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Why are long eyelashes pretty?

Long eyelashes are considered attractive for a few reasons:

Evolutionary Advantages

From an evolutionary perspective, long eyelashes likely evolved as a sign of youthfulness and fertility in women. Longer eyelashes help protect the eyes from dust, debris and excessive sunlight. So in our ancient past, longer lashes may have signaled to potential mates that a woman was healthy and would make a good reproductive partner. This evolutionary advantage led to a preference for long lashes being passed down over generations.

Femininity

Long eyelashes are seen as a feminine trait in many cultures. As women tend to naturally have longer lashes than men, long lashes have become associated with traditional ideals of beauty and womanliness. Models, actresses and other female celebrities often feature long, luscious lashes as part of their public image. This has reinforced the notion that long lashes are an attractive feminine feature.

Enhanced Eyes

Long eyelashes frame the eyes, creating definition and contrast. They add depth and shadow to the area around the eyes. Eyes are often considered one of the most beautiful features on the face, so long lashes help accentuate and draw attention to the eyes. The added drama and elegance of long lashes enhances the eyes’ natural beauty.

Youthfulness

As we age, our eyelashes naturally become shorter and thinner. Longer, thicker lashes are associated with youthfulness. So long eyelashes are considered attractive because they signal that a woman is young and at her peak fertility. Even as women age, they can maintain an appearance of youth with the help of long false eyelashes.

Rarity

Naturally long and lush lashes are relatively uncommon. So when someone has prominent eyelashes, they stand out. Rarity increases perceived value and desirability. Long lashes are prized because they are not common features. Even makeup ads feature models with lashes much longer and thicker than average.

Enhancement of Makeup

Makeup like mascara, eyeliner and eyeshadow all help make the eyes stand out. But these cosmetics look their best when applied to a canvas of long lashes. Long lashes allow for thicker, bolder applications of eye makeup. The lashes grab and hold the pigments, creating a more dramatic effect. So long natural or false lashes help create brighter, sexier eye makeup looks.

Innate Preference

Studies show that across cultures, both men and women instinctively find images of women with longer eyelashes more attractive. When shown photos, people prefer faces that are feminized with longer lashes, regardless of societal beauty norms. This indicates we may have an innate, evolutionary preference for longer lashes.

Sign of Health

Long, lush eyelashes signal good health. The hair follicles need proper nutrition and hormone levels to grow thick hair. So long lashes indicate the woman has a strong, well-functioning body. In the ancestral environment, eyelashes may have acted as an honest indicator of female health and fertility.

Conclusion

In summary, long eyelashes are considered beautiful for a variety of reasons. Evolutionarily, they likely signaled health, youth and fertility. Culturally, they are associated with traditional femininity and enhance the eyes. Their rarity increases their desirability. And we even seem to have an innate preference for longer lashes. So while beauty standards vary, long lashes have widespread appeal across cultures and eras.