Beauty... something everyone idolizes. Whether it's appearance, clothing, cars, houses, or life, everyone wants it to be beautiful. Looking back through history, there were a bunch of times where being beautiful caused extreme modifications. Even in the present day people go through extremes to look like their best self. These 10 beauty trends might surprise you!
1. In the middle ages, it was totally normal to remove your eyelashes.
http://eyelashesinhistory.com/middle_ages.html
Long and voluminous eyelashes weren't a necessity in the middle ages. In fact, they just removed them all together!
2. Eyebrows on fleek? Not for the women of the middle ages.
https://sites.google.com/site/exploringthemiddleages/fashion-in-the-middle-ages/beauty
Along with the no eyelash trend, eyebrows were also not needed. It was said that the most beautiful part of a woman was their forehead. No eyelashes or eyebrows gave the effect of a nice, big, beautiful forehead.
3. Small feet and wobbly walking was considered highly attractive.
https://mashable.com/2017/05/26/bound-to-end-economics/#5hJSXLNzhaqa
Starting as early as the 10th century, women in China would bind their daughter's feet. At the age of 3, mother's would start binding their daughters feet by stuffing them in small shoes and curling their toes under. This continued through adulthood. Even the wobbly walking from the unbalanced small feet was desired by men.
4. Want brighter eyes? Just drop some lemon juice in there.
https://lucid.me/blog/eye-drops-cure-jet-lag/
In the 19th century, obviously before Visine was invented, women used lemon or orange juice for brighter eyes. Ouch!
5. Gargling urine to clean your teeth?
https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/youngisthan-epaper-youngeng/romans+using+urine+as+a+mouthwash+will+amaze+you-newsid-89517246
The Romans believed urine was the magical solution for mouthwash. They even imported Portuguese urine because they believed it was the best.
6. We all want a tiny waist, but Victorian Women took it too far.
https://www.rebelsmarket.com/blog/posts/a-short-and-shapely-history-of-the-corset
Victorian women were known for wearing corsets. The trend was tiny waist and big hips which is similar to today's ideal woman shape. Wearing the corsets actually shifted their insides! They were also so tight that women were scared to sit because they might break the corset or a rib.
7. No need for makeup for Victorian women.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322093.php
Makeup was only used for prostitutes and actors. So the Victorian women did some DIY makeup. They would pinch their cheeks to make them rosy and bite their lips to make them plump and pink.
8. Eventually, long eyelashes came back in style.
https://www.livingsocial.com/articles/which-eyelash-extensions-should-i-get
Mascara? No. Fake eyelashes? Nope. In the 1800s, eyelash extensions were completely different from what they are today. The procedure started with taking a strand of your own hair, rubbing cocaine to numb your inner eyelid, and then sewing the strand of hair with a needle through your eyelid. YIKES!
9. No need for Nair when we have x-rays.
http://www.livingly.com/The+Most+Dangerous+Beauty+Trends+Through+the+Ages/articles/4OYnO9YMGtl/X+Ray+Hair+Removal
In 1896, the founder of radiotherapy, Leopold Freund, treated a patient with a hairy growth on their back with an x-ray. The treatment took 20 hours to get all the hair off. Soon, women wanted this treatment to remove their hair too!
10. Here's a trend still popular today, a nice sun-kissed tan.
http://dcmf.ca/tag/coco-chanel
Coco Chanel accidentally invented the tan when she was on a cruise. When she came home, everyone wanted to be tan like her. Now, women still want that beautiful sun-kissed tan.
