Six Surprising Origins of Beauty Trends We Still Love Today
Many beauty trends that feel modern began as practical tools, cultural rituals, or symbols of status. High heels were first worn by Persian cavalrymen to stay secure in stirrups, while eyeliner in ancient Egypt carried spiritual, social and protective significance. Other traditions had even more surprising beginnings. Seventeenth-century beauty patches helped conceal scars before becoming fashionable. Japan’s nightingale-dropping facial began as a way to clean silk and remove geisha makeup, while ohaguro teeth blackening was linked to elegance, maturity and dental protection. In Namibia, Himba women have long used otjize, a blend of red ochre and butterfat, to protect their skin from sun and insects while expressing beauty and cultural identity. These histories show that beauty practices often evolve from necessity into self-expression.
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