When have we not been obsessed with brows?
A Brief History
There are many things that humans have obsessed over with regards to outward appearance. Especially in today's society, people have experimented with "designing" themselves outwardly in many ways. In fact one of the most "re-designed" aspects of the human form are two strips of facial hair above the eyes... or sometimes one. Eyebrows. These brows are one of the oldest forms of self expression that people have used to design their appearance - and have been changed over hundreds of years.
Here is a brief overview of exactly how that random facial hair has been manipulated, changed, plucked, pinched, shaved, and drawn - well... designed. And it wasn't always pretty.
Here is a brief overview of exactly how that random facial hair has been manipulated, changed, plucked, pinched, shaved, and drawn - well... designed. And it wasn't always pretty.
Ancient Egypt 1350 B.C.
In Ancient Egypt, both men and women wore eye makeup as an homage to the god Horus. Eyebrows were an essential part of the Egyptian look and played a large role with regards to societal happenings, in fact when a cat died in a private home in Egypt, all inhabitants of the house would shave their eyebrows. Shaved or tweezed eyebrows were darkened with gray or black powder in order to make them stand out and appear perfect. The bust of the beautiful Nefertiti, the pharaoh's wife, depicts her with dark, arched brows.
Japan's Royal Court 794-1185
During the Imperial Heian period in Japan the court "beauty standard" called for eyebrows shaved and redrawn high on the forehead in a hazy, cloud-like style.
Classical
In Ancient Greece, women used soot to paint their brows black. It is said that they preferred a unibrow. Eyebrows were also part of the Romans' beauty rituals which favored a unibrow. Both cultures' poets and writers described women putting on false eyebrows to enhance their looks.
Royals : 1558-1600s
Skinny brows were EXTREMELY popular in medieval times in Europe. Women favored a pale, "eggheaded" look and even plucked their hairlines! The fashion continued through the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This look was said to reinforce the idea of sexual and spiritual purity. During this time people even rubbed walnut oil onto their children's eyebrows to inhibit hair growth.
17th and 18th Century
In the 17th and 18th centuries, "bold brows made a comeback". Fashionable European women were obsessed with bushy brows. Some would put on false eyebrows made from furry mouse skin, usually high up on the forehead, giving them a quizzical type of expression.
1930s
Movies became big in the 1930s. During this time, movie studios started to promote their female movie stars. To do so - the "close-up" shot was created. This is also where the super pencil-thin eyebrows began because the females' entire face was the center of attention. This type of brow gave way to a questioning, childlike, vulnerable, and cute type of look. It was also a better way to convey emotion on camera.
1950s
An industry was born in the mid 20th century when commercially made cosmetics were introduced to society. One of the most prominent being eyebrow fillers.
In 1919, T.L. Williams created his Lash-Brow-Ine, inspired by his sister Mabel’s habit of applying Vaseline mixed with coal dust to emphasize her eyebrows and lashes. The product would later be christened Maybelline. Here we see a comeback of the strong, regal eyebrow look reminiscent of Nefertiti.
In 1919, T.L. Williams created his Lash-Brow-Ine, inspired by his sister Mabel’s habit of applying Vaseline mixed with coal dust to emphasize her eyebrows and lashes. The product would later be christened Maybelline. Here we see a comeback of the strong, regal eyebrow look reminiscent of Nefertiti.
1960s
Shaved brows and eyebrows penciled in with excruciatingly detailed individual strokes was the brow look of choice in the 60s. Overly plucked brows and dark, obviously painted-on lashes and brows were the "thing" to do.
The 80s
The bushy brow look returned with vengeance in the 80s. Though the powerful, over-the-top brow had largely disappeared during the '60s and '70s, Brooke Shields brought it back, adding a sense of wildness to the typical "conventional beauty".
The 90s : A Time of Experiment
During the '90s, some styles raised some brows... literally. Brows came in all shapes and sizes, from lush arches to scrawny shapes, some even shaved their eyebrows for a new look.