When I pop over to give you a facial or a brow tidy, how often do we think about where those treatments began? The beauty world is full of fascinating little backstories, and I’ve been doing some digging around. Some treatments are rooted in ancient traditions, others were born out of clever marketing. Here’s a trip around the globe (and through history) to see where some of our favourite beauty rituals really came from.
Threading – Ancient Precision from India and the Middle East
Threading might feel like a modern brow bar invention, but it’s an art form that’s been around for centuries, especially in India, Iran, and parts of the Middle East. The technique uses a simple cotton thread twisted to pluck hair from the follicle with amazing precision. In Indian tradition, threading was often done for brides before the wedding as part of their beauty preparation. It’s loved today because it’s quick, chemical-free, and gives incredibly sharp definition – all with a single piece of thread and a steady hand.
French Manicure – Not So French After All
The name sounds super chic, but the French manicure as we know it – those perfectly pale pink nails with crisp white tips – isn’t actually from France. The style became popular in the 1970s thanks to Jeff Pink, the founder of ORLY nail polish, in Los Angeles. He designed it as a quick-change nail look for Hollywood actresses who needed something that matched multiple outfits during filming. Pink decided “French manicure” sounded classier than “Hollywood natural nails,” and voilà – the name stuck. France got the credit, America got the invention, and the rest of us got a timeless nail trend.
Facials – From Cleopatra to Korean Skincare
Facials might seem like a luxury of modern spas, but the concept of pampering your face is ancient. Cleopatra famously bathed in milk and used honey masks to keep her skin soft. The Romans, who also liked their personal grooming, experimented with scrubs made from ground seeds and oils. Today our facials have become a global mash-up – from European-style deep cleansing treatments to multi-step Korean routines with sheet masks, essences, and snail mucin (yes, really). The principle is the same as it’s always been: feed your skin, because it looks gorgeous when you do.
Accenting Eyes Since the Pharaohs
I think most of us wouldn’t be surprised to know that the ancient Egyptians were big on eyeliner. Around 4000 BC, both men and women used kohl to enhance their eyes – not just for beauty, but also to protect them from the harsh desert sun and to ward off bad spirits. Kohl was made from galena (a type of lead mineral) mixed with other ingredients. Thankfully, our modern versions are lead-free, but the dramatic, cat-eye style still harks back to those bold, iconic looks in Egyptian art.
They also had their own form of waxing. Long before wax strips, ancient Egyptians used sugaring to remove unwanted hair. This sticky mix of sugar, lemon juice, and water was warmed up and applied to the skin, then flicked off to take the hair with it. Unlike traditional waxing, sugaring sticks more to the hair than the skin, which makes it gentler and less irritating. Plus, it’s all-natural, and some brave people even make it in their kitchen (though I’d advise leaving that to the professionals unless you want a toffee-like disaster on your legs).
So next time I come and pamper you with your favourite treatment, think about the fact that people have been doing it for thousands of years, and it might have roots in a completely different part of the world! Whether it’s a hair removal, eye enhancement, or a 1970s Hollywood invention with a French name, beauty is basically a global time capsule that people have been honouring and adding to for thousands of years. It makes your next waxing feel a bit more special. Book yours in today and make a little connection with history! Book now
