There’s a reason a swipe of red lipstick has never really gone out of style. For thousands of years, red lips have been worn by queens, artists, activists, and women determined to take up space. They’ve been celebrated, criticized, outlawed, and reclaimed. Around 3500 BCE, Mesopotamian royalty used crushed gemstones to tint their lips. Later, Cleopatra famously wore rich crimson pigments, aligning red lips with power, prestige, and beauty. From being associated with royalty, as well as condemned as sinful, and even linked to witchcraft, the fact that women persisted in wearing red lips in protest of social norms is part of what gives it such a rebellious legacy. 

Suffragettes transformed it into a political statement. Reportedly in 1912, beauty entrepreneur Elizabeth Arden passed out the crimson statement lip to women marching for the right to vote. Wearing red lips became a visible declaration that women deserved to be seen, heard, and taken seriously. At the time, bold makeup itself was considered scandalous, making the gesture even more powerful. 

During World War II, it became a symbol of resilience and morale. Cosmetic companies created shades like “Victory Red,” and women working in factories were encouraged to wear lipstick to boost morale. Even amid wartime hardship, applying a red lip became a small act of optimism and determination. Time and again, women have reached for red to remind them of their own strength. 

This rich history supports the idea that a red lip isn’t just decorative—it’s often been used as a symbol of confidence, defiance, visibility, and personal power. While we can’t say that red lipstick objectively creates confidence, there’s a compelling historical and psychological case that it has long been used as a ritual for stepping into confidence.

How does it work?

Psychologists often describe makeup rituals as a form of “enclothed cognition” or self-signaling—the idea that the choices we make about our appearance can influence how we feel and behave. Red, in particular, is one of the most attention-grabbing colors our brains process, and many people report that putting on a red lip helps them feel more assertive, composed, and ready to face the day. While the effect is subjective, the ritual itself can become a powerful confidence cue. 

Can a ritual change how you walk into a room? Absolutely.

Sometimes confidence isn’t something we find—it’s something we practice. A favorite outfit. A great haircut. A striking red lip. When we feel more confident we change our energy. That red lip energy!! You know what I’m saying???? I truly believe there is a red for everyone. An easy to wear red is Sara Creal Beauty:Red v Wade and proceeds go to planned parenthood. And yes, her lip primer is worth it! If you love a true red  Bessome’ cosmetics painstakingly has recreated the Vicorty Red from WWII.  Wear that true red! I think it looks great on everyone! Does it match your skin tone? Who cares? It always looks incredible, so break the rules!

A red lip, much like a Gamine Haircut, isn’t about conforming to beauty standards; it’s about choosing visibility on your own terms. Personal style has never been about impressing other people. At its best, it’s about becoming more fully yourself. A red lip is undyingly chic, elevating our mood and our fit!

So the next time you’re facing a difficult conversation, a first date, a job interview, or simply one of those mornings when you need a little extra courage, consider reaching for the red lipstick. Not because you need it.

Because sometimes the smallest rituals remind us of the strongest parts of ourselves. So channel the beautiful, brave, warrior goddess’s that went before. Their style wasn’t about being loud, but about using fashion and beauty intentionally.