Whilst we all know the Ancient Egyptians invented waxing it's still a bit of a mystery. You have to wonder who thought applying hot wax and ripping hairs out by the root was a good idea.
Eyebrow Waxing definitely dates back to this time, but it was introduced for different reasons. It was all to do with personal hygiene. The Egyptians considered hair to be dirty and unsightly, so they removed it. We tend to favour eyebrow waxing to improve our appearance.
Eyebrow waxing offers semi-permanent hair removal and it is generally done using hard wax. Applied with a spatula or small roller, the wax hardens as it cools and can be removed without using strips.
Fast and Accurate
The advantage of eyebrow waxing is that it can remove several hairs at a time, yet it is still very accurate. The hair will grow back but not for four to six weeks.
One thing's for sure: eyebrows are a hot topic. We seem to have been obsessed with them for hundreds of years, and they are the subject of many strange tales.
In Ancient Greece and Rome the fashion was not to wax but to grow a unibrow. These were seen as the height of fashion and worn by the most intelligent and sensual women. If you couldn't grow one you simply drew it on with black paint.
Mouse Skin
By the Middle Ages eyebrows were removed completely. The forehead was considered the most attractive facial feature and eyebrows would only detract from its charm. Meanwhile in 18th century America, women used grey mouse skin to add body to their brows. Yuck!
Yet when we get into the Victorian era it's quite the opposite. Women who wore visible makeup were considered prostitutes, so they allowed their brows to grow thick and bushy.
Have you noticed how eyebrow trends seem to go in cycles? Pencil-thin brows were fashionable in the 1920s and again in the 1990s. Thick dark eyebrows were favoured in the 1950s and 1960s and worn by actresses like Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. One look at catwalk queen Cara Delevingne confirms that look is once again on-trend.
Purpose of Brows
When you're busy searching for eyebrow waxing near you have you ever wondered why we even have them? What purpose do they serve apart from giving us something to wax?
You may not realise it, but eyebrows are there to keep moisture out of our eyes. When we're caught in the rain or working up a sweat at the gym our eyebrows divert the moisture away from our eyes.
Our brows also play a crucial role in facial recognition. Research revealed that we have trouble recognising people if we see them without their eyebrows. Brows also help us express emotions. When we are surprised or angry our eyebrows raise. When we are suspicious we furrow our brow.
Grow Shed Grow
If you're looking for a reason to justify your eyebrow waxing here it is. The average person has around 250 hairs per brow. Those who have never waxed or plucked may have up to 1100 eyebrow hairs. Cool, right?
You may notice that a week or so after eyebrow waxing you can feel some more hairs coming through. Our hair goes through three cycles of growth and shedding, so for every hair you see there are two more right behind it. The complete cycle may take around four months.
Threading is available in many salons, but many people still prefer eyebrow waxing. It's quick and pretty much painless, and it provides a clean defined look. You will experience a little redness afterwards but that will quickly fade.
If you're looking for the best eyebrow waxing in your locality simply use the Bookwell directory. We have listed salons for you, so you can save time searching. Choose the one you like and click to book.
