What Were False Eyelashes Originally Made for

The Dramatic History of False Eyelashes – From Medical Necessity to Glamorous Makeup Staple

What were false eyelashes originally made for?False eyelashes are now a staple in glamorous makeup looks, adding volume and length to natural lashes for an eye-opening. But originally, false lashes were created out of medical necessity rather than for cosmetic purposes. Their evolution from medical tools to makeup bag essentials is a fascinating history.

In this article, we’ll explore the surprising early origins of false eyelashes and trace their trajectory to becoming a beloved cosmetic product.

From the Stage to the Everyday

Long before falsies became a staple in women’s makeup routines for enhancing eyes and achieving a wide-eyed, youthful appearance, fake eyelashes surprisingly originated as a tool for medical treatment rather than beauty enhancement.

What were false eyelashes originally made for?Dating back to the 19th century, false eyelashes were first invented by ophthalmologist Dr. W.E. Walker for helping assist vision issues in people experiencing complete or partial loss of their natural eyelashes. At that time, eyelashes played a critical functional role in keeping dust and debris from entering and irritating eyes. So for patients lacking this protective barrier, Dr. Walker created artificial strips fulfilling that purpose as a prosthetic medical invention.

The concept was later adapted by Hollywood filmmakers in the 1916 silent film Intolerance to embellish actors’ features in black and white scenes lacking defined eyes on film. They wanted a way for female leads to accentuate their gazes more dramatically onscreen through the makeup illusion of thicker, bolder lashes. So plastic falsies handmade from human hair trimmings became an ingenious way enhancing facial expressions during era acting styles reliant purely on visual magnetism and exaggerated mannerisms over dialogue.

As motion pictures evolved incorporating color and sound, makeup tricks like false eyelashes took on more cosmetic appeal becoming coveted beauty secrets among actresses wishing to intensify their allure on the silver screen. Stars of the 30s, 40s and 50s eras like Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Audrey Hepburn donned falsies made with mink or sable fur hairs for both day and evening looks temporarily boosting their natural lashes’ fullness and length.

The Fascinating History Behind False Eyelashes

False strip lashes slowly extended beyond movie studios into real-world wear as women strove emulating the dazzlingly seductive eyes of their favorite bombshell actresses. But the lengthy process of applying multiple strips lash-by-lash using unreliable adhesives deterred mass adoption at first. Most glamour girls reserved wearing tricky falsies for special events only.

What were false eyelashes originally made for?The 60s ushered in easier application methods popularizing false lashes into mainstream makeup culture thanks to inventions like duo glue formulas securing both lash ends simultaneously. As quality and comfort improved dramatically by the early 21st century, falsies became a staple tool universally embraced by women globally wishing to amplify their eyes for powerful aesthetic impact regardless of occasion, from daily glam to runway drama.

While medical origins birthed the concept, the film industry brought falsies into the beauty sphere before finally cementing their style staying power through improved user-friendly designs over a century later. And now as a ubiquitous makeup product universally recognized for making feminine eyes appear stirringly enhanced, false eyelashes have certainly come a long way from performing purely functional roles initially.

Though stylistic preferences keep evolving – with mega-volume fanned-out lashes dominating today’s trends compared to the subtly flirty accents of past Hollywood eras – the traditional function of false lashes in creating spellbinding, visually evocative eyes that captivate gazes remains unwaveringly powerful.

The First False Lashes – Medical Inventions to Treat Eye Disorders

The first primitive version of false eyelashes were developed in the late 19th century to treat medical conditions that caused eyelash loss. In 1879, ophthalmologist Dr. Henry Noyes created early artificial eyelashes to help a patient suffering from trichiasis, a disorder where eyelashes turn inward and scratch the eye.

Dr. Noyes attached fine strands of silk thread to the patient’s eyelids using glue made from rubber adhesive. This effectively prevented the existing eyelashes from scratching the eye.

In the 1880s, doctor Thomas Layres created an improved version of false eyelashes to treat trachoma, an infection which often led to eyelash loss. Dr. Layres used lengths of donor human hair attached to eyelids with rubber cement adhesive.

These early lash extensions were rough and uncomfortable by today’s standards. But they served a medical purpose helping patients prevent corneal damage from misdirected natural lashes.

How Hollywood Helped Take False Lashes Mainstream

In the early 1900s, false lashes began emerging outside medical settings. As the film industry grew in Hollywood, actors started experimenting with primitive lash extensions to make their eyes stand out on screen.

In 1916, Canadian inventor Anna Taylor patented false eyelashes made from human hair set on wire supports and meant for cosmetic wear.

But application was still tricky. Early film star lashes had to be applied daily using potentially irritating adhesives like spirit gum. It wasn’t until the lash curler was invented in the 1920s that false lashes became widely adopted by Hollywood.

Actresses of the 1930s and 40s like Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Judy Garland helped boost the popularity of false lashes further. Their dramatically curled and voluminous lashes became an iconic part of the Golden Age Hollywood beauty aesthetic.

Modern Lash Innovations Make Application Easy

False lashes grew in popularity over the decades but were still mostly worn for filming or special occasions due to the difficult daily application. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that lash technology made the process truly user friendly.

In 1985, Jeff Pink created the first synthetic false eyelashes, making them more affordable and comfortable to wear. In the 1990s, lash adhesives like Duo lash glue appeared, allowing secure application without irritation.

Most recently, subtle natural style strip and individual false lashes have become a mainstream product easy for anyone to apply daily. Magnetic lashes are also on the rise for their swift no-glue application.