The Evolution of False Lashes: From Ancient Rituals to Hollywood Glamour

False lashes remain the only everyday beauty product that involves attaching a prosthetic to the face. Their beginnings, however, were far from cosmetic innovation as we know it today.

In 19th-century Paris, the obsession with long, fluttery lashes led to extreme—and risky—solutions. Women enlisted wigmakers to stitch strands of hair directly into their eyelids, a painful procedure that sometimes resulted in infections or vision damage. Despite the danger, the look gained traction for its dramatic effect, making the eyes appear larger, brighter, and more expressive.

Some trace the fascination with dramatic lashes even further back, to around 2500 BCE. In ancient Egypt—where beauty rituals were deeply tied to ritual and protection—ointments and brushes were used to create a fanned-out lash effect. Eye makeup at the time was also believed to have antibacterial properties, offering both aesthetic and practical benefits.

Thankfully, beauty has always evolved alongside innovation. In 1911, Canadian inventor Anna Taylor patented the world’s first artificial lashes, according to The New York Times. Her design offered a safer alternative to earlier practices: small hairs attached to a strip of fabric, meant to be placed along the upper lash line with adhesive. We have her to thank for finally allowing women to achieve the look without the pain or health risks.

Five years later, the trend picked up. Filmmaker D.W. Griffith was creating the melodrama Intolerance and thought leading lady Seena Owen’s eyes were lacking some oomph. With that, he enlisted his costume wigmaker to glue strands of human hair onto her lash line. While some reports say her eyes were nearly swollen shut, her look on the silver screen made more people fall in love with the fluttery filaments.

The trend soon moved beyond the film set. Charles Nessler was a hairdresser who commercialized artificial lashes with the introduction of Nestolashes—apply-at-home strips sold with adhesive and clear instructions. What was once a bespoke Hollywood trick became accessible to everyday women, cementing false lashes as a beauty staple rather than a cinematic novelty.

The whimsical look continued to evolve as beauty did, introducing various styles, thicknesses, shapes, and the like. Publications and supermodels like Twiggy brought them further into the spotlight. Even bottom lashes served as a medium to express ourselves more!

With its rich history, false lashes became a genre of its own. It is more than a cosmetic, but also an emblem of beauty’s cultural significance, and evidence that human beings can and will do just about anything to truly feel like themselves.

At some point, you might have wondered why we even have eyelashes at all. What purpose do they serve? According to The Los Angeles Times, studies have revealed that lashes were meant to diffuse airflow that might threaten to dry out the eyeballs. Their length is generally based on the size of the eyeball itself, and not on the gender of the person they belong to.

This doesn’t change the fact that long eyelashes have always been portrayed in relation to femininity. Looking at it, the foundations of Minnie Mouse’s physical attributes are the same as Mickey Mouse’s—except she has visible lashes. The Cut enumerated more examples, such as Pablo Picasso’s painting of his muse Dora Maar, emphasizing her lashes, and Thomas Hood’s poems describing the Biblical Ruth’s beauty, recognizing how her “long lashes veiled a light that had else been all too bright.” What is it about them that attach them to femininity?

As mentioned, false lashes create the appearance of wide and gazing eyes. Behavioral scientists in the 20th century found that “large eyes and forehead” are some of the features that “seemed to elicit protecting and caretaking responses from adults.” They encapsulate a babyish aura that has been found to awaken affectionate feelings from other adults. According to The Cut, findings by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1985 showed that having baby-like attributes was “positively correlated with perceptions of … naivete, honesty, kindness, and warmth.”

Scientists have also recognized that eyelashes, particularly dark ones, emphasize the whites of the eyes, whose brightness signals youthfulness and good health. A dark limbal ring is also known to be prominent during a human’s most fertile years, and darkened lashes somewhat recreate this look—whether intentionally or not. Additionally, they emphasize the eye’s movements, therefore capturing attention.

It’s worth noting that, in recent years, more people are crafting their looks based on what they want for themselves, not at all interested in what others would think. Regardless of the scientific reasons on why long and dark lashes seem to be so magnetic, what matters most at the end of the day is styling them how you like. It can’t be denied, however, that false lashes have been widening the conversations on beauty in centuries past.

Paulash changed the lash game of F-beauty with their strip lashes, built to last up to 10 uses. If you don’t know where to start, they have the Staple Collection, wherein you can choose from the classic styles that serve as the pillars of the brand.

Ardell puts your eyeliner skills to good use. All you need to do is to trace your lash line with a magnetic gel or liquid eyeliner, then attach the Magnetic Lashes, and that's it! You'll have full, soft, and feathered lashes is no time.

Cluster lashes are just like strip lashes, but divided into smaller sections. The Faboulash Bespoke Cluster Lashes, for example, are quick to apply, and they blend seamlessly into one’s natural lashes. Clusters also work when layered on top of one another, making for a more customizable look for beginners and lash veterans alike.

The beauty industry continues to find ways for beauty enthusiasts to stick to their quick routines without compromising their final look. Glue-Free False Lashes by Elyzza are getting all the hype, especially on TikTok, for being just as effective as other false lashes, but eliminating the need to apply an adhesive and to wait for it to dry.

Another set of false lashes that you've probably seen on TikTok are the Dorolab Glue-Free False Lashes. Minimizing the learning curve, they attach onto the lash line with no adhesive required. They stay on with stability, too, and they can be gently removed as easily as you put them on.

New Lounge’s award-winning Eyelash Extensions is an experience worth investing in. The lashes are durable yet light as air. They’re also customizable according to your eye shape, designed to simply add onto the beauty that you already have.

Ayumi offers LED Lashes, which is essentially the same as lash extensions, but utilizing LED technology for stronger and longer-lasting hold. It cures the adhesive instantly, gently securing them into place. It shortens the session, too, so you can enjoy your fluttery lashes in no time.