Beauty: Then and now

 Now we can’t help but wonder what people will think of spray-tanning, teeth-bleaching, and Brazilian bikini waxing in another 100 000 years.
– The term for a makeup artist in Egyptian hieroglyphic is derived from the root sesh, which means, “to write, to engrave.” Makeup application was taken pretty seriously back then: The same accuracy was needed to paint lips as to write out a text. (FYI: By “text” we mean etching symbols into a rock, not typing out a message on your iPhone.)
– Perfume was central to Egyptian civilisation and was used for both cosmetic and medical purposes. For example, Kyphi, one of the most famous Egyptian perfumes, made from flowers, honey, wine and berries, was also prepared as a drink to cure lung, intestinal, and liver problems. That said, don’t go chugging a bottle of Chanel No. 5 to cure your next hangover.
– In ancient Greece, the most sought-after hair colour was blond. Not many Greeks were naturally blond, so light hair was probably perceived as beautiful because it was so exotic. Women would lighten their hair using plant extracts or arsenic(!). They also washed their locks with a mixture of ashes, olive oil, and water.
– People have been playing, “kitchen beautician” since the Middle Ages, when various foods were used as beauty aids. Curdled milk was applied to acne, cucumber juice removed freckles, while boiled nettles produced a smooth, even complexion. Women even attempted to remove wrinkles with the help of ointments made of wax and almond oil, or crocodile fat. 
– It’s a shame that extensions weren’t available during the Heian Period when a Japanese woman’s beauty was judged by the length of her hair, since the ideal was considered almost two feet longer than her waist. We’re assuming that ponytails were a popular hairstyle back then.
– In Renaissance Italy women created the ultimate red lip and cheek stain by mixing cochineal, sandalwood or cinnabar with wax or grease. The application process was complex, but the red color lasted for over a week, even if she washed her face every day.
– Despite being called the “Golden Age of Spain,” having a tan was a serious beauty faux pas back then. In an effort to maintain a porcelain complexion, young women would eat clay, even though it often caused anemia or chlorosis.
– Lipstick was considered an essential item for female nurses in the armed forces during the Second World War, both to remind women that they were ladies first and military second, and because it might have a calming effect on the male soldiers. (Although most experts now say that guys get really turned on when a girl wears red lipstick.)
–  Before L’Oréal launched the first mass market hairspray in 1960, women had to choose between slicking their hair down with a greasy brilliantine or using a mechanical sprayer to coat it with shellac dissolved in a solution of water and alcohol.
–  A 1991 study showed that female politicians who employed Hollywood makeup artists and photographers were 30 percent more likely to win elections, simply by grooming her eyebrows, wearing certain coloured blouses, and smiling. From ghds to Botox, mineral make-up to eyelash extensions, the beauty industry has already come a long way 10 years into the new millennium. We check out the best innovations that have made us all feel more beautiful through the noughties. You might take your ghds for granted as you sleepily run them over your hair in the morning and head to work with effortlessly sleek, shiny locks.
For many, they’re a part of everyday life, but 10 years ago they didn’t exist. Neither did the spray tan. If we wanted to get an all-over colour back in the 1990s we had to fork out for a trip to somewhere sunny or slather ourselves in a cream that was invariably uneven and smelled strange. Now we can pop out for our lunch break and return with a golden glow (to go with our glossy hair) just like that. In the past 10 years we’ve seen some real beauty gems arrive on the scene. Here are our top  favourites.
Everlasting lipstick
There were always some lipsticks that lasted longer than others, but still, however, long-lasting our lipstick claimed to be, lingering traces could always be found on a glass or somebody’s cheek, and god forbid if we had a cheeky snog. Drinking, talking and generally breathing would cause lipsticks to evaporate from our lips, meaning we had to keep nipping to the loo to re-apply. That was before the invention of super-stay lipsticks. Most of them consist of two parts — a colour that can be applied to the lips that dries in as little as one minute, then a glossy top coat, that seals the colour in. These miraculous new lipsticks will stay on through food, drink and even snogs. In fact, sometimes they’re still there when you wake up in the morning.
Eyelash extensions
If you see someone on the bus with extra long, thick lashes, chances are she’s sporting a set of false beauties a la Cheryl Cole. Applied by the experts, lash extensions can create subtle or dramatic looks without the need for a gloopy mascara wand. And unlike false eyelashes, they don’t need to be removed at night, so you can wake up with gorgeous lashes first thing in the morning (great for the low-maintenance girls among us).
You can go for “weekend lashes” to last up to three days; “holiday lashes” for two weeks or “bespoke” lashes, which can last up to two months, depending on how long you want your Bambi look to last. And you can choose exactly how short and natural or long and fluttery you want them to be.
Botox for your locks
Back in the 1980s, we were all about the frizz, with poodle perms being the order of the day. But the 1990s and noughties had us reaching for the serum and cursing the weather for making us “fluffy”.
We were introduced to a whole host of searing, heated contraptions designed to eliminate the frizz, but the problem was, as soon as we stepped out in the rain again, we were back to square one.
Cue one of the best inventions to come out of the noughties by far: the Brazilian blowdry, known as “Botox for your locks” or “the permanent blowdry”.
This ever-lasting blowdry was created in Brazil over four years ago and brought to our attention by Gil Goncalves, who was the first hair stylist to start offering the treatment.
This magical invention involves the application of a wonderfully pleasant-smelling cream, which (far from being bad for your hair) actually contains Keratin, the natural substance found in hair.
I hope this was an enjoyable read.
 
– For any enquiries and tips or to be added to our database please e-mail us at missk@zol.co.zw