History Of Cosmetology

Women have always been into their looks. From ancient times to modern times, women have always been obsessed with the way they look. Their worlds have revolved, revolve, and will continue to revolve around the way they look. It would be safe to say that nothing matters more to most women than their looks – Yes, that’s how important it is to look good. This craze to look good is the best explanation for the success of all businesses that deal with beautifying a person. This craze also helped build up cosmetology’s waltz into the picture. What is cosmetology? In simple words, cosmetology is nothing but the discipline and application of the same in all things to do with beauty. It has also, over the past few years, evolved into an academic discipline. Cosmetology branches out into specialty areas that include electrology, hairstyling, cosmetics, manicures, and pedicures. History of cosmetology is as colorful as the makeup colors itself. Read on to know more on the history of cosmetology.

Cosmetology can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. It were the Egyptian women who gave a lot of importance to hair care, nails, skin, and overall beauty. The Egyptians had a unique approach to their beauty treatments. They were known to carry out extensive researches in the field of beauty, and this was back in the days of the Pharaohs! The Egyptians also enjoy the distinction of being the first ethnic group to actually extract beautifying ingredients from natural resources. They were also known to carry out long and elaborate beauty rituals. Bathing was a big affair back then. Modern day spas help throw a small percentage of light on what was the bathing rituals of the ancient Egyptians. Egyptian women even wore wigs to accentuate their looks. The use of beauty oils and other such products was also not uncommon in ancient Egypt. Pictorial depictions of ancient Egyptian women are testimonies to the fact that the Egyptians took their beauty seriously.

 

Soon the Greeks and the Romans joined the Egyptian beauty bandwagon. It became a global craze of sorts. Women in Rome began to curl and straighten their hair. However, this was a luxury that only the rich and affluent could afford. The hair-straightening craze that was kicked off centuries ago still continues to remain a fad in modern times. It's funny how fashion and cosmetology works, isn’t it? The Romans also used cosmetics for medicinal purposes. The Greeks on the other hand imported cosmetics and were known to use powders, paints, hair dyes, and beauty oils.

 

Soon all this changed with the pale and clean look coming into fashion. Women all over the world were stepping out sans the makeup. The feminine look with minimal make up was the most sought after. Women even followed strict natural diets to acquire a desirable clean and smooth complexion. The natural look craze then reverted to the cosmetic look. Women began to visit parlors, again! However, these visits were kept under wraps. There were even parlors that offered services in the homes of their customers. These parlors sold products and provided services to women who wished to keep their efforts taken to look good, a secret.

 

As the years, decades and centuries rolled by, cosmetology and the business of looking good began to garner its fair share of customers. Hairstyling techniques were invented in Britain. Getting your hair curled, ironed, or wavy became a global rage. The arrival and success of Hollywood and the movies too added a certain thrust to efforts taken to look good. Women all over the world wanted to look like their favorite stars. It was this need and craze to look good that made cosmetology the success and separate field of study that it is now.