Beauty standards are in a constant state of flux. So, what might be cool right this very minute, may seem odd and dated in about 10 years. But if you take a look back even further, like say, a couple of centuries, you’ll realize that beauty trends from the past were unusual and shocking. But in those days, it was considered perfectly normal. So, if you’re interested in doing something new with your look, then try some of these weird and crazy beauty trends from long ago that are bound to be a conversation starter when you tell people where you got your inspiration from.To give the illusion that they were wearing pantyhose; a variety of paint products went on sale that allowed women to paint their legs. But those who couldn’t afford the products used whatever they could find like gravy.
It was also considered a sign of marital commitment. So, for thousands of years, Japanese women used a dark brown solution made out of dissolved iron filings in vinegar. Not only was it trendy, but it prevented tooth decay!
Tiny pieces of fabric shaped like squares, circles, and stars were glued to women’s faces. But the meaning of these patches varied by their location. So, if a woman had a patch on her right cheek, then she was married. If a woman had a patch near her mouth, she was a total flirt.
During China’s Qing Dynasty, both genders grew their nails out eight to ten inches. Some women even wore gold nail guards to preserve their pointy manicures. But only upper-class citizens were allowed to do this to show off that they were richer than the lowly commoners.
The beauty practice dates back to the Victorian era. Rich women pierced their bosoms and linked them using a chain. While men pierced themselves below the waist. In fact, rumor has it that Prince Albert had one of these piercings, too. In fact, if you visit a place that does piercings and ask for a Prince Albert piercing, they will know exactly what you mean.
In China, when a girl was around 5 or 7 years old, the toes on her feet, minus the big toes, would be broken and laid against the sole, creating a triangular shape. The feet were then held in place with a silk strip. Over time, the wrappings became tighter. The two-year-process would result in small, dainty feet.
Besides intelligence, a unibrow also symbolized purity. But the women of Ancient Greece weren’t all born with a unibrow. So, they would draw one on themselves using kohl pigment to achieve the brainy look.
They believed that eyelashes were too over the top, so they had a habit of removing them completely. How they achieved this is beyond us. But hopefully, they didn’t pluck them out because that sounds painful.
In those days, it was far better to have short teeth. Who knew that too much gum tissue showing above the top teeth used to be so trendy in those days? Ironically, some modern-day people might feel that a gummy smile makes them look less attractive.
Paleness was considered a sign of wealth because the rich didn’t have to work in the sun. So, to look pale, women used powder on their faces and cleavages. They even drew blue veins on their bosom to make it seem like their skin was translucent.
Men used to wear stockings just so they could show off how awesome their calves looked. In fact, King Henry VIII was known for his impressive calves. But if a guy’s calves weren’t up to specs, they would use padding to achieve a more satisfying look.
Women with round faces, particularly big cheeks were revered as one of the most beautiful human beings. But this philosophy wasn’t limited to the face either. A plump figure was a symbol of beauty as well.
To achieve this, they used s-corsets, which wasn’t quite as stressful on women’s waists as previous corsets but it did put an awful strain on women’s spine. This corset variant threw the hips back and made women walk around with an unnatural sway that sometimes led to long-term damage.
A child’s head was bound with different tools or strapped to a board in order to reshape their skulls. This was performed on both genders. It didn’t symbolize that the child was of noble blood. It was just done of aesthetic purposes.
To achieve the look, they would use either green, blue or black grease to change the color and in the process, reshape the eyebrows. So, besides color, some Chinese women sported arched brows to express sadness.
In those days, women plucked or shaved their hairlines so that the size of their foreheads would appear much bigger. While it might sound odd to modern-day women, it was considered quite trendy way back when.
So in lieu of the high and tight corset styles from the previous centuries that made it difficult to breathe, women started using the divorce corset. It got this name because it was designed to create a broader cleavage by separating the breasts.
When colonists landed in the American continent, they discovered the oh-so painful beauty trend of certain tribal women. In fact, Thomas Jefferson stated that these women found it disgraceful to have hairy bodies, hence why they pluck down there.
