False eyelashes are a cosmetic enhancement attaching synthetic or natural fibers to the natural eyelashes to create a fuller, more dramatic look. They are available in various lengths, thicknesses, and curvatures.
History
In 1882, Henry Labouchère of Truth reported that "Parisians have found out how to make false eyelashes" by having hair sewn into the eyelids. A similar report appeared in the July 6, 1899, edition of The Dundee Courier which described the painful method for elongating the lashes. The headline read, "Irresistible Eyes May Be Had by Transplanting the Hair." The article explained how the procedure achieved longer lashes by having hair from the head sewn into the eyelids.
In 1902, German-born hair specialist and noted inventor Karl Nessler patented "A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like" in the United Kingdom. By 1903, he began selling artificial eyelashes at his London salon on Great Castle Street. He used the profits from his sales to fund his next invention, the permanent wave (perm) machine. In 1911, a Canadian woman named Anna Taylor patented false eyelashes in the United States. Taylor's false eyelashes had a crescent-shaped strip of fabric which had tiny pieces of hair placed on it. Another noted inventor of false eyelashes is Maksymilian Faktorowicz, a Polish beauty guru and businessman, who founded the company Max Factor.
In 1916, while making his film Intolerance, director D. W. Griffith wanted actress Seena Owen to have lashes "that brushed her cheeks, to make her eyes shine larger than life." The false eyelashes, which were made from human hair, were woven by a local wig maker. The eyelashes were adhered using spirit gum. One day, Owen showed up to sit with her eyes swollen nearly shut, her co-star Lillian Gish wrote in her memoir.
By the 1930s, false eyelashes were becoming more widespread. False eyelashes were featured in Vogue.
In the 1960s, eye makeup that made the eyes appear larger was very common. This look was achieved by applying false eyelashes on both the top and bottom eyelashes. Twiggy helped popularize the trend. In 1968 at the feminist Miss America protest, protestors symbolically threw a number of symbolic feminine products into a "Freedom Trash Can", including false eyelashes.
In 2014, Katy Stoka, founder of One Two Cosmetics, invented magnetic false eyelashes as an alternative to those that utilize glue.
Temporary false lashes
Temporary false lashes are applied to the root of the eyelashes with temporary lash glue and are not designed to be worn when showering, sleeping or swimming. The lashes come as individuals, clusters, and most commonly, lash strips.
Magnetic lashes work by placing the magnetic false lash between one's eyelashes, thereby sandwiching the natural eyelashes with magnetic eyelashes.
Eyelash extensions
In the United States, each state individually regulates eyelash extensions. Some states require either a cosmetology or esthetician license; some states have a certificate or license specifically for lash technicians.
In the United Kingdom, the Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists accredited courses for the safe application of semi-permanent individual eyelash extensions. The value of the course content can be judged by the number of CPD (Continued Professional Development) points that the course is awarded.
See also
External links
- The History of Women and Their Eyelashes at MarieClaire.com
- History of Artificial (false) Eyelashes at Cosmetics and Skin
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