It's National Lash Day lash lovers! To celebrate we're offering 40% off Feb.19 - Feb.22, site-wide with code "LASHDAY" at checkout.
We're also sharing some of our all-time favorite moments in history that shaped the genesis of today's global obsession with false eyelashes. Including the Roman philosopher who is the inspiration behind the title of this blog post...which btw is totally not true!
Our obsession with lashes has been around as far back as the days of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome. In Ancient Egypt men styled their lashes and adorned their eyes just as often as women.
Kohl and ointments were used to darken the lashes, which also served as protection from the sun's harmful rays. Black kohl liner that extended beyond the eyelids to the temples was also seen as a symbol of stature and "fashion".
In In Ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder (Roman Philosopher) thought of eyelashes as a symbol of youth, and having a chaste character. He proclaimed "eyelashes fell out from excessive intercourse, and it was especially important for women to keep their eyelashes long to prove their chastity."
As result in Ancient Rome, eyelashes that were long, thick, and curled were a sought-after beauty trait. Women used kohl and burnt cork to darken their eyelashes and to create the overall appearance of fuller and longer eyelashes.
During the Medieval Times, the forehead was considered to be the most beautiful and erotic feature of a woman's face.
To further emphasize the forehead, women often removed most, or all of their eyelashes and eyebrows.
So if you ever wondered why artist rendering from this time period featured women with sparse brows and no eyelashes, that’s why!
Trends changed when Queen Elizabeth took the throne, her reddish-golden hair was the rage, and women dyed their eyelashes to match.
Eyelashes were dyed using crushed berries and soot from fireplaces.
It was during the Romantic era that cosmetics as we know them came into use. The first mascara was developed by Eugène Rimmel a perfumer to Queen Victoria.
The mascara was primarily comprised of coal dust and Vaseline jelly. Even to this day the Rimmel brand remains with us.
In 1899 there were accounts of women having false lashes implanted in their eyelids using needles, it was a popular procedure in capitals like Paris.
In 1911, a Canadian woman named Anna Taylor first patented artificial lashes using a crescent shaped fabric implanted with tiny hairs.
Thank you, Anna!
But it wasn’t until 1916 that false lashes went mainstream thanks to Hollywood film director D.W. Griffith.
While filming, he had a wig maker glue human hair to the eyelids of an actress using spirit gum.
And so our obsession with lashes continues! Enjoy of the beauty of Quon's Eyes as we celebrate #NationalLashDay all weekend long. Shop with us now through Monday, February 22 to save 40% off at checkout with code "LASHDAY". Happy National Lash Day!