Recently I went on a little makeup splurge with a new false lash supplier - Models Rock.
I’ve bought and used their lashes sporadically in the past and really liked the way they sat on the eyelid. In technical terms they were relatively light weight and had the perfect curve to work with from the full generous eyed Pacific Islanders, reclining arched Asians through the our more meager eyed friends. I was sold.
Oh the feeling when I hit the pay button. Siting back pleased with my choice, glad the decision making was over and daydreaming about my mammoth parcel arriving. It was going to be so big my couriers eyebrows would be just peeping over the top as I beamingly awaited him at the door for my parcel. Much to my miscalculation of parcel magnitude - it was exchanged with one hand, I’m not even sure all fingers came into contact - Had me wondering when did all this eyelash hype begin anyhow?
So off to google I went for a little search into the history of beauty, makeup and eyelashes. What I discovered about eyelashes deserved a blog..
I knew about the trend of eyebrow & hairline plucking in the Elizabethan era to exaggerate the size of their forehead, however even more pain penetrating to read the 1400’s medieval tradition of eyelash plucking. Ouch wowchy!! At this time the church linked any display of hair to an erotic disposition. Since eyelashes serve an actual function by keeping dirt and dust out of the eyes that look would of been incredibly painf
Continuing my beauty history reads of pain I stumbled across this story in The Dundee Courier, 6 July 1899
“If your eyes are unattractive you may make them irresistible by transplanting the hair. Transplanted eyelashes and eyebrows are the latest things in the way of personal adornment”.
And how was this procedure carried out? “An ordinary fine needle is threaded with a long hair, generally taken from the head of the person to be operated upon. The lower border of the eyelid is then thoroughly cleaned, and in order that the process may be as painless as possible is rubbed with a solution of cocaine. The operator then by a few skilful touches runs the needle in and out along the edge of the eyelid leaving its hair thread in loops of carefully graduated length" Ok so what’s with the loops? “The next step in the process is cutting off and trimming the ends of the loops. The result is a fine, thick, long set of eyelashes. It is the finishing touch, that is to come, that makes them look like nature’s own. When they are at first cut they stick out in the most singular fashion, giving the person operated upon the most uncanny look. The operator’s next step is to take curling tongs, made of silver, and no larger than knitting needles, and to give them the curve which is essential to perfect beauty. Then the eyes are carefully bandaged, and kept so until the following day.” OH MY GOD…
Moving pain free forward, it was the 1920’s that saw the traditional false lash make an appearance, particularly amongst actresses. By the 1930’s false eyelashes were everywhere, from natural bridal styles through to the more daring and dazzling embellished styles. 30 years later in the 1960s Twiggy shook things up and started wearing falsies on her upper and lower lids. It is said at this time 20 million pairs a year were being sold.
And here I was thinking it's NOW its all about a brow and #lashesonfleek
