How Cosmetology Affects a Person's Self-Esteem In today's society, it is part of our human nature to strive for perfection. In this way, most women around the world use the power of cosmetology, hair and facial cosmetics, to enhance their natural beauty and feel better about themselves. However, the use of cosmetology has not always been used only to increase one's self-esteem. Laws against the use of cosmetics were also enforced. History During ancient civilizations, Egyptians used scented oils as healing solutions. Cosmetic products eventually found their way to ancient Greece and Rome, where women strove to be considered “beautiful.” However, in Sparta, the use of makeup was believed to represent “superior beauty.” Therefore, women in this area were forbidden to wear makeup. Similar to what we know today, baths, spas, manicures and hairdressing come from ancient Greek customs. During the expansion of the Roman Empire, the Greeks developed their own customs which included cosmetics (A Brief History of Cosmetology). Soon prices rose and wealthy women gambled for the best of the best. This led to the ban on any type of cosmetics (Chaudri SK, Jain NK, 2009). In ancient China, pale skin and white teeth were considered fashionable. For centuries women would use powdered lead to lighten their complexion. They also used lipstick to redden their lips and eventually switched to using black makeup to darken them. This technique was adapted and used in Japan, where they also darkened their teeth using soot and ash. It was also important for women in Japan to take care of their hair, usually long, silky hair was the style (A Brief Histo......middle of paper......November15]; 3:164 - 7. Available from: http://www.asiapharmaceutics.info/text.asp?2009/3/3/164/56292Makeup affects women's self-esteem (nd. 2013, from http://m.refinery29.com/makeup-self- estimate History of Cosmetics (n.d.) Retrieved November 13, 2013, from Cosmetics History and Facts: http://www.historyofcosmetics.net Twist, M. .-A. 2010, October 18). Retrieved December 13, 2013, from Back to EurekAlert: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/uocp-hdb101810.php Uku, A. (2010, April 2). com: http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/82016-a- timeline-of-beauty-defined-through-the-ages/ Valentine, L. (n.d.). 2013, from Recapturing Beauty: https://recapturingbeauty.byu.edu/topics/timeline.php