprising: a hollow sleeve (18, 108, 208, 308, 408) that is at least partially flexible, with at least the partially flexible portion of the sleeve being fitted with a plurality of bristles (14, 104, 204, 304, 404); and a rod (110, 210, 310, 410) having a proximal end (112, 212, 312, 412) and a distal end (114, 214, 314, 414), the rod being movable with respect to the hollow sleeve, with at least the distal end being movably accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the distal end of the rod comprising at least one deforming arrangement (116, 216, 316, 416) snugly accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the at least one deforming arrangement being arranged to deform the flexible portion of the hollow sleeve proximate the deforming arrangement, thereby varying the relative angles at which the bristles, proximate the deformed portion(s) (118, 218, 318, 418) of the hollow sleeve, extend from the hollow sleeve, the cosmetic product applicator being characterized in that the bristles on the deformed portion(s) of the hollow sleeve flare open to define a lash release configuration (122, 222, 322, 422), and simultaneously the bristles on the sleeve adjacent the deformed portion(s) of the sleeve are forced closer together to define a lash grab configuration (124, 224, 324, 424). a hollow sleeve (18, 108, 208, 308, 408) that is at least partially flexible, with at least the partially flexible portion of the sleeve being fitted with a plurality of bristles (14, 104, 204, 304, 404); and a rod (110, 210, 310, 410) having a proximal end (112, 212, 312, 412) and a distal end (114, 214, 314, 414), the rod being movable with respect to the hollow sleeve, with at least the distal end being movably accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the distal end of the rod comprising at least one deforming arrangement (116, 216, 316, 416) snugly accommodated within the hollow sleeve, the at least one deforming arrangement being arranged to deform the flexible portion of the hollow sleeve proximate the deforming arrangement, thereby varying the relative angles at which the bristles, proximate the deformed portion(s) (118, 218, 318, 418) of the hollow sleeve, extend from the hollow sleeve, the cosmetic product applicator being characterized in that the bristles on the deformed portion(s) of the hollow sleeve flare open to define a lash release configuration (122, 222, 322, 422), and simultaneously the bristles on the sleeve adjacent the deformed portion(s) of the sleeve are forced closer together to define a lash grab configuration (124, 224, 324, 424).