There seems to be an endless pursuit of adhering to the 'ideal of beauty', which can be charted through the various strategies that women have used to achieve it. Before the arrival of ready made cosmetics, women found a multitude of tricks and recipes to acquire the look of the day. The women of Ancient Greece took great pride in their physical appearance and it all started with their beauty regime.
Women would start their routine with a bath, before applying a variety of oils and perfume to their skin. Honey and olive oil were used heavily, on their body, hair and in cosmetics for their moisturising properties. Ancient Greek women wore their hair long and had a preference for it to be golden. This was achieved by using a vinegar solution that bleached the hair in the sun, or a yellow flower dye. Soap, pomades and wax were also used to give the hair shine. To enhance the texture of the hair, Hellenistic women often curled their hair and held it in place with combs. They used different embellishments and veils also. Gold and semi-precious stones were used as were diadems and flowers. A diadem was an ornamental headband primarily worn by the upper classes and royalty, if adorned with gems and gold. Scents were used in the hair and were made my boiling flowers, herbs and spices and mixed with olive oil. In the classical period, women only cut their hair during periods of mourning. Hair played a role as a social communicator and also emphasised class differentiation, as only slaves wore their hair short.