15 Strange Beauty Trends from the Past

Though ideals of beauty have always changed, certain trends in the past seemed quite strange when seen at present time. This article explores 15 unusual beauty styles that were once in vogue, stressing their oddities and the cultural context behind them. While some fashion styles were meant to improve looks, others sprang from societal or even medical views that seem out of line now. These beauty rituals serve as a reminder of how far beauty standards have gone and how people have always looked for means of personal transformation—no matter how unusual.

1. Lead-Based White Face Paint

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European women sometimes painted their faces with white lead for a pale, aristocratic look in the 18th century. Given that the lighter complexion indicated the person avoided working outside in the sun, it was regarded as a symbol of riches. Lead is poisonous, so many people had major health problems following this cosmetic fad.

2. Corsets

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In the past, ladies wore corsets to attain a very small waist. Often employed to cut the waist by several inches, tight lacing caused internal injuries. Wearing corsets was quite painful and occasionally deadly, even if they produced an hourglass shape.

3. Balding Foreheads

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Considered a symbol of beauty and wisdom, ladies would pluck their hairlines in Renaissance Europe to achieve a high, bald forehead. Portraits of noble ladies who thought a bigger forehead enhanced their beauty showed this trend. Although this look seems severe now, it was really fashionable in the bygone days.

4. Arsenic Complexion

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Arsenic was used in cosmetics like powders and soaps in the 19th century to attain a pale complexion. Women thought arsenic produced a perfect, porcelain-like appearance and that the whiter their complexion, the more attractive they seemed. Arsenium is quite toxic, which causes numerous medical problems for users.

5. Bird Poop Facials

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Geishas utilized a mixture of bird droppings as a face treatment to lighten their complexion and lessen the look of imperfections in ancient Japan. It was thought that the bird droppings’ enzymes would cleanse and revitalize skin. Although this approach seems odd now, its alleged advantages made it much valued.

6. Teeth Blackening

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In Japan, blackening teeth—a habit known as “ohaguro”- was traditionally considered lovely for ladies. Women would apply a black dye to darken their teeth; this tendency was linked with adulthood, maturity, and socioeconomic level. Though it would seem odd today, ohaguro was once regarded as a symbol of attractiveness.

7. Venus Flytrap Eyebrows

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Some ladies in the 1920s adopted the fashion of drawing eyebrows with a strong, dramatic arch and straight ends. Often matched with thick makeup, this “Venus Flytrap” eyebrow style was strong and obvious. Although eyebrow patterns have evolved, this style seems rather severe by current standards.

8. Elaborate Wig Styles

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Both men and women wore ornate, tall wigs in the 18th century as a statement of wealth and style. Often fashioned from powdered hair, these wigs could stand two feet tall. They were heavy and uncomfortable to wear, even if they were ostentatious and trendy.

9. Body Snatching

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In ancient Egypt, men and women employed different tools and methods to make their bodies seem elongated and skinny. Some people would even tie their limbs or dress tightly to get this appearance.  Despite the physical agony it caused, the quest for a more extended body shape was considered rather desirable.

10. Bleaching Eyebrows

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To get a really dramatic look in the 1920s, some women would bleach their eyebrows to make them virtually undetectable. As part of the “flapper” fashion, it emphasized strong, perhaps shocking, beauty standards. This trend reflected bold and defined eyebrows, which are on trend today. This bleached brow trend seems out of place in today’s standards.

11. Whalebone Bustle

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During the Victorian era, women wore a whalebone bustle beneath their gowns to produce a clear back curve. This fashion accentuated the hip shape and gave the lower back more volume, improving the “ideal” body form. As fashion changed, this awkward garment was finally replaced.

12. Snake Venom Botox

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In the 19th century, real snake venom was used as a skin therapy to flatten wrinkles and give faces a youthful appearance. Like contemporary Botox, the venom was supposed to have anti-aging effects. Though it was fashionable at the time, this treatment was both harmful and useless.

13. Armpit Shaving

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Although many civilizations today practice armpit shaving, it wasn’t always the custom. Western women started shaving their underarms in the early 20th century in response to the rising focus on “cleanliness” and “femininity.” This is a quite modern beauty habit, as before then, women did not often remove body hair.

14. Plucking Eyebrows to a Thin Line

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Many women plucked their eyebrows to a super-thin line in the 1940s and 1950s, usually producing an almost pencil-in form. At the time, this was the height of beauty; the appearance was considered sophisticated and understated. Modern eyebrow trends call for more natural, fuller brows, making the thin line look antiquated.

15. Using Mercury in Cosmetics

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Mercury was once a component in cosmetics, including face powders and skin lighteners. According to women, mercury would give them fairer fair skin. However, at the time, nothing was known about the harmful effects of mercury, which resulted in major medical problems for users of these items.

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• past
• Fashion