Although procedures, products, and styles have changed, beautification has been highly valued since the dawn of humankind.
- Many older methods have evolved into techniques still used today.
- Knowing cosmetology history helps you understand beauty trends and their origins.
Cosmetology is defined as the art and science of beautifying and improving the skin, nails, and hair, and includes the study of cosmetics and their applications.
Ancient Times: Ancient civilizations often used hairstyles and beauty techniques to convey status, wealth, age, and rank.
- The Africans: Braid patterns and hairstyles indicated a person’s tribe, age, marital status, wealth, power, and religion. Because of how long it takes, people throughout history have used the time to socialize. Elders braided their children’s hair, and the children watched and learned.
- Egyptian Beauty Practices: First to cultivate beauty in an extravagant fashion. Cosmetics use became part of their personal beautification habits, religious ceremonies, and burial preparation. Credited with creating kohl makeup—originally made from a mixture of ground galena (a black mineral), sulfur, and animal fat—to heavily line the eyes, alleviate eye inflammation, and protect the eyes from the sun’s glare.
- Greek and Roman Contributions: The ancient Greeks lavishly used perfumes and cosmetics in their religious rites and for grooming and medicinal purposes. Women applied white lead preparations to their face; kohl around their eyes; and vermillion, a bright red color made from crushed cinnabar, on their cheeks and lips. Women lavishly used fragrances and cosmetics. Roman Women used haircolor to indicate class: noblewomen tinted their hair red; middle-class women colored their hair blonde; poor women dyed their hair black.
Medieval and Renaissance Periods:
- Medieval Beauty Practices: An innovation in essential oil use in beauty and medicine occurred around 1000 ce, when a Persian alchemist named Avicenna refined the steam distillation process, ushering in the modern era of steam-distilled essential oils used today
- Renaissance Beauty Trends: People took great pride in their physical appearance and wore elaborate, elegant clothing. Fragrances and cosmetics were used, although highly colored lip, cheek, and eye preparations were discouraged. During the 1600s, the word hairdresser made its first appearance in Europe, and hairdressing became a recognizable profession. In 1636, Anthony van Dyck painted a portrait of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland wearing what is now known as the Van Dyke beard. This beard design—which consists of a moustache and goatee with shaved cheeks—has remained popular for more than 400 years.
18th Century:
- 18th Century Innovations: In 1845, the metal hot comb was invented in France to temporarily straighten curly hair. In 1872, Marcel Grateau (a.k.a. François Marcel Woelfflé) invented the first curling iron with tongs heated by a gas burner. First professional beauty magazine, the American Hairdresser, published in 1877. Franz Ströher founded a German beauty company in 1880, later called Wella Professionals, the longest-lived professional beauty product company still in operation today.
20th and 21st Centuries:
- Early 20th Century: Saw greater societal acceptance of women’s roles outside the home. As women began to frequent department stores and hold jobs, demand for beauty products started to grow. The invention of motion pictures coincided with an abrupt shift in American attitudes. As viewers saw pictures of flawless complexions, beautiful hairstyles, and manicured nails, standards of beauty began to change; beauty applications began to follow trends set by celebrities and society figures
- Late 20th Century to Present: In 1906, Charles Nessler invented the first perm machine, Unionizing and barbering introduced new standards. In 1924, the Associated Master Barbers of America was organized. Name later changed to Associated Master Barbers and Beauticians of America. (AMBBA)
