Ancient Egypt

The Ancient Egyptians used an array of techniques with much in common with modern ones, such as cosmetics, tatooing and body creams, to achieve a stylised appearence. This body ideal can be seen in many pictorial records and is recorded in heiroglyphs.

Body hair removal was important to the Egyptians who believed hair was a sign of uncleanliness. The only exception were the goatee and mustache. Sometimes women even had their head shaved, however more often hair on the head was braided, shaved, cut in order to express individuality and fashion. Wigs were also used.

Oils were important in protecting against the sun, and Egyptians also adorned themselves with scents. Jewelery was also important with lapis lazuri imported from Afghanistan being one of the most important, while silver was sometimes regarded as more precious than gold due to its relative scarcity. Soaps were used from around 1500BC.

Green or black eye makeup was used to emphasise the eyeline and eyebrows and to decorate the eye. Henna was used for colouring the hair.

Concubines and dancers from the Middle Kingdom had geometric designs tatooed on their shoulders, chests and arms. In the New Kingdom dancers, musicians and servant girls had tatoos of the god Bes on their thighs.