A former air hostess has revealed a little familiar reason why female cabin crew is wearing red lipstick – and that’s more than just a fashion statement.
Heather Poole, who flew for a large US airline for two decades, revealed in her memoir, Cruising Attitude: Tales of crash roads, crew drama and crazy passengers at 35,000 feet that the daring red lip once served a surprising purpose.
During her time in the air, red lipstick was part of the official care standards, but it also had a specific safety function.
According to Poole, the distinguishable shade was worn so that passengers could read the lips of the refugees during an emergency.
She explained that passengers in a hard, chaotic situation may not hear what fleeers say, but that they could see their lips move.
The idea is that a vivid lip color can help with non-verbal communication, a critical tool if you try to direct panic-stricken passengers to exits or life-saving equipment.
She also suggested that the Color Red Projects Authority gives the impression that flight servers are “in control” of the situation.
However, veteran air hostess Sydney Anistine said Reader’s Digest She is “never heard” of lipstick used for security purposes, and adds: “Nowadays, if you see someone wearing a bright lip, it’s just a style choice.”

A former air hostess revealed a little familiar reason why female cabin crew is wearing red lipstick – and it’s more than just a fashion statement

According to Heather Poole, the distinguishable shade was worn so that passengers could read the lips of the refugees during an emergency
Kristine Eksteine-Nizka, a long-time crew member and travel writer in the cabin, agreed and noted that the red lip is more about branding for many airlines such as Emirates.
She said: ‘Emirates have a specific make -up appearance that the flyer servers must adhere to – they even make -up -training for their girls. ‘
Yet the image of the glamorous, perfectly polished flyer has deep historical roots, with lipstick ‘serious matters’, according to Poole.
In the golden era of aviation during the 1950s and 1960s, airlines such as the now decomposed Pan Am enforced, strict preventing codes.
Former Pan Am Stewardess Sheila Riley remembered how makeup choices were directed.
She said, “If you were caught, for example, blue eyeshadow or scarlet lipstick, you are told to wipe it off because they wanted us to look natural and healthy.”
The airline even instructed the Persian melon lipstick of Revlon and matching nail polish -by the way, the founder of the make -up brand, Charles Revlon, was on the board of Pan AM at the time.
Elsewhere, travelers have a Hidden detail in the Virgin Australia staff uniforms that have not noticed.

However, Kristine Eksteine-Nizka, a veteran cramping member and travel writer, noted that the red lip for many airlines, especially luxury carriers such as Emirates (in the photo), is more about brands than safety than safety

In the golden era of aviation during the 1950s and 1960s, airlines such as the now decomposed Pan Am (in the photo) forced disabled codes on flight servers

The airline even authorized the Persian melon lipstick of Revlon (in the photo) and matching nail polish -by the way, the founder of the make -up brand, Charles Revlon, was on the board of Pan Am’s board at the time
The cherry -red uniforms may seem identical at first, but there is a brilliant difference between those carried by flyer servers and guest services.
Flying providers carry a lilac and deep purple neck scarf with a winged pen, while ground staff wear a purple and red neck scarf and do not have a specialized pen.
While millions are flying the airline every day, many people were not aware of the subtle difference in the uniforms.
Virgin staff recently shared a video revealing the differences and deprived general myths.