The History of Eyelash Extensions

Eyelash extensions are no longer just a luxury service—they’re a full-blown cultural phenomenon. These days, everyone from your favorite influencer to your yoga instructor is rocking lashes that could stop traffic. But before there were lash techs on every corner and enough styles to make your head spin, there was a surprisingly rich and dramatic history behind it all.

So where did this beauty obsession begin? From spiritual symbolism to silent film sets, the history of fake eyelashes is a wild ride filled with myth, glam, and serious innovation. Let’s throw it back and see how we went from soot and honey to cyanoacrylate and colored spikes.

Ancient Origin of Fake Eyelashes Enhancement

Before lash lifts, there was… soot. And maybe a little honey.

Yep, ancient civilizations were already putting major effort into their eye game. In Ancient Egypt, both men and women used kohl to darken the lash line—not just for beauty, but also to protect themselves from the scorching sun and ward off evil spirits. Picture Cleopatra with that signature liner look? She was the OG glam queen with spiritual benefits.

Meanwhile, in Ancient Rome, things took a weird turn. There was a (wildly inaccurate) belief that too much intimacy could cause your lashes to fall out. So naturally, long lashes were considered a sign of virtue. Roman women started concocting all kinds of lash-boosting brews with burnt cork, soot, and honey. Talk about sweetening up your lash game.

Bottom line? The obsession with long lashes has always been about more than looks. It was about power, status, protection—and a dash of spiritual insurance.

The Myth of Who Invented Fake Eyelashes

You’ve probably heard the spicy Hollywood tale: director D.W. Griffith, deep in the drama of filming Intolerance in 1916, allegedly demanded that actress Seena Owen have lashes “long enough to brush her cheeks.” A wigmaker was called in, human hair was glued to her eyelids, and BAM—false lashes were born.

But like most Hollywood gossip, this one’s mostly myth. There’s no solid proof outside of film stills and whispers in beauty history books. It’s a fun origin story, but if we’re being real, lashes had already been in the cultural mix for centuries before Miss Owen fluttered hers on screen.

Still, you’ve gotta admit—it’s kind of iconic. Dramatic lashes to match a dramatic film? Peak cinema.

Early 20th Century: The Rise of False Lashes

By the time the Roaring Twenties hit, lashes were having a serious moment. The flapper era was all about breaking beauty rules—short bobs, dark lips, jazz clubs, and lashes that didn’t quit. Women started experimenting with synthetic fringes or finely cut human hair, applied with glue that was… well, not exactly FDA-approved.

Hollywood starlets like Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, and Rita Hayworth later turned lashes into a glam staple. On screen and off, lashes meant luxury, allure, and that Old Hollywood “come hither” gaze. If the eyes are the window to the soul, lashes were quickly becoming the velvet curtains.

And thanks to these film icons, lashes became aspirational—something every woman wanted in her beauty arsenal, even if the application process back then was a little chaotic.

When Were Fake Eyelashes Invented?

While Hollywood may have amped up the drama, the real lash queen was Anna Taylor, a Canadian inventor who invented eyelashes and patented the first official strip lash design in 1911. Her crescent-shaped band of hair could be glued to the lid—a total game-changer.

As beauty evolved through the decades, so did the tools. The 1940s and 1950s brought better adhesives, easier application techniques, and the rise of mascara to complement or replace falsies for everyday wear. Lash curlers entered the chat. Brands started popping up with new formulas and shapes, and suddenly, lashes were accessible beyond the movie screen.

Cue the golden age of glamour—and the beginning of the modern lash hustle.

The Evolution into Eyelash Extensions

Fast forward to the 1990s and early 2000s, when lash techs in Korea and Japan took the beauty world by storm. Instead of one strip, they introduced a method of attaching individual lashes—one synthetic extension per natural lash—with a semi-permanent adhesive. The result? A customized, flawless look.

No more lashes slipping off mid-date. This was next-level. And as soon as celebrities caught wind—hello, J.Lo and Beyoncé—the trend exploded. Certification courses popped up. Lash academies boomed. And before you knew it, “lash tech” was a legit career with global demand.

The innovation didn’t stop there: enter volume lashes, hybrid sets and colored extensions. Today’s lash artists are part beautician, part architect, and full-blown artist.

Why Were Lashes Invented?

Let’s keep it real—fake lashes were never about practicality. Nobody wakes up and thinks, “You know what would help me survive today? Hair on my eyelids.” Nope.

Fake lashes were invented because beauty standards said we needed to look wide-eyed, youthful, and flirtatious—preferably at all times. Evolutionary biology even supports it: longer lashes frame the eyes and emphasize health and vitality, which the brain subconsciously links to fertility.

The Modern Lash Boom

Fast-forward to now, and we’re living in the golden age of lashes. The industry is worth billions. Lash bars are more common than Starbucks in some cities. And between TikTok tutorials, YouTube hauls, and beauty influencers launching lash lines faster than you can say “retention rate,” it’s safe to say lashes are here to stay.

You can now choose from:

· Mega volume or light classic sets

· Lash lifts or wet look

· Bold colors or soft naturals

· Strip lashes, clusters, or extensions

The possibilities are endless. And so are the ways for artists to express themselves.

Fun Facts and Lash Lore

· Twiggy, queen of mod fashion, painted on her lower lashes in the ’60s for that iconic doll-eye look—starting a trend that still shows up on runways today.

· In the early 1900s, some falsies were literally made of fine paper or fabric fringe. Not exactly waterproof.

· The word “mascara” is derived from the Spanish word máscara, meaning mask—a nod to lashes as a disguise or enhancement.

Conclusion

So, the next time someone asks, “Who invented fake eyelashes?” you’ll know the answer isn’t as simple as one name or one date. The history of fake eyelashes is a story of cultural obsession, global innovation, and the endless human desire to look—and feel—our best.

As lash artists, we’re not just applying extensions. We’re carrying forward centuries of beauty evolution, putting our own twist on a legacy that’s part Cleopatra, part K-beauty, and part Kim K.

So keep that glue steady, those fans fluffy, and your lash game strong. You’re not just in the beauty biz—you’re part of beauty history.