Etymology Matters
Legally speaking, I am licensed by the state Board of Cosmetology as an esthetician who works beneath the scope of professionals referred to as Cosmetologists.
My industry frequently throws around the term “Cosmetology” without any reflection or thought about where the word came from or why it was assigned to our field of expertise. However, when we take time to explore the underlying roots and word etymology then we can develop a more layered and rich understanding of its meaning and usage.
Cosmetology comes from a large group of words that trace their lineage back to “Cosm”. There are a variety of common terms that contain the root word cosm, but you are unlikely to find anyone associating the art of Cosmetology with any of these words.
Cosmetology is derived from the term Cosmetic, and Cosmetic comes from the root of Cosm/Cosme/Cosmos.
This may seem like a strange connection, especially since the word “cosmos” is strongly correlated with the concept of space, stars and planets. However, let’s explore this relationship a little deeper…
Cosmos: The harmonious arrangement of individual components for the purpose of creating a more beautiful and orderly system.
Key Concepts: harmony, arrangement, creation, beauty, and order.
Cosmology: A framework of connections between unique parts that operate cohesively within a larger system.
Key Concepts: connection, cohesive, parts, and system
Essentially, the root word “cosm” can be used whenever you are describing a person, group or activity where connections exist between individual parts that result in a greater sense of order that is more cohesive, harmonious and beautiful.
It would be difficult to argue the harmony, order and balance of our solar system does not create something that is breathtakingly beautiful.
It is also difficult to argue that the perfect arrangement of color, length and style does not result in hair that is more lovely to behold. Or, that the artistic use of color, shading, and application of makeup might create a systematic and cohesive look that elevates and beautifies the canvas.
Dyad Skin and Wellness focuses on connections between skin, body and mind for the purpose of harmonizing the many layers that create the system of you. Being human is its own cosmology, and within this larger system there exists many micro-cosmic relationships, including those between our skin and the other individual systems of the body.
Embracing a cosmological framework also means accepting the dyadic principles of “as above, so below”, and “as without, so within”.
The next time you look in the mirror, know you are looking at something of cosmic importance, which is why it is so important to honor and prioritize the interconnected systems that create the cosmology of you.
Dyad professionals are not cosmetologists.