In the old great-grandmother's chest, you will always find a small shabby silver box where small black circles cut from taffeta or velvet are kept - flies. Without a box with flies, not a single secular beauty of past centuries went to a ball or other public event. After all, a tiny velvet sticker on the face not only gave a woman a unique charm, but also sometimes decided the fate of her mistress, since her location could tell a lot that was not accepted to say aloud.

The invention of the mole-fly

The history of the invention of the fly is lost in the mists of time, but it is known for certain that it was originally used to draw the attention of the opposite sex to the most advantageous features of her appearance from the point of view of a flirty beauty.

As you know, in ancient times in the East they said that a woman without a mole on her face is "like a dawn without the sun," since a mole on a woman's face was considered a sign of passion of nature. But not every oriental beauty got moles, and therefore inventive women came up with the idea of \u200b\u200busing artificial moles from aromatic mixtures and paints.

The ability to give yourself a special charm with the help of an artificial mole quickly spread throughout the world. And now the ancient Greek poet Aristophanes sings of beauty female face with a spicy mole near the lips, and in the meantime, antique doctors - first Galen, and then his students - successfully produce and sell aromatic mixtures to create man-made moles-flies.

Fly - a tool of seduction

With the advent of the fashion for skin whitening, women found the opportunity to place the necessary accents even on a face covered with whitewash. And here again artificial moles-flies came to the rescue, which began to be made of black taffeta or velvet.

Actually, these dark circles began to be called flies in Russia by analogy with the French word mouche(fly) when the fashion for this cute accessory came there from France.

Flies were attached not only where they wanted to emphasize the purity and tenderness of the skin or a seductive neckline. Each such fly instantly attracted the eye to the most advantageous, according to the coquette, charms of the face, shoulders, chest or arms.

A mole mole hides the flaws in appearance

Until now, there is an opinion that young ladies also masked acne with moles-flies. If the ancient Roman beauties with the help of graceful circles glued to their faces masked unsympathetic pimples and warts, then the beauties of later centuries needed masking agents for the face much more than their predecessors, since smallpox was rampant in Europe, leaving many scars on faces.

One of the first to figure out how to hide facial imperfections with the help of flies, the British Duchess of Newcastle. According to the testimonies of her contemporaries, the duchess was very unlucky with the skin of her face, but her position obliged her to appear in society, and she ingeniously covered up especially unsympathetic places with flies, shading the winning whiteness of her face.

The brilliant entourage of the French king Louis XIII quickly picked up the fashion for graceful mole moles. However, some historical sources indicate that flies owe their first appearance at the French court to one of the royal courtiers, who was extremely unsuccessfully shaved and forced to mask the traces of cuts with black taffeta circles.

The secret language of moles

However, the possibilities of the front sight as a fashion accessory turned out to be much wider than just decorating the face and hiding skin imperfections. With the help of flies glued to the face, information could be transmitted to people aware of the meaning of the location of the front sight. The invention of the secret language of flies is attributed to the favorite of the French king, the Marquis de Pompadour. This extraordinary woman could flirt with several fans at the same time, periodically re-sticking the flies on her face and thereby giving them secret signs.

Well to do, the customs of the past centuries were very harsh, and women often could not afford to directly express certain intentions or decisions. And flies came to the rescue here too. So, the front sight in the middle of the forehead meant inaccessibility, in the corner of the mouth - favor, above upper lip - a desire to flirt, in the fold of a smile - frivolity, on the temple near the left eye - passion of feelings, in the middle of the left cheek - joy, on the tip of the nose - refusal, in the upper part of the right cheek - consent.

Flies could have a very intricate shape - in the form of a crescent (with a proposal for a night date) or even a carriage (consent to a joint escape).

However, depending on the state and the era, the meaning of the location of the flies on the face changed, but to this day, looking at the old engravings and portraits, we are trying to guess what secrets this or that beauty with a mole with a mole near her lips wanted to convey to us.

Mole flies these days

Times and morals are changing, women no longer need the secret language of signs given by flies, and have the opportunity to emphasize their beauty with the help of an arsenal of cosmetics, and nevertheless, the mole-mole is increasingly declaring its special rights in enhancing the female charm.

So, in the 60s of the last century in France and America, a fashion appeared for gluing small sparkles and multi-colored beads to the neck and on the forehead, attracting the attention of others. Isn't this fashion reminiscent of the return of flies in their new manifestation.

The birthmark of Marilyn Monroe has become as well-known of her as curls and bright lipstick. In addition, stylists of many modern stars - such as Cindy Crawford - recommend that they not mask moles on their faces, but rather emphasize them as a special distinctive element of their appearance. After all, no matter how fashion changes, moles continue to attract attention, remaining a sign of a special charm and a unique individuality of a woman.

Widespread in the 17th-18th centuries in the aristocratic and bourgeois environment.

It was a piece of black plaster, taffeta or velvet, which was glued to the face, chest or shoulders in the form of a “mole”. In the 18th century, the fly became not only a means of make-up, but also an instrument of flirting (the so-called "tongue of the flies").

The appearance of flies

It is believed that the fly owes its appearance to the British Duchess of Newcastle, whose skin left much to be desired. The Duchess ingeniously played up her shortcomings with the help of round pieces of black taffeta, which on her face began to play the role of "artificial moles".

With their help, it was possible not only to "defeat" skin irregularities, but also to set off the whiteness of the face. In England, this black circle began to be called the "beauty spot", and also - a patch or speckle.

In those days, female beauty could be destroyed overnight by an insidious enemy - smallpox: the most beautiful faces turned out to be pitted with terrible scars that did not disappear even after many years. The flies came in handy.

Accessory from an entire era

Fly tongue

The 17th, and especially the 18th century, can also be called the "era of flirting". Love, reduced to continuous and, at times, dangerous coquetry, was the basis of the relationship of idle aristocrats. A well-bred lady had to be able to flirt with several gentlemen at once, without going beyond the bounds of decency.

When the authors write about the "gallant century" as an era of debauchery and sexual promiscuity, they are wrong - it was flirtation, innuendo, semitones that did not lead to any " dire consequences»Coquetry.

"Fly language" is a clear confirmation of this. Often the lady could not directly express her affection to the gentleman, or, conversely, refuse reciprocity. For this she resorted to allegories. Flies glued to the face in a special way could say more about their owner than she herself could afford.

Different sources contain different interpretations of the position of the flies (probably, the values \u200b\u200bchanged over time). The historian M.N. Mertsalova writes that the crescent fly was inviting to a night meeting, the cupid meant love, and the carriage - consent to a joint escape.

The round front sight located between the temple and the eye was called a "killer" or "passionate person." If there were two or three flies on the face, then the interpretation depended on the age, position in society and the woman's reputation.

Men also sometimes used flies, but, of course, less often than their wives, daughters and “ladies of the heart”.

After the French Revolution, the fashion for flies came to naught. This accessory is currently used in

The era of the reign of Louis XIV is also called Gallant age... Ladies and gentlemen wore wigs, shoes with heels, bleached themselves beyond recognition with powder, painted their lips and, of course, glued seductive flies... These artificial birthmarks were literally an integral accessory of the aristocracy, without which it is impossible to appear at the ball. Flies were also used as a flirting tool.

The fly first appeared in the East. It was believed there that a woman should have at least one mole on her face. Well, if nature "missed" this detail, then the "moles" there were made from a mixture of aromatic oils and powdered precious stones.

In Europe, the fly appeared as a result of the fashion for everything oriental. Circles of black taffeta appeared on the faces of the aristocrats. Particularly courageous ones glued stars or figures in the form of a carriage, for example. An almost obsession with flies came during the reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century. Now flies were made not of taffeta, but of velvet. Sometimes artificial moles reached such sizes that they could well cover a small wound.

In England, flies were called “beauty spot” or patch. In France, the word mouche, that is, a fly, has taken root. In Russia he was baptized in the "fly".

At the court of the Sun King, flies were glued to themselves not only by ladies, but also by gentlemen. Considering the fact that men wore wigs, high-heeled shoes, put thick layers of white on their faces, painted their lips with bright lipstick, it is not surprising that flies appeared on their faces.

However, according to some historical documents, it is known that flies caused serious controversy at court. The question was sharply discussed: is it decent to glue more than three flies on your face at once. There was even published a "Register of flowers and flies", which regulated this issue. And some women of fashion managed to stick up to 15 flies on themselves at once.

In the era of the Gallant Age, it was considered bad form to show your emotions. But at the same time, the 17th century is also called the era of incessant flirting. Ladies knew how to flirt with gentlemen without opening their mouths. The tongue of the fan and the tongue of the fly played an important role here.

The location of the artificial mole on the face could tell about the lady's intentions:
the front sight in the middle of the forehead is an unapproachable majestic person;
in the corner of the mouth - open to flirting;
on the tip of the nose - bold;
under the nose - parting;
During the ball, the location of the flies on the face could change depending on the mood of the lady towards this or that gentleman.

At the end of the 18th and 19th centuries. other accessories have replaced the front sight. And at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. a brief interest in artificial moles reappeared. But they were no longer glued, but drawn with a pencil in the form of hearts, stars and, of course, dots.

No less with him, coquettes and charming girls knew how to find ways to express their desires or flirt without going beyond the boundaries of what was permitted.

It is difficult to imagine a European lady of the 17-18 century without flies. Always talking about the times of "red heels and stately wigs", we remember this small accessory... Without flies, the lady of the “gallant era” felt naked.

By origin, the fly is an ancient Eastern imitation of a mole, which the Arabs and Persians considered to be a face decoration. In ancient times in the East it was believed that beautiful woman there must certainly be at least one mole on the face. Flies were made there from aromatic substances and crushed jewelry.

If nature bypassed a woman with a mole, it could be made from indigo mixed with powdered precious stones, with the addition of an aromatic mixture. And even then it was possible to reward yourself for the "injustice of fate"
When European fashion was taken over by oriental influences, flies became an object of desire. Miniature circles, stars, intricate figures (like a harnessed carriage) made of black taffeta were glued to their faces; sometimes the flies depicted some intriguing scenes. From time to time, the flies peeled off: for this occasion, each lady had an elegant box with a supply of flies.

In the middle of the 17th century, when Europe was seized by a real "fly epidemic", they were no longer content with small black specks of taffeta. Flies began to be made of velvet, sometimes of such size that under them one could hide a real wound. To make these huge plasters as piquant as possible, some ladies adorned them with precious stones.

According to the authoritative testimony of Voltaire (from the book "The Age of Louis 14th"), many dandies did not hesitate to fly. A combat commander could shake his eyebrows without a twinge of conscience, wind his hair on paper papillotes at night and stick flies on his face. Both men and women applied whole layers of whitewash, powder and blush to their faces, eyed them, and used bright lipsticks. The front sight brought these strange mask faces to life.
It was considered, however, bad form to cover up your face to the point of unrecognizability - such an outrage was "befitting" only among courtesans.
In the midst of the obsession with flies, around the middle of the 17th century, without a shadow of humor, the question was fiercely discussed: is it decent to stick more than three flies on your face at once? Apparently those who glued 18 flies each (which was not uncommon) did not participate in the disputes.
In order to somehow regulate the use of artificial moles and take into account all shades of their meanings, a special "Register of flowers and flies" was even published.
It is believed that the fly owes its appearance to the British Duchess of Newcastle, whose skin left much to be desired. The Duchess ingeniously played up her shortcomings with the help of round pieces of black taffeta, which on her face began to play the role of "artificial moles".

With their help, it was possible not only to "defeat" skin irregularities, but also to set off the whiteness of the face. In England, this black circle began to be called the "beauty spot", and also - a patch or speckle. In France, where the fashion for flies penetrated very quickly, they began to be called moucheron or mouche (fly). It was the copy of this gallicism that later took root in Russia.
In addition to a purely corrective function, the front sight was of great importance for the court beauty: with the help of this insignificant piece of material, it was even possible to change the facial expression! Glued near the corner of the mouth, the front sight made the face look like ... smiling (then everything natural, real was not welcomed: it was more correct not to be, but to seem).
But the most favorite spot for the front sight was the neckline or upper chest.
As soon as the front sight was glued to the right place, the eyes of those around them immediately turned exactly there.
The Rococo era softened and diminished these funny flies, they became smaller and sleeker. Fly began to simply portray a spicy mole. Secular ladies carried with them special elegant boxes with a hinged lid, such as powder boxes and snuff boxes - musk boxes. They contained small circles carved from velvet or silk.

When the authors write about the "gallant century" as an era of debauchery and sexual promiscuity, they are wrong - it was flirtation, omissions, half-tones and coquetry that did not lead to any "terrible consequences" that were in vogue.
"The language of flies" is a clear confirmation of this. The lady could not express her affection to the gentleman or, on the contrary, refuse reciprocity. For this she resorted to allegories. Flies glued on the face in a special way could say more about their owner than she herself could afford.

Depending on the location on the face, the front sight meant one or another lady's mood:
... in the middle of the forehead - inaccessibility;
... in the corner of the mouth - "I am merciful today";
... under the lower lip - modesty;
... above the upper lip - flirtatiousness;
... in the fold of a smile - frivolity;
... on the temple of the left eye - passion;
... on the temple of the right eye - "I tend to cheat you a little";
... on the chin - "I love, but I don't see";
... in the middle of the cheek - courtesy;
... and if a little higher - "I agree";
... under the nose - "we must part."
Each lady had a supply of flies and at the ball - depending on the situation - in the toilet room she could change the position of the front sight.

Different sources contain different interpretations of the position of the flies (probably, the values \u200b\u200bchanged over time). The historian MN Mertsalova writes that the crescent fly was inviting for a night meeting, the cupid meant love, and the carriage - consent to a joint escape.

The round front sight located between the temple and the eye was called a "killer" or "passionate person." If there were two or three flies on the face, then the interpretation depended on the age, position in society and the woman's reputation.

Men also sometimes used flies, but, of course, less often than their wives, daughters and “ladies of the heart”.

The fashion for flies did not escape Russia, where it came during the time of Catherine II; even women from the families of schismatics could not resist the flies.
In those days, flies were one of the most necessary parts of a woman's "outfit", without them no lady dared to appear in society. Each well-placed front sight contrasted with flawlessly smooth skin and held a passionate male gaze, emphasizing the "seductiveness of his environment."
After the French Revolution, the fashion for flies came to naught. However, the ladies continued to use "artificial birthmarks" from time to time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when languor and mystery were in vogue, many socialites and film actresses pasted a spicy mole on their cheeks.

And in the 60s of the 20th century, a fashion resembling flies arose in Europe and the USA: women began to glue small beads, multi-colored coins, sparkles to their neck, forehead, arms and even knees. The idea was the same: to draw attention to yourself and the right part of the body.
By the way, let us note that again they remembered about artificial moles thanks to the artists of the creative association "World of Art". At the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, a short interest arose in the gallant century, which revived flies both in picturesque subjects and literary images, poeticizing the gallant porcelain age, and in the everyday behavior of artists, poets, and musicians. "New flies" were no longer always glued, but more often they were drawn with a make-up pencil in the form of tiny hearts, butterflies, crescents, stars and the sun.

Currently, this accessory is used in cinematography, in the theater and on the catwalk for exclusive fashion shows.

Tattooing is a procedure that periodically undergoes changes within the framework of its style, types of work. The fly tattoo is a cosmetic innovation that has attracted many girls who want to transform their appearance.

Who suits

Permanent makeup front sight looks like a mole on the selected part of the face, according to the client's preference. You can list the cases in which such a technique will help to hide or emphasize the necessary points. To do this, you should refer to the pluses of such a tattoo.

Usually, girls do the procedure for a fly on the face of a tattoo from a photo, they are guided by the following motives:

1. The aesthetic factor. Aesthetics is the first parameter by which women are guided when deciding to make a tattoo. Many people like how a front sight looks above the lip or near the temple, so they make it.
2. The desire to hide congenital or temporary defects. They can be freckles, scars, scars, or other skin problems. With proper drawing, the pigment will cover what was originally required.
3. Change in the shape of a native mole. Some clients have a real mole, but they don't like its shape. With the help of dye, you can gently transform it into a round style or another of the woman's choice.
4. Some women use daily decorative cosmetics draw flies, to save time you can make a tattoo in the form of her.

There are other cases in which girls do a similar technique, but this happens less often. It usually doesn't matter why the girl makes the fly, but with the definition of the reason, the beautician will be able to fulfill the initial desire more.

Preparation for the procedure

Before tattooing, you should discuss the intricacies of tattooing with the master so that he can understand what you want from her in the end. The color of the mole is selected, as well as its size and shape, and possible motives for drawing it are found out.

Also, the day before taking, you should not drink alcohol, energy drinks, coffee, as they worsen the blood clotting rate, which is a limitation to tattooing.

At the start of the main session, a mock is drawn to be validated with the client. If necessary, corrections are made to the resulting draft.

With the help of a cotton pad and micellar water, decorative cosmetics are removed from the girl's face, as they interfere with the correct application of the pattern by the beautician. Then anesthesia is applied in the form of an ointment so as not to injure again skin covering an injection.

After the onset of anesthesia (up to 20 minutes), preparation for the work of the master ends, the introduction of a dye begins under the cover in the chosen style of the fly.

A bit of history

In previous centuries, flies were popular with duchesses and empresses. At first they were ordinary skin features, but then they became fashionable, which is why ordinary peasants tried to imitate them, drawing flies.

In the second mid-twentieth century, moles went out of fashion, girls preferred to use bright colors in makeup, but not the style of the gentle Middle Ages.

Now flies are becoming more popular, because women lose their meaning in bright makeup, considering stylish capitalist, business, soft colors as stylish.

However, there is a difference: if earlier flies were drawn large, now small dots are preferred, which emphasize the femininity and tenderness of the girl's features. Moreover, they are drawn for about a century or above the lip: on the left or on the right.

Care rules

Within a month of tattooing, a period of restoration of the damaged epidermis passes. The master usually gives instructions on how to take care of the cells so that they recover faster.

Usually, rehabilitation takes place in the following order:

1. The initial standard signs are redness and swelling of the selected area. Get rid of this side effect it is possible with the help of a cold dry compress, it usually disappears on the second day.
2. For the first three days, you need to smear the skin with an antiseptic and a healing ointment every hour or an hour and a half.
3. After the appearance of the crust, the funds can be used less often - 5 times a day. But the protective layer must be handled carefully, as it can accidentally peel off ahead of time, which will lead to infection.
4. By the end of the first week, itching begins, which indicates that the crust begins to flake off. Within two days, it leaves, after which you can evaluate the intermediate result.

This is where the care ends, the rest of the time it is enough only to provide external factors for the epidermis so that the cells continue to regenerate themselves.

Duration of effect and subsequent correction

The front sight usually lasts less than other types of tattoo, as it is often affected in everyday life, which affects its durability.

The average time of permanent makeup for a front sight is a year. When good conditions it is extended to two years, but for this it is necessary to provide the correct protection behind the skin.

Also, the depth of injection and the color of the pigment affect the durability, these factors are controlled by a specialist. You can choose a darker option so that the result lasts longer.

The first correction is always carried out one month after the tattoo, when the cell regeneration ends. At the reception, the master evaluates the applied drawing, the clarity of the contour. The front sight is usually not corrected as the technique is easy to apply.

The client controls the rest of the corrections himself. He can periodically renew the front sight, or wait for it to completely dim.