Afrikan women created cosmetics

Every woman who ever put on any kind of facial makeup, hair  replacements, lipstick, painted finger or toe nails, used perfumes, wore  earrings, wigs, even tattoos, have the Afrikan women of the ancient  Nile Valley to praise. Before there were any other civilizations on the  planet, these women were gracing themselves with elaborate eye shadow,  skin enhancers and hair styles that were unmatched anywhere else. They  established the standard for beauty that exists even to the present  time. Most women, in any culture, have no clue of the origin of their  morning ritual of, putting on my face.
These ancient Afrikan women  also established the foundation for the science of chemistry; through  the work they established using various chemicals. The land called Kemet  (Egypt), was originally called Chem, interpreted by many as the black  land.
Looking at conceivably the most used item in putting on the  face, is eye makeup. Miriam Stead, in her book Egyptian Life,  enlightens us on this issue. Eye makeup was probably the most  characteristic of the Egyptian cosmetics. The most popular colors were  green and black. The green was originally made from malachite, an oxide  of copper. In the Old Kingdom it was applied liberally from the eyebrow  to the base of the nose. In the Middle Kingdom, green eye paint  continued to be used for the brows and the corners of the eyes, but by  the New Kingdom it had been superseded by black. Black eye paint, kohl,  was usually made of a sulfide of lead called galena. Its use continued  to the Coptic period. By that time, soot was the basis for the black  pigment. Both malachite and galena were ground on a palette with either  gum and/or water to make a paste. Round-ended sticks made of wood,  bronze, haematite, obsidian or glass were used to apply the eye  make-up.
According to Sir John Gardner Wilkinson in his book, A  Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians, he states, Red ochre mixed  with fat or gum resin was thought to be used a lipstick or face paint.  Mixtures of chalk and oil were possibly used as cleansing creams. Henna  was used as hair dye and is still in use today.
Tattooing was known  and practiced. Mummies of dancers and concubines, from the Middle  Kingdom, have geometric designs tattooed on their chests, shoulders and  arms. In the New Kingdom, tattoos of the god Bes could be found on the  thighs of dancers, musicians and servant girls.
Wilkinson continues  on the subject of wigs. Wigs were curled or sometimes made with a  succession of plaits. Only queens or noble ladies could wear wigs of  long hair separated into three parts, the so-called goddress. However,  they were worn by commoners in later times. During the Old and Middle  Kingdom, there were basically two kinds of wig styles; wigs made of  short or long hair. The former was made of small curls arranged in  horizontal lines lapping over each other resembling roof tiles. The  forehead was partially visible and the ears and back of the neck were  fully covered. Those small curls were either triangular or square. The  hair could be cut straight across the forehead or cut rounded.
Wigs  were meticulously cared for using emollients and oils made from  vegetables or animal fats. Those wigs that were properly cared for  lasted longer than those without proper care. Although Egyptians  preferred to wear wigs and took care of them, they also did take care of  their natural hair. Washing their hair regularly was a routine for  Egyptians. However, it is not known how frequently Egyptians washed  their hair. Wigs were scented with petals or piece of wood chips such as  cinnamon. When wigs were not used, they were kept in special boxes on a  stand or in special chests. When it was needed, it could be worn  without tiresome combing. Wig boxes were found in tombs and the remnants  of ancient wig factories have been located. Since it is believed that  wigs were also needed for the afterlife, the dead were buried in the  tombs with their wigs.
Coloring gray hair, as it is done to day, was  not unknown to the ancient Afrikans. Scientific studies show that  people used henna to conceal their gray hair from as early as 3400 BC.  Henna is still used today.
Care of the skin was very important,  particularly in the climate of the Nile Valley. Oils and ointments were  used from various plants. During the time of Rameses III, workers  considered them part of their wages.
Though there has been  considerable discussion on the Afrikan origin of civilization, not much  has been mentioned about ancient Afrikan women and their contribution to  cosmetics, chemistry or fashion. Every woman, every morning, when  standing in front of a mirror, enhancing her looks through various  means, should say a simple, Thank You, acknowledging those women in  the Nile Valley, who created a practice, to make you look even more  beautiful.
– Dr. Kwakus class, Afrikan World Civilizations (Part  II), is conducted on Friday evenings, 7-9 p.m. at Kaos Studios in  Leimert Park. For details go to: www.drkwaku.com.