Around 10,000 BCE, the Ancient Egyptians were developing almost every kind of cosmetic that we would use today.  They had creams for stretch marks and to fight aging.   They used oils to moisturize their skin and they had an array of perfumes.  To them, looking attractive was the best way to get close to the gods.

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Around 4000 BCE, the women wore copper and ore, known as mesdemet, around their eyes to make their eyes stand out.  They also put malachite, a mixture of copper minerals, on their cheeks, and Kohl became the main product for lining their eyes. A lot of their cosmetics had multiple purposes.  Their eye makeup helped keep bugs at bay.  Some cosmetics could be consumed to fight different ailments.  The cosmetics weren’t just for women; men used them as well.

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Around 3000 BCE, Greeks and Chinese began whitening their faces.  The Chinese used rice powder and the Greeks used white lead.  Greek women would apply berries on their cheeks as rouge.  The Chinese would paint their nails using a variety of ingredients.  Each color meant you were of a different social class.  Around 1500 BCE, the Chinese began painting their teeth black or gold and shaved off their eyebrows.

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Around 100 AD, Romans used butter and barley powder to get rid of pimples.  They also used sheep fat and blood to paint their nails.  Mud baths became popular and some Roman men died their hair blonde.  The people of India began using Henna around 300 AD as a way to dye their hair as well as for religious decorating of the body.

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In England in the Middle Ages, it was popular for women to dye their hair red or to wear egg whites on their face to whiten it.  During the Renaissance, around the 1400s, only the Aristocracy used cosmetics.  They began using arsenic instead of lead in some powders.  Around 1500 AD, European women used a variety of products, some quite dangerous to their health, to lighten their skin.  Blonde hair became more popular due to its angelic appearance.

Around 1800 AD, it is found that zinc oxide, which is commonly used in today’s cosmetics, is much safer than lead for use on the skin.  Queen Victoria denounced makeup as vulgar.  It lost some popularity and was only acceptable for use by actors.

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In Edwardian society, around the 1900s, makeup regained its appeal.  As hosts, women were expected to have a youthful appearance.  They turned to buying cosmetics at beauty salons in secrecy to avoid anyone knowing that they needed the products to look young. Around the 1920s tanned skin gained popularity.  By 1930, there were several products to tan your skin without the sun.

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Today there is a wide variety of cosmetics for every need of which anyone could imagine.  There are a variety of brands, with each having its own variances of colors and styles.  There are different types of brushes for applying different types of makeup.  Makeup is not only a way to enhance one’s beauty; it has become somewhat of an art.  It is the foundation for the fashion world.  Most people won’t leave home without having first applied several different cosmetics, whether it’s soap, lotion, or makeup.

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The price of looking beautiful is something nearly every human being, going back to the earliest of societies, has paid.  It’s in human nature to want to look and feel attractive.  The next time you think today’s society is superficial, remind yourself of the products used by Ancient Egyptians and Renaissance women.  At least our products today are relatively safe.

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After looking at the facts surrounding diamonds and dogs, it’s easy to see why dogs are a man’s best friend, and why diamonds are a woman’s best friend.  Just look at their appearances.  Dogs are typically shaggy, smelly, and enjoy rolling around in their own filth.  How different is that from a man?  Diamonds are gorgeous, strong, and glisten in the sun.  How is that not exactly like a woman?

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Seriously, there is a clear difference between dogs and diamonds and why men are associated with one and women the other.  For example, diamondfacts.org says that diamonds have allowed five million people access to healthcare globally.  Plus, some of the money made from the diamond industry goes to fund research for HIV and AIDS.  In the U.S. women currently make up about 88 percent of the healthcare workforce.  So, it makes sense for diamonds to be woman’s best friend.  They both love helping people!  In Botswana, diamonds allow every child up to the age of 13 to receive a free education, and in the U.S., 75% of k-12 teachers are women.

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 Dogs aren’t opposed to helping people.  They can be trained to carry medical supplies through snowy terrains, and they can be trained to lead the blind.  So can men.  They can be trained to carry anything from small objects, like purses, to large objects, like furniture.  Something else dogs and men have in common is their hunting abilities.  Men are generally considered to be the better sex when it comes to hunting, and many dogs are known for their hunting skills.

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Dogs tend to prefer to stay dirty by rolling around in mud or other equally gross substances.  Men are similar in that many of them don’t change their underwear every day and don’t brush their teeth twice a day.  However, men and dogs do have some admirable characteristics in common.  For example, they are both very protective of their territory.  This can come in handy when you find yourself in danger.  They are also loyal and lovable.

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It’s easy to tell why a dog is a man’s best friend and why a diamond is a woman’s best friend. Appearances and habits aside, they both are great friends to have!

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Supermodels from the 1920s through the 1950s were full-figured and the epitome of Hollywood glamour.  Viola Dana is known for her gorgeous eyes and became one of the first makeup models for Maybelline.  The first blonde bombshell was Jean Harlow.  She was also known for her great personality, which is something you don’t usually hear about today’s models.  Betty Brosmer had a nearly perfect hourglass figure.  Her measurements were believed to be 38-18-36 and she stood 5 and a half feet tall.  Most fashion models today are desirably 34-24-34 and around 5 feet 8 inches tall.

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These changes started around the 1960s and 1970s when models like Twiggy became popular.  Thinner body styles became the norm for high-end fashion.  In these decades, models became more recognizable to the public.  Glamour magazine is reportedly the first magazine to refer to these types of models as “supermodels.”  Naomi Sims is sometimes referred to as the first black supermodel.  She was the first African American to be featured on the cover of  Ladies’ Home Journal in 1968.  In 1974, Beverly Johnson was the first African American on the cover of American Vogue.   Cheryl Tiegs and Verushka were two other popular models of this time.

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In the 1980s supermodels began associating their names and images with certain brands.  With fashion designers now using billboards and television for advertising, it helped to have that recognition.  Models started getting exclusive contracts with designers.  Brooke Shields and Christie Brinkley were both popular models at this time.

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By the 1990s supermodels were celebrities that the populace either loved or loved to hate.  They were popular and trendy in their own right, and they partied at local hot spots.  They even started doing talk show interviews and appeared in gossip columns. Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford are still regular targets of controversy in the modeling world.  Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Tatian Patitz were other popular models during this decade.

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Today, supermodels are regularly seen on television, in magazines, and on billboards.  However, now they have their own brands and own names to represent, not just the work of someone else.  Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks both have reality television shows, Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, where models compete for contracts with popular magazines and brands.

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While the styles may have changed, our obsession with their beauty has not.  Supermodels continue to grab our attention with their ever evolving role in society.

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If you think having snakes for hair is awful, try being shaved bald by your lover.  The story of Samson from the Bible says he was not allowed to cut his luscious locks or he would lose the strength given to him by God.  He made the mistake of telling his love, Delilah, his secret.  She had a servant shave his head in his sleep which allowed him to be captured and imprisoned by the Philistines.  Now that is a bad hair day.

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Similar to the story of Samson is the story of King Nisus.  He was invincible as long as his hair remained intact.  His daughter, who was in love with his enemy King Minos, cut his hair while he slept.  This allowed King Minos to capture him.

Sometimes, one person’s bad hair day can result in a good day for someone else.  The grandson of Poseidon, King Pterelaos, was immortal due to his lavish locks.  His daughter, too, was in love with his enemy, King Amphytron.  She shaved his head which allowed King Amphitron to conquer him.  While King Amphitron was busy with King Pteraleos, Zeus came down from the heavens and slept with his queen.  This resulted in the birth of Heracles.  Not a bad deal for Zeus!

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No one was more upset about their bad hair day than the Sif, the wife of Thor.  While she was sleeping, the trickster god Loki stole her beautiful, long, wheat-colored locks.  She screamed in anger while her husband stormed, threatening whoever had stolen her hair.  Out of fear, Loki had dwarves help him weave her new hair out of gold, even longer than before.

Okay, not all days are bad hair days.  The story of Rapunzel is testament to that.  She was trapped in a tower by an enchantress who would visit her by climbing up her hair.  One day a prince hears her singing and falls in love.  Her hair was long, beautiful and strong enough to allow her hero to climb up to her rescue.

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]]> http://idealbeautyacademy.net/hair-in-mythology/feed/ 0 http://idealbeautyacademy.net/famous-hairstyles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=famous-hairstyles http://idealbeautyacademy.net/famous-hairstyles/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:43:48 +0000 admin http://idealbeautyacademy.net/?p=768 As a society we have a deep fascination with hair and famous celebrity hairstyles we can try to emulate or completely avoid. Let’s take a look at among the most famous hairstyles out there today.

Donald Trump’s Comb Over

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Donald Trump is very serious about his elaborately styled comb over! He was even considering a run for the presidency earlier in 2011. Would anyone take the United States seriously anymore?

Jessica Alba’s Lob

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Jessica Alba is shown here boasting the very flattering “lob” hairstyle, which is the friendly cousin of the “bob” haircut. You can interior layers so that you have plenty of movement.

Reese Witherspoon’s Cute Bangs

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Reese Witherspoon is always known for sporting cute and sexy hairstyles, but her bangs shown here are especially popular and gorgeous.

Justin Bieber’s Teen Heartthrob Hairstyle

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Justin Bieber’s hairstyle shown here is incredibly popular and loved by teenage girls throughout the world. Even other famous celebrities have tried to emulate his iconic hairstyle.

Jennifer Aniston’s Hot Layers

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Jennifer Aniston is often seen sporting some very sexy hairstyles that have become the envy of women worldwide. She is seen sporting a very sexy and famous look here with bombshell blonde layers.

Why Hair Turns Gray

It is important to highlight the role melanin plays in hair when examining why hair turns gray. Melanin is an insoluble pigment found in all forms of life and is responsible for skin color as well as hair color. As we age, the pigment cells in our hair follicles begin to die, which means that the amount of melanin in strands of hair will be reduced. As a result, hair becomes a more transparent color, such as gray, silver or white. People can start seeing gray hair at any age and genetics will determine when.

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Everyone Has A Bad Hair Day

Did you know that everyone has bad hair days? Even on excellent hair days, everyone loses at least 40 to 100 strands of hair! However, your body is continuously working to replace the lost strands of hair. It’s when the body cannot replace the lost strands that balding occurs.

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Unmatched Strength

You might be surprised to learn that hair is as strong as a wire of iron! Hair rips after applying a force of roughly 120 pounds, only after it stretched itself 70%.

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Wetness And Length

You may want to ponder an interesting hair fact the next time you step out the shower. Did you know that wet hair can increase in length by 30 percent? The hair will return back to normal length after it is dried.

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Carrot Top

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Got The Blues?

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Old Is Bold

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How Many Highlighters Did it Take?

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Don’t Think Pink

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Dread The Red

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From the bows and ribbons in our hair as kids to pigtails and braids to trying out your first perm and makeup kit, good looks don’t come natural or easy to any woman. Luckily, there is one aspect that women can have control over and it can make the biggest difference in how women are perceived and how they feel about themselves: hair.

Hair is massively important. From color and shine to length and thickness, a bad hair day can mean a bad day all together. Viren Swami, a psychologist at the University of Westminster in London and YouBeauty Attraction Expert, believes that because hair is malleable, it can give women a sense of control over their bodies, and in fact it really is the one thing that we as women can make our own.

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The great thing about hair is that changes are a personal choice. Don’t like your blond curls? Use a hair straightener and highlights to make a subtle change. Tired of frizzy red-hair? A Brazilian blowout and darker hair shade can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel. Brunettes needing a lift? Volumizers and low lights will add depths. Hair is a great way to express how you feel about yourself.

Even though our society has always dictated that women must look a certain way; Muslim tradition calls for the concealing of women’s hair in public, unmarried Chinese women wear their hair long and braided, smoothed down ringlets in the Victorian age, eventually women (and men) came to see that hair could be a reflection on themselves or against society (think short bobbed waves of women in the “Roaring Twenties”). Our hair has always represented something; an allegiance to tradition, a break from tradition, a way to model yourself after an idol, a way to set a trend.

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In the past, our hair may have told our place in society, but as the times and women’s roles changed, it became more acceptable to choose a hairstyle all their own. Psychology tells us we want what we can’t have, but maybe we can have it, through our hair.

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It has happened to so many of us. There you are, standing in front of the mirror, and you just can’t take those bangs anymore, or those layers that grew out so quickly. You think to yourself, I can cut my own hair. How hard could it be?

This mentality is why the following list is being brought to you today. There may be nothing scarier, or funnier than the homemade haircut.

1 | The Boy With The Striped Head

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2 | It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Breaks Out the Shaver

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3 | Oops! You Forgot a Piece

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4 | How to Get a Straight Part Down the Middle

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5 | The Backwards Mullet

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6 | Cruel and Unusual Punishment

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7 | Even Movie Stars Make Mistakes

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8 | Why Are You Smiling?

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9 | Put the Hat Back On!

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10 | Nope, I Can Still Tell You’re Losing Your Hair

6) Jeggings

Massive ladies' legwear fail.

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The Helen Keller of legwear (and I don’t mean in an inspirational way), jeggings marked a dark time in the fashion industry. Becoming largely popular in 2008, everyone thought jeggings were the best thing to happen and they were just flying off mall racks all over the country. While we don’t discriminate, there is a very small decimal of the population who can actually make jeggings look flattering. If you’re too thin, you run the risk of looking like No Heart and if you’re on the heavy side, well, you know. But if you’re perfect, like flawless body of Athena perfect, then I hope you have enough decency to avoid jeggings all together.

5) Crocs

If Willy Wonka had a tire factory.

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There’s not much to say about Crocs other than the hypnotic force they emit that makes people in their right mind think that they’re stylish. There is nothing stylish about Crocs, and yet they still keep coming back. In recent months and years, Crocs have come out with hundreds of different styles from snow boots to sandals, but don’t be fooled. No amount plastic lettering and faux fur is going to make them any better. That is not to say that Crocs don’t have their place in society, so let’s just keep them with gardeners.

4) Mullet

This is only a little bit okay.

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Let’s let the noble mullet remain in our hearts, not on our heads. Sure it seemed like a good idea at the time, business in front party in back and whatnot, but it’s all fun and games until someone gets a horrible hair cut. Countless celebrities have publicized the haircut coining it as “original” and “unique.” But we all know the truth. In fact, I believe that the mullet was invented as a sort of social experiment to determine just how far people would go to be similar to celebrities, but the outcome was astronomically devastating.

3) Uggs

Sassy.

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There’s a reason they’re called Uggs, and that is because they’re Ugg-ly. Beside the fact that they’re like walking on the clouds of Mt. Olympus and their warmth can only be compared to a warm summer’s day, they are pretty much useless. Silly teeny boppers will usually pair Uggs with leggings (used in the place of pants) with an oversized boyfriend sweatshirt with the hood cut off. Classy.

2) Everything Ed Hardy

This poor girl is too good for these rags.

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Unfortunately, unlike the other items on this list, Ed Hardy merchandise has zero redeeming qualities. There is nothing attractive, appealing, or acceptable about Ed Hardy attire. The trashy tattoo-like designs, skulls, roses, and whatever other cliche artwork they can throw in completes the bedazzled and trying-too-hard look of Ed Hardy. No to mention the overused stock sentences such as “Love kills slowly,” which, coincidentally, adorns every angsty teenager’s Facebook status.

1) Shoulder Pads

It's nearly impossible to take them seriously.

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There is nothing as unattractive as a lovely young lady trying to look like a pretty linebacker. Shoulder pads are a fate worse than death and they scream, “I’m uncomfortable with my petite figure,” louder than female body builders. In the 80s, shoulder pads were paired with short, tapered skirts and a small waistline, the point being to give the body a geometric shape. As awesome as that sounds, it didn’t turn out that way, in fact it just made everyone’s head looks too small.