The bizarre beauty trends that once drove women of the past crazy

To enhance their allure, women in ancient times employed bizarre beauty practices that are hard to believe.

With the flow of fashion, beauty trends have changed over the ages. However, no one could have imagined that women of the past were obsessed with blackened teeth, unibrows, and a myriad of other bizarre makeup trends.

1. Fake Beauty Spots

In the 18th century, Western women favored elaborate makeup styles, with beauty spots as a highlight. They even used stickers of various sizes and shapes as beauty spots.

Initially, these stickers were used to cover scars on the body. Later, beauty spots became a beauty trend among many women and continued until the early 19th century when they gradually faded out.

2. Skin Makeup

From the 17th century, English girls wanting to display wealth or nobility had to have pale skin and a full bosom. Thus, their dresses were often cut quite deep and inviting. Additionally, they used blue ink to draw small veins on their skin to make it appear more translucent and bright.

3. Separating the Bust

For a long time, corsets were known as the secret to achieving a slim waist without much effort. Starting in the 19th century, they were redesigned to separate the breasts of European girls as far apart as possible. This corset was invented in England and was called the “Divorce Corset.”

4. Colorful Eyebrows

Eyebrows were seen as an important part of beauty and determined a person’s fate. Thus, girls in ancient China during the Qin and Han dynasties often painted their eyebrows in various colors, hoping for a long and prosperous life. Besides traditional black, sky blue and moss green were popular colors used for eyebrows during that time.

5. Unibrow

Compared to Chinese women, ancient Greek women were likely more creative. In the years BC, those with a unibrow were considered innocent and intelligent. For those who did not have this feature, they would use a black powder called Kohl to connect their eyebrows together.

6. Cheeks Like Buns

To catch the eye of men during the Qin dynasty in China, girls only needed rosy cheeks and a broad forehead instead of a slim waist or pointed chin. At that time, round cheeks in women were believed to bring warmth and health to the whole family.

7. Drawing Feet

During World War II, women in many parts of America resorted to using various colors of paint to decorate their legs. Due to a shortage of stocking materials, they had to draw stockings on their legs with paint or fruit juice. In fact, in the 1940s, beauty shops even opened services for painting legs to meet customer demand.

8. Foot Binding

China has many strange customs, one of which is foot binding. To achieve the desired slender feet, many women from the 19th century and earlier endured pain by binding their feet for many years.

This trend was initially popular among the nobility but later spread throughout the country as small, lotus-like feet became a symbol of modesty. However, this practice was abolished in the early 20th century due to its dangerous nature.

9. Eyelash Removal

Believing that eyelashes were a sign of promiscuity and impropriety, European women during the Renaissance sought to remove their eyelashes. They also shaved off their eyebrows to reveal their foreheads, which were considered the most important feature at that time. However, by the 16th century, this movement had nearly disappeared as people began to return to enhancing their eyelashes and eyebrows.

10. Blackened Teeth

Blackened teeth were a popular custom in Japan and Vietnam, dating back to around 200 AD. Ancients believed that blackened teeth symbolized health, beauty, and noble status. In Japan, this practice is known as ohaguro, typically reserved for married women; however, both men and women entering puberty sometimes participated as well.

They used a solution containing iron acetate and tannin-containing powder to dye their teeth. The iron solution is a liquid obtained by dissolving iron in vinegar, also known as underwater dyeing (Kanemizu). During the blackening process, tannin extracted from vegetables and tea was used. These two components combined to form an insoluble compound that adhered to the teeth. Achieving the desired blackened teeth required numerous dyeing sessions.

Experts note that this tooth dyeing practice poses serious health risks due to the chemical components used, which can cause various diseases. In 1870, the Japanese government abolished this custom.

11. Towering High Heels

Ancient high heels were designed very uniquely, notably the Chopines from the Renaissance period (15th-17th centuries). They had very heavy soles and a height of 70 cm, making them a favorite choice for Italian women. These towering shoes posed difficulties and dangers for the wearer.

Today, high heels have been greatly improved to be both beautiful and convenient. However, experts suggest they can still cause foot pain, harming bones and nerves. Moreover, when tripping or falling, one can suffer from sprains or ankle fractures.

12. Corsets

The concept of beauty associated with an incredibly small waist has been popular for centuries. A small waist creates an effect that makes breasts and hips appear more alluring and feminine. Since the 16th century, people have used corsets to achieve a slender waist. The corset, originating from Europe, tightly constricts the waist, helping women attain the coveted “hourglass” figure. Due to the constricting mechanism, those wearing these tight corsets often endured pain, difficulty in breathing, and in some cases, fractured ribs and severe internal organ compression that resulted in internal bleeding.

13. Crinoline Fashion

The crinoline dress, often referred to as a hoop skirt, was popular in 19th-century Europe and featured an internal frame that resembled a cage. This style of dress was a primitive puffy skirt with a large flare, very heavy and elaborate, requiring assistance to wear. Initially, these dresses were made from horsehair or coarse fabric, often causing skin irritation and rashes. The shape of the dress also made movement difficult, especially when passing through narrow doorways, and they could easily get caught in wheels, leading to injuries for many women.

Today, designers still apply clever techniques to create volume without the bulkiness of the past, resulting in more comfortable dresses.

14. Using Urine to Whiten Teeth

The first known inventor of toothpaste for dental hygiene was the Egyptians. Ancient toothpaste was nothing like what we use today; it was merely a mixture of pumice, a lightweight and porous volcanic rock, vinegar, and wine. The Romans used urine imported from Portugal, believing that Portuguese urine was more effective than Roman urine. Urine contains ammonia, a cleaning agent found in modern toothpaste. Wealthy Romans were willing to pay for this Portuguese urine to whiten their teeth. However, with the fall of the Roman Empire, their dental hygiene methods were lost.

15. Using Crocodile Feces in Mud Baths for Beauty

A common belief during this period was that reptile feces had the power to slow down aging. Thus, the Greeks and Romans would often fill their bathtubs with a mixture of warm mud and crocodile feces. They would sit in this for hours, hoping to achieve youthful skin. This was undoubtedly one of the most crude beauty practices, but no one suffered harm while using it.

16. Dimples Creation Device

Many people long for dimples. In 1936, Isabella Gilbert invented a machine that could create dimples. This device consisted of a spring-like machine with two round knobs, which, when pressed against the cheek, would create two indentations on either side of the face. In 1947, doctors at the American Medical Association condemned this machine, believing it could lead to cancer.

17. Skin Bleaching with Toxic Lead Carbonate

In ancient times, having white skin was a symbol of status and power. Therefore, people took extreme measures to achieve that bright complexion. Women in the 16th century used Venetian Ceruse, commonly known as “white lead,” made from lead carbonate. Venetian Ceruse was considered the best available whitening product in antiquity.

Experts state that the white lead in Venetian Ceruse was the cause of lead poisoning in many women. It also led to skin damage and even death if used over extended periods.

Venetian Ceruse is believed to have caused the death of Maria Coventry, Countess of Bruno, in 1760, at the young age of 27. She frequently used Venetian Ceruse to cover skin imperfections, ultimately dying from lead poisoning. This practice gradually faded from use thereafter.

By the late 1800s, beauty was defined by neatly styled hair, long necks, slender bodies with full busts, and clothing that hugged the body. All exposed skin was accentuated with blue paint to highlight veins, creating the illusion of bright skin, even under yellow light.

18. High Forehead

According to historians, by the late 14th century, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria initiated the trend for high foreheads and elongated necks. To fit this new beauty standard, many women had to shave their hairline, the back of their necks, and sometimes even their eyebrows. Eyelashes occasionally suffered the same fate.

19. Long Nails

In China, growing long nails has been a practice for centuries, and the reason behind it is quite peculiar. Specifically, long nails were a sign that a person did not engage in any labor, indicating that they could afford to hire servants.

This trend was particularly prevalent during the Qing Dynasty, lasting nearly three centuries. Those growing their nails would only extend the pinky and ring fingers, which was quite uncomfortable. To avoid breaking their nails, they had to use specialized “covers.”

20. Light-Colored Hair

Thanks to Petrarch and his muse, Laura, who later became a symbol of beauty and virtue, the trend of light-colored hair became extremely popular in the 15th century. To lighten their hair, women had to dye it. However, during that period, this process could take several days. A record from the 12th century describes the hair dyeing process, which consisted of two stages. After applying the first mixture to the hair, one would cover the head with a cloth for about two days. Once the hair was lightened, another mixture would be used for about four more days before completion.

21. Freckle and Mole Removal Creams Containing Cyanide and Mercury

The freckle and mole removal creams they used contained high levels of cyanide and mercury. Continuous use of these creams caused the body to accumulate mercury, leading to mercury poisoning and shortening women’s lifespans.

22. Mercury Sulfide Blush

This type of blush was used in ancient Japan and ancient China, later repurposed as a hair dye. Like other mercury compounds, mercury sulfide is extremely toxic, and merely inhaling its fumes can cause severe poisoning.

23. Using Tapeworms for Weight Loss

Women did not need to exercise or diet; they simply ingested tapeworm eggs to lose weight. Subsequently, they encountered various health issues such as nausea, anemia, weakened immune systems, fatigue, and headaches.

24. Chest Binding

Under the influence of Christianity, medieval women were expected to have small breasts. Their bodies needed to be androgynous: slim hips, flat chests, small hands, small feet, and thin lips. To achieve this result, girls had to bind their breasts from childhood to halt breast development.

25. Teeth Filing

Every country has its own standards of beauty. In Indonesia, women once beautified themselves by filing their teeth to resemble shark jaws. The process of filing teeth was incredibly painful and dangerous, as bacteria could easily enter the body through damaged enamel.

26. Lipstick Made from Bugs and Ants (Egypt)

This unique lipstick originated in Egypt and was used by almost everyone except the poor. Initially, they used dyes made from seaweed, iodine, bromine, and mannitol in the production of lipstick. However, upon discovering that these ingredients combined could be harmful, the Egyptians learned to create a red dye called carmine from bugs and ants. Queen Cleopatra was known to be particularly “addicted” to this red lipstick.

27. Stuffed Clothing (England, 16th Century)

Outfits with sleeves puffed out around the shoulder line were incredibly popular among men during the era of Queen Elizabeth I. This style made them appear more aristocratic.

The way they achieved these outfits was by stuffing them with padding. Some even used sawdust, not just in the sleeves; some stuffed areas like the chest or stomach, even their stockings. This made the shoulders, breasts, and hips of women appear larger.

28. Macaroni High Hairstyles (England, 18th Century)

By the late 18th century, a new fashion trend named “Macaroni” emerged in England. The height of these hairstyles reached astronomical proportions, and they even placed small, humorous hats atop them. The only way to navigate with this hairstyle was to use a sword to keep them in place.

29. Extremely Long Nails (Ancient China)

Extremely long nails were popular among the noble class in ancient China for centuries. They symbolized wealth, indicating that the owner did not engage in hard labor. Today, we can still see these nail styles in China, although individuals typically maintain only one long nail, which does not compare in length to those of their ancestors.

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