HIMBAS Make-up

Married women

After a year of marriage or following the birth of their first child, Himba women add an elaborate animal skin headdress to their hairstyle, called the "Erembe". They wear heavy iron or copper bracelets that can weigh several kilos.

Seals used as adornments

Modern seals are used as adornments. They replace the heavy iron or copper bracelets that can weigh several kilos.

Applying otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty. Himbas use smoke to purify themselves and their clothes, which they put over a basket in which incense called “otjizumba” burns. This incense is found on commiphora multijuga tree.

Jewellery

The Himba wear lot of jewellery.

Jewellery

The Himba wear lot of jewellery.

Necklace

Shoes made of giraffe skin

Shoes made of giraffe skin

Seals used as adornments

Modern seals are used as adornments. They replace the heavy iron or copper bracelets

Otjize rendering

The "Otjize" is not only put on to their skin and hair but also their clothes and jewelry. Himba women are very proud of their traditional clothing.

Omohanga - Anklets

The adult Himba women all have beaded anklets (“Omohanga”) that helps them hide their money. The anklets also protect the legs from venomous animal bites.

Preparing otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty.

Preparing otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty.

Preparing jewellery

Preparing otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty.

White shell

The famous large white shell worn that Himba women wear on their breast is called the ohumba. The shell originates in the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometers away. It is passed down from generation to generation. Married women wear copper or iron necklaces which are very heavy.

White shell

The famous large white shell worn that Himba women wear on their breast is called the ohumba. The shell originates in the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometers away. It is passed down from generation to generation.

Omangetti seeds

Himba women use also Omangetti seeds as adornments since they enjoy the noise the seeds make as the women walk.

Shoes made of giraffe skin

Otjize rendering

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty.

Jewellery

The Himba wear lot of jewellery.

Applying otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty. Himbas use smoke to purify themselves and their clothes, which they put over a basket in which incense called “otjizumba” burns. This incense is found on commiphora multijuga tree.

Applying otjize

Himba women are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland as well as against mosquito insect bites. The cosmetic mixture, often perfumed with the aromatic resin of the omuzumba shrub, gives their skin and hair plaits a distinctive orange or red-tinge characteristic, as well as texture and style. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the OvaHimba ideal of beauty. Himbas use smoke to purify themselves and their clothes, which they put over a basket in which incense called “otjizumba” burns. This incense is found on commiphora multijuga tree.

Early morning express wash