Cultural appropriation is a hot topic in makeup and fashion, but let’s put aside the buzzwords for a moment. Is winged eyeliner cultural appropriation? Why do people ask that question? What is winged eyeliner in the first place? And, most importantly, what can we learn from these questions? The aspect of culture is often controversial, that is why one relies on concrete information to apply them.
Winged eyeliner is an alternative way to do your eyeliner. It’s different, gives a retro vibe, and looks great with cat-eye-shaped eyes. A lot of people do it in one way or another. However, it is considered cultural appropriation if you weren’t born in the Middle East or don’t have some Middle Eastern blood in you. Anything is pretty much acceptable now, as long as it doesn’t defy governmental laws.
Let’s face it, Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have our favorite trends that we follow. And with that being said, when these trends come under fire and are questioned for the appropriateness of the action, our first thoughts run wild with the way people will perceive them.
I mean just about everything is constantly under fire for being offensive or disrespectful. We do know that black culture has been stereotyped based on some of their cultural traditions and practices but the idea of cultural appropriation doesn’t seem to be as widely known.
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What is Winged Eyeliner?
Winged eyeliner is one of the most popular makeup trends. It’s easy to do and looks great on any eye shape. It is basically a line that starts at the corner of your eye, hugs your lash line, and ends at the outer corner of your eye. It’s also called cat-eye liner or flick eyeliner because it looks like the wings of a cat when you turn your head.
Winged eyeliner can be worn with any makeup look, but I think it looks best with neutral eyeshadow colors like browns and pinks. If you wear bold colors like blues or greens, it makes sense to use a winged liner to balance out your eyes and give them some definition. The winged eyeliner technique is simple and easy to do, but you’ll need a few products to get the best results. The most important thing you need is a good liquid liner pen.
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You can use a pencil, but a liquid will give you more control over the shape of your wings. If you want to draw on thicker wings, then the liquid would be better than a pencil because it will be easier to apply thick lines with liquid than with pencils. You’ll also need an angled brush so that you can create the right shape for your winged eyeliner.
This brush should have a thin tip so that it fits comfortably along the lash line and creates sharp lines without being too wide or thick on the outer corner of your eye.
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What Does Winged Eyeliner Symbolize?
Winged eyeliner is a trendy new look that has been popping up all over the place. It’s a great way to make your eyes pop, but what does it mean? Well, nothing and something. Winged eyeliner is just a design; it doesn’t have any deeper meaning behind it.
However, some people think that winged eyeliner symbolizes power and confidence. They also think that it represents a desire to be free of constraints and limitations in life. Winged eyeliner has been around for centuries and was originally thought to protect the wearer from evil spirits. The Egyptians believed that winged eyeliner made their eyes look larger and brighter, which protected them from harm. In fact, they were so impressed by this practice that they even used it in ancient art pieces depicting Egyptian gods and goddesses.
In modern times, winged eyeliner is still worn by many people as part of their everyday beauty routine or for special occasions such as weddings or proms. Many people also use it as a way of expressing themselves through their appearance without having to say anything verbally at all. This can be especially helpful if someone is feeling shy or nervous about talking with others at an event they are attending; they can simply walk up and show off their beautiful wings without saying a word.
What Culture Does Winged Eyeliner Come From?
There are a lot of things that can be said about winged eyeliner. It’s been around for a while, it’s pretty popular, and it’s here to stay. This isn’t a style that will go out of fashion anytime soon. But where did the look come from? And why do we associate it with certain cultures?
Winged eyeliner is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where women would wear eyeliner along their upper lids as a way of protecting their eyes from the sun or the blowing sands of their desert-stricken lands. Not sure if this is true or not, but it makes sense, doesn’t it?
The look later became associated with other cultures like the Indian culture when actresses started wearing it on screen. Many people believe that this was done because these actresses were trying to imitate Chinese actresses who wore it as part of their everyday makeup routine. This trend has since spread throughout other Asian countries like Japan and Korea.
Can I Do a Winged Eyeliner Today?
Yes, you most certainly can. Winged eyeliner is a classic beauty look that women have been wearing for decades. It’s also a look that many are hesitant to try today because of the possible negative connotations it can have. But if you’re feeling adventurous, there are ways to do this look without anyone knowing what you’re up to.
The best way to do this is with an angled brush or pencil with a thin tip and a dark color. You can use liquid liner or pencils; just make sure they’re not too soft or too hard, they should be somewhere in between. If you have never tried this type of eyeliner before or if you have tried it in the past but found it too difficult to achieve, here are some tips to help you out:
- Start with a pencil that has a soft texture. If you use a hard pencil, it will be too difficult to create the winged effect.
- Apply the liner on your upper lash line and leave about one-third of your lid bare (don’t put any liner on it). Then draw an upward curve starting from the outer corner of your eye and ending at the middle of your lid. This will be your winged shape.
- Fill in the rest of your lid with as much product as needed to make sure that there are no gaps between the winged shape and your lashes. You should also fill in any gaps between your lashes and eyebrows if they exist.
- To finish off the look, powder down any excess product on your face using a bit of loose powder or setting spray.
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Is Winged Eyeliner out of Style?
No, winged eyeliner is not out of style you cannot gather 10 women in makeup without including one on winged eyeliner. Women all over the world are still using winged eyeliner. There are many reasons why they use it. One is that it can help you to look more confident and beautiful. It can make your eyes stand out from other people who don’t wear makeup or eyeliner. It is also very easy to use and apply, so anyone can do it without any problem.
For those who don’t wear makeup at all or only rarely do so, such as on special occasions, eyeliner may seem unnecessary or even strange. However, for people who regularly wear makeup every day or almost every day, including those who are transgender, having eyeliner available can help make an otherwise bare face look more complete and polished.
Conclusion
The fashion world is no stranger to appropriation and controversy over cultural ideas. From overly sexualized Native American headdresses at Coachella to the Black Barbie dolls sold in the UK, no one is safe from critique.
Ultimately, cultural appropriation is in the eye of the beholder. If a white woman in Spain, who has never even been to Japan, wears kabuki makeup to look exotic and pretty, then yes, it is culturally appropriate. Just as much as if a black woman from Canada wore a traditional Japanese kimono out on a date.
