History of Cosmetology

The history of cosmetology, the art of beautifying the skin, nails and hair goes all the way back to the Egyptians. Young children often had shaved heads with the exception of one long string of hair on the left side that signified the hieroglyphic symbol for child. Once a child reached puberty, the girls often grew their hair longer, perhaps in ponytails while many boys continued to shave their heads.

Women have decorated their hair with various objects through the history of cosmetology. Ribbons, flowers, and pins have been favorites of women with long hair as a method to change their looks. Men’s hair styles have changed throughout the centuries, ranging from very short or bald at some points to very long, some as long if not longer than women’s hair.

Another aspect of the history of cosmetology is cosmetics. Many of the major manufacturers of cosmetics were established close to one hundred years old. One of the first manufacturers of cosmetics, Max Factor, started his business in 1904, followed closely in 1908 by L’Oreal. In 1914, Maybelline was founded, but at that time, they specialized mainly in mascara. Revlon was a latecomer, not arriving on the cosmetic scene until 1932.

Skin care is also covered in the history of cosmetology. The history of skincare doesn’t date back very far at all. For many years, people overlooked the importance of taking care of their skin. But these days, many people, both men and women like to feel pampered with facials to help improve their skin and help them maintain their youthful appearance. Pampering of your skin is not only limited to the face as many lotions are on the market to moisturize your skin all over your body.

Today more than ever, people seem to be more concerned about their looks and that can only result in the growth of the cosmetology field.