From the moment we learn how to use our hands, one side seems to feel more comfortable than the other. Shortly thereafter, we determine which will be our dominant hand that we use throughout life. How does this choice come to be, especially when nearly 85-90% of people are “right-handed”?
Historically, being left-handed has been the minority. Using scissors, knives, and desks were not accommodated for those who didn’t fit the norm. Discrimination and stigmatism against “lefties have gone away. However, right is still associated with “correct” and left comes from the Latin interpretations of “sinister”.
DNA doesn’t determine which hand we are destined to use. From an evolutionary standpoint, if being left-handed was a disadvantage, it would have phased out and disappeared. From a combat perspective, to fight and defend yourself as a lefty is an advantage because most people are used to fighting against righties. Today this can also hold true for sports like fencing and other one-on-one sports.
We know which hand we favor by different life skills. We know by the strength and ability when we write, throw a ball, use a fork, and/or when you reach for something. These motor skills don’t require us to pause and think which hand do I use? We just know. Even when we clap our hands, we place our dominant hand on top without even thinking about it. Typically, by the time we are almost 1 year old, we have the dominant hand established.
More research is needed to determine the exact reason we have a dominant hand and how this is determined. Brain development and/or environment can be influential, but this is yet to be validated. Some children might mimic their parent’s and use the hand their mom/dad uses. By school age, if a hand has not been established, typically the education system will guide the child and help them learn which hand will work best for them. It’s a skill to be ambidextrous and a rare ability that could be advantageous especially in the world of sports. We even wave hello and goodbye with our dominant hand.
We pluck them, trim them, shape them, and curl them. Eyebrows and eyelashes might seem all for aesthetics and we can get a little vain with their appearances. The reason we have both of them is to protect the eyes. As humans, we rely on sight more than any other sense, which means we want a strong defense when it comes to anything that could harm our vision.
Eyebrows
Eyebrows keep sweat and unwanted liquid, like rain, out of the eyes. They’re able to deflect debris and keep out water from blurring vision. They also shield our eyes from the sun. We might lose other body hair with age, but eyebrows tend to remain. Another role of the eyebrows is their ability to communicate via facial expressions. It’s like drawing a picture. Depending on how those lines above the eyes are drawn, the eyebrows can express anger, surprise, and an array of emotions. Eyebrows exaggerate our expressions.
Eyelashes
Eyelashes are also protective. One might think of eyelashes being like whiskers. If something touches our eyelashes, we blink so that none of the debris or substance will enter the eyes. If we didn’t have eyelashes, our reflex to blink would take much longer. We don’t always see what is coming our way.
Many people chose to alter their eyebrows and eyelashes for cosmetic reasons. This is fine but be careful of any mascara products or dyes you might use that can have toxins. Some people use these products to make their eyebrows and lashes longer and thicker.
There are certain health conditions that can cause someone to lose their eyebrows and/or eyelashes. Alopecia is a condition in which a person experiences patchy hair loss. Trichotillomania is a condition that occurs when someone has the compulsion to pull out their hair. Having an underactive thyroid can cause the eyebrows to become too thin. Lupus can cause the eyebrows to fall out. Therefore, sometimes eyebrows and eyelashes can be used as indications to be weary of our health and to seek medical attention. Thin, thick, long, or short, eyebrows and eyelashes serve a purpose, so protect them and they will protect you.
Sales are high for products that help grow thicker, fuller eyebrows and eyelashes. For this, there are actually natural remedies you can do at home versus spending money on expensive trial and errors products. Some you may already be doing for your skin but can now apply to these hairs. Natural remedies you can do at home include using coconut oil, tea tree oil, saw palmetto, lavender oil, and olive oil. It is also important not to over groom these hairs, such as over plucking your eyebrows. Sometimes overdoing it with makeup can hinder hair growth as well. Avoiding stress is always good and this theory aligns with the saying, “I’m so stressed, I’m losing my hair”. Well, eyebrows and eyelashes are hairs too.
Our face is our first impression and the most noticeable part of ourselves. With today’s technology, our face is on camera and in pictures now more than ever. Naturally taking self-care measures is not only part of good hygiene, but it can be a boost to our confidence, our self-efficacy, and even make us smile a little bigger because we feel good about the face we see in the mirror.