In the beauty world, where people have long coveted voluminous lashes, false eyelashes revolutionised how individuals enhance their eyes. But why were fake eyelashes invented in the first place? Let’s examine the history behind these tiny hairs and people’s fascination with them.
On June 6, 1911, a Canadian woman named Anna Taylor patented the first artificial lashes, forever changing the beauty landscape. Taylor’s invention paved the way for the mass production of false eyelashes, offering women across the globe access to voluminous lashes previously reserved for the elite. From the stages of Broadway to the silver screens of Hollywood, false lashes would quickly become a staple in the entertainment world.
Ancient Beginnings
Throughout history, longer lashes have symbolised beauty and allure. Anna Taylor didn’t claim the first patented artificial lashes until 1911, but people were fixated on making their eyes more appealing long before.
The ancient Egyptians, known for their extravagant makeup techniques, sought to achieve mesmerising eyes framed by long lashes. They darkened their natural eyelashes with kohl and other substances to adorn their eyes and protect them from the harsh sun. There’s evidence that both women and men in ancient Egypt wore cosmetics.
Women in ancient Rome also used kohl and burnt cork to accentuate their eyes. In the court of Queen Elizabeth I, women used berries to dye their eyelashes a shade similar to that of the queen’s hair, a novel red shade at the time.
When the Victorian era arrived, people were no less obsessed with their lashes. Eugene Rimmel, Queen Victoria’s perfumer and the eventual founder of the Rimmel makeup brand, created the first mascara from coal dust and Vaseline (which has been around since 1870).
True or False Eyelashes?
People sometimes credit American film director D.W. Griffith with inventing artificial eyelashes, but little to no evidence supports this claim. As the story goes, Griffith was working on his film “Intolerance” in 1916. Known for his attention to detail in important scenes, he recognised the impact of long lashes under electric lights. To enhance the eyes of actress Seena Owens, he asked the film’s wigmaker to glue human hair onto her eyelids using spirit gum, effectively creating a set of false eyelashes. This story may or may not be true, but it’s certainly false that Griffith invented fake lashes since Taylor had already patented her idea five years prior.
From Hollywood to Homes Everywhere
Just as the popularity of fake eyelashes was starting to soar in the United States and Canada, people’s fascination with makeup was taking off, too. These beauty standards were on display in Hollywood more prominently than anywhere else.
Max Factor, a Russian cosmetics maker who emigrated to the U.S. in 1914, developed a close relationship with the film industry and soon supplied the studios with eye shadow, eyebrow pencils, and other products. The makeup artists on film sets used these new tools to make their actors and actresses look good on the big screen.
In 1916, Factor began making his makeup available to the public, transforming how women of that day and age approached eye makeup. In doing so, he kicked off a beauty revolution and set the foundation (pun intended) for what the beauty industry would become. By the 1930s, curling eyelashes were also in vogue. The first device for curling lashes was patented on April 7, 1931, with the design looking virtually no different from the devices you see on the market today.
Different Types of Fake Eyelashes
Modern false eyelashes come in various forms, each using different techniques to mimic the appearance of long eyelashes, creating a more glamorous effect. Glue-on lashes, or strip lashes, are among the most common. They usually contain synthetic fibres or real hair attached to a thin strip. You apply these false lashes using a small amount of glue along the base of your natural lashes.
Eyelash extensions involve attaching synthetic fibres or real hair to your natural lashes using semipermanent glue. Unlike strip lashes, eyelash extensions attach directly to your natural lashes. They can vary in length, curl, and thickness, allowing you to customise your look. With proper care, eyelash extensions can last several weeks before requiring a touchup.
Fabric-implanted lashes are a less common type of false eyelashes that embed fabric fibres — such as silk, mink or synthetic fibres — directly into the eyelid’s edge. Typically, trained professionals at salons perform these types of lash services since they require significant expertise and a steady hand.
Magnetic lashes feature small magnets along the lash band, which adhere to a magnetic eyeliner you apply along the natural lash line. This holds the false lashes in place without glue and makes magnetic lashes easy to apply and remove. “Falsies” is a colloquial term for false eyelashes in general, encompassing various types, such as glue-on lashes, magnetic lashes, and eyelash extensions.
The Enduring Appeal of Long Eyelashes
People’s obsession with long, luxurious-looking lashes continues. However, today, falsies are such a common beauty staple that very few people even know the name of the woman who invented fake eyelashes. The entertainment, fashion and beauty industries have significantly boosted the appeal of lash enhancement. This encompasses the many public figures, past and present, who became famous for treating the cameras to one glamorous look after another.
