2015 introduced a veritable explosion of makeup tutorials on social media that led the beauty-obsessed across the region to upload YouTube and Instagram cosmetics videos in droves. Women around the Middle East aimed to perfect their baking and strobing techniques as well as emulate their favorite celebrities. Recently, we have seen that children as young as four are now giving online how-tos.
Middle Eastern beauty mogul Huda Kattan reposted a video of an adorable little girl sporting perfectly crimped hair to the @HudaBeauty Instagram page on Sunday. Smiling into the camera, the child shows viewers how to effectively deep wave their manes and flawlessly apply lipgloss.
Hair and makeup artist “@lou_flores” uploaded the original video on Instagram. The little girl in the now viral video (over 178K likes and 12K comments at the time of this article’s publication) is the makeup guru’s four-year-old niece; she also appears in other 10-second tutorial videos, clipping in hair extensions and contouring her face.
THE VIDEOS
THE REACTIONS
The clip reposted by Huda Kattan to her 9.8 million followers garnered thousands of comments in both Arabic and English from a multitude of users who shared inconsistent views on kids’ makeup that ranged from total adoration to utter disgust.
“Mashallah, she’s beautiful,” wrote Instagram user @kooki_1013. “I don’t even know how to use a hairdryer,” chimed in @dalilhz, admiring the toddler’s swift operation of the heat styling tool.
Others expressed their uneasiness at seeing the tutorial. “She needs to be playing with Barbies, not makeup,” wrote Instagram user @tehxustrill. Meanwhile, some viewers were concerned for the four-year-old’s safety, “Can you stop letting young girls wear makeup, and doing their hair?” insisted @_hanna.vk, adding, “Not only is it unsafe for them to be using hot equipment like that, it’s not right.”
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDREN AND MAKEUP ACROSS VARIOUS MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURES
Young girls are naturally inclined towards anything that is sparkly and colorful; and are magnetically drawn to their mothers’ vanity tables. As a child, I vividly remember my aunt’s dressing table stocked with creams, foundations, and a slew of other cosmetics. Once I was able to reach one of her beauty treasures, I was elated. Looking through childhood photos, I’m often caught grinning into the camera with a ruby-stained pout, trying to imitate her.
Children emulate their parents, and a young girl’s first role model is her mother. Style.com/Arabia’s creative director, Maijane Saba, who grew up in Egypt revealed, “I went through a phase when I was six where I wanted to look like my mom, she bought me child-friendly nail polish to feed my disposition.”
Meanwhile, in-house fashion writer Nouriah Al Shatti stated, “I went to an all-girls school in Kuwait, and joined a traditional dance group in the first grade when I was six. We performed a recital at the end of the school year—and wearing makeup was mandatory.” She continued, “Sporting lipstick or nail polish for a special occasion is okay—it’s kind of like playing dress-up. But aside from that, the idea of children wearing makeup doesn’t sit well with me.”
Senior translator for Style.com/Arabia, Dima Lababidi, who was born and raised in Syria, noted that the Middle East’s culture is a mix of paradoxes when it comes to makeup. “For instance, if you are going out alone as an adolescent girl, your parents will usually forbid you from wearing makeup in case you might attract attention; whereas if you are going to a wedding with your mother, your face might look like an abstract painting—even if you are only 10 years old—in an attempt to catch the eye of a potential suitor’s mother.”
Our social media manager, May Rostom, who is Egyptian-born and was raised in Kuwait, added, “My mother disapproved of me wearing makeup at a young age, because it’s not good for your skin, plus it teaches vanity early on. However, in the Egyptian culture, little girls as young as three and five wear makeup and get their hair professionally done when they are going to weddings or have photos taken.”
OUR VERDICT ON ONLINE TODDLER MAKEUP TUTORIALS
A toddler playfully parading in a pair of too-big heels during a game of dress-up is endearing. However, it is unsettling to see a four-year-old wearing fake eyelashes and hair extensions strive to act like an adult woman for the purpose of creating a video that is then uploaded to social media where it is ultimately judged by thousands of online users.
In the long run, encouraging young girls to wear a full face of makeup can be detrimental to their self-esteem as it can quickly evolve into a crutch born out of an imagined necessity. Many young girls equate part of their self-worth with their outer appearance and turn to a plethora of various cosmetics to enhance perceived imperfections, due to the fact that as children they never learned how to fully embrace their natural beauty.
Little girls love to play dress-up, and as long as they are aware that they look beautiful both with and without makeup, then inviting them to get ready with you can be a fun, bonding experience—and one that is best kept between mother and daughter.
Editor’s Note: Style.com/Arabia has reached out to Huda Kattan’s representatives for a statement. She has not yet issued a response.
