Understanding Emo Beauty: Why It’s Not (and Never Was) a Phase
In the world of beauty, the only thing you can guarantee is that it’s constantly in flux. From season to season and year to year, hair, makeup, and fashion trends come and go – typically only to come back again after a time.
One look that’s recently made a comeback is Emo Beauty, a style of makeup and clothing which has been around for years yet, for a variety of reasons, has long been thought of as nothing more than a passing phase by many people. If you’re one of the many people who has written off Emo Beauty as a mere flash-in-the-pan trend, read on – this article is here to set the record straight and demonstrate how, actually, the look is here to stay and should be celebrated.
What Is Emo Beauty?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what is Emo Beauty” – you’re not alone. The easy (but admittedly reductive) answer is that it’s a distinct style of clothing, makeup, and accessories and characteristics like black eyeliner and dyed hair. But beauty, like most other things in life, is often an ever-changing and open-ended concept, and with that in mind, Emo style has evolved in many different ways over the years. To really understand Emo Beauty, it’s important to have an understanding of both where the look has been and why it is still relevant today – something we’ll be exploring throughout the rest of this article.
The History of Emo Beauty
The history of Emo Beauty can be traced as far back as the 1980s, and specifically to the second wave of punk music culture. The original ‘Emo’ youth movement first emerged in 1984, out of Washington D.C.’s DIY punk and hardcore scenes, and drew inspiration from hardcore punk music and the various cultures around it such as ‘straight edge’ and ‘crass’.
In the 1990s, ‘Emo’ fashion began to incorporate distinct makeup and hair looks, which drew influence from other cultures such as Japanese street style and Mexican luchador masks. Popular methods at the time included black eyeliner around the eyes, dyed hair, and other theatrical makeup looks. Punk and indie hairstyles were also popular, including flat tops and asymmetrical cuts.
During the 2000s the Emo look began to go mainstream, with bands such as My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, and Panic at the Disco becoming some of the biggest names in rock. Although the style was now no longer tethered to its origins in punk music, the fashion and beauty component stayed firmly aesthetic.
Having Grown Beyond Its Roots, Why Does Emo Beauty Still Matter Today?
Today, the looks and styles associated with Emo Beauty form an umbrella which encompasses many different moods and aesthetics. With the rise of the internet, the look has gained traction mainly through various social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, where subgenres such as Soft Grunge, Vaporwave, and a hybrid of punk, goth, and rave aesthetics have been born and embraced.
In its current iteration, Emo Beauty isn’t just about following the trends dictated by popular culture – it’s a way for people to express themselves and create a unique identity for themselves. Gone are the days where looks have to conform to certain rules and standards – today, beauty is all about mastering the art of ‘foundational’ or ‘visual’ freedom, which involves combining and adapting different trends to suit your own individual style.
Ultimately, Emo Beauty is no longer a ‘fad’ – it has evolved into an established part of fashion and culture, and many people have been creating unique, individualized looks for years now.
Achieving Emo Beauty: The Basics
If you’re a fan of the look, you’re unlikely to want to follow it literally – your aim should be to embrace the style while also adapting it to your own individual preferences and personality. Here are some tips on how to achieve that:
Skincare
Because your skin will be visible, it’s important to make sure it’s looking as healthy and hydrated as possible through investing in good skincare products (particularly moisturizers). A good serum or medicated cream might also be beneficial if you suffer from spots and impurities.
Makeup
Emo makeup features deep, dark tones and smoky eyes, with an emphasis on black — but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to black, grey, and dark shades. Bright pops of pink, for example, can be equally as effective in creating a unique and individualized look. If you want to keep the look relatively toned down, keep your foundation and blush neutral. If you’re after something more creative, experiment with bolder hues and be sure to blend properly – you can use eyeshadow to create dramatic contours around your eyes.
Hair
As far as your hair is concerned, the best way to maintain the Emo look is to keep it neat and well-groomed. A classic short back and sides cut with the top slightly longer is a great look, and you can also dye your hair in muted shades and choose to have an undercut.
Outfit
As mentioned earlier, it’s important not to take the look literally and instead use it as an inspiration for your own outfit. Take cues from the current punk and goth cultures, and look for oversized silhouettes, bold metallic accessories, and dark, edgy patterns.
It’s clear to see why Emo Beauty has continued to remain popular for so many years, and why it’s here to stay – it offers people the freedom to express themselves creatively, and to develop looks which are both striking and individualized.
Rather than writing it off as ‘just a phase’, why not take the time to dive a little deeper into Emo fashion and beauty and learn more about its history and evolution? Doing so will no doubt reveal that the style is far more than a ‘trend’, and more an ever-evolving aspect of wider culture which exists to empower and inspire people to create unique looks which express their true selves.
So next time someone suggests to you that Emo Beauty is ‘just’ a trend, you’ll know that they’re talking out of thin air. Whether you choose to adopt the look or not, Emo Beauty is a style which has stood the test of time, and which shows no signs of going anywhere in the near future.
