The 9 most bizarre beauty practices in history

According to experts, the ancient Egyptians were passionate about makeup, with both men and women from all social classes, from commoners to royalty, taking part. Most Egyptians preferred bold, dark eye makeup, often using black or green eyeliner. This practice was believed to protect their eyes from the sun's glare and prevent diseases.

In reality, the black powder used by the Egyptians for eyeliner contained lead salts, which were highly toxic and harmful to their health. Research has shown that four types of lead, including galena and laurionite, were used to create this eyeliner powder. These forms of lead were man-made, not naturally occurring. Long-term exposure to lead caused numerous health problems for the ancient Egyptians.

The Medieval period, spanning from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the 15th century, marked a transitional phase into the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. It was the second era in the traditional Western historical division, alongside Ancient and Modern times. The Medieval era itself is divided into Early, High, and Late periods. Pale skin became one of the most prominent beauty trends in Europe, continuing from the Middle Ages into the Early Modern period. People at that time believed that fair, pale skin was a symbol of aristocratic status and wealth, indicating a life of luxury and leisure, free from hard labor under the sun.

Sunbathing was uncommon during this time. Instead, noblewomen would generously apply white powder all over their bodies. This trend is clearly depicted in many works of art from the era.

In Renaissance art, women with plump figures were often depicted as sensual and desirable. This trend was widespread across Europe, where it was believed that a truly beautiful and noble woman had to possess a large, healthy, and curvaceous body.

The women depicted in Renaissance works typically had fuller, rounder bodies, porcelain-like skin, and small breasts. The Renaissance period (1400-1700) was a flourishing time for visual arts, especially for painting. Artists of this era often portrayed women with fuller figures. For example, the painting 'The Virgin and Child before a Firescreen,' created around 1440 by Robert Campin, shows a mother with a round, gentle face. In Michelangelo's 'Leda and the Swan,' inspired by Greek mythology, Leda is shown in a sensual pose, with a curvaceous body and wide hips.

Some ethnic groups in Asia and Africa still practice the beauty tradition of elongating the neck using brass rings. Due to this practice, the necks of these women become so weak that they cannot support their heads, and the neck would break if the rings were removed.

Another explanation for this tradition is that women wear these 'neck rings' because their mothers and sisters did the same. The practice originated from an ancient legend. According to the story, the village chief dreamt that a tiger would appear on the fourth day after his child was born and attack the villagers by biting their necks. To prevent this, the tribe decided that all children must wear neck rings from the fourth day after birth to keep the tiger away.

If you think Lady Gaga's high heels are unusual, the chopine shoes worn by European nobility during the 15th-17th centuries will surely amaze you. These towering shoes, typically around 50cm high, were designed to keep the long, flowing skirts of noblewomen from getting dirty while walking in the streets. The style was particularly popular in Venice, Italy, and Spain.

What made these shoes so captivating to the upper class was that their height symbolized the wearer’s social status. The taller the chopine, the higher the rank of the woman who wore them, and it made her appear taller than everyone else. During the Renaissance, chopines became an essential part of high society women's wardrobes, and their height continued to increase. Some pairs exceeded 50cm in height. In 1430, Venetian law attempted to limit chopine height to 8cm, but many women disregarded the regulation. The heels of chopines were typically made of wood or wood wrapped in metal, while the upper part was crafted from leather, adorned with embroidery, sequins, or velvet and decorated with precious stones. Despite the intricate decoration, the chopines were often hidden beneath the long skirts to avoid scrutiny or unwanted attention. Due to their design, many women’s walking styles appeared quite awkward.

Ganguro is recognized by its dark tan skin, light dyed hair, and eyes and lips painted white or silver. This style became the most prominent among gyaru fashion in Japan during the 2000s. Ganguro wasn’t just a fashion statement but also a lifestyle choice, rebelling against traditional Asian beauty standards and the restrictive social norms in Japan’s urban life.

The defining look of Ganguro fashion included shiny bronze-colored skin, paired with bright hair colors like platinum blonde, light pink, or light brown. The makeup was bold, with eyes and lips painted white. This distinctive beauty trend was short-lived, transforming the once delicate “cherry blossom” girls into quirky, almost tribal figures.

Beauty has always been a hot topic of interest, regardless of the era. People have always devoted time and money to enhance their appearance, and while beauty is easily achievable today, it was once a difficult and often terrifying task.

In ancient times, hair color usually matched the local environment—blonde, white, or black. However, powdered wigs were once all the rage. Men often used them to conceal premature balding, while women wore them as a way to enhance their allure.

Two centuries ago, while wigs dominated Europe, another beauty trend emerged, prominently featured in famous works of art—wide foreheads. During the Renaissance, European women shaved their hairlines to flaunt their broad foreheads and even plucked their eyebrows completely to demonstrate their piety.

Women of the time went to great lengths to accentuate their foreheads, from plucking their eyebrows to pulling their hair back, revealing their hairlines. Many followed this strange trend, including the enigmatic Mona Lisa.

In ancient China, especially among concubines and royal beauties, the ideal foot shape was the 'lotus foot'—slender, pointed, and delicate. However, this came at the cost of immense pain and permanent disability that these women carried for their entire lives.

Only with tiny, slender feet could Chinese girls hope to marry into wealth. This belief stemmed from the legendary 'golden lotus feet' of Empress Zhao Feiyan, which led generations of Chinese women to deform their feet from a young age. This practice flourished for nearly a thousand years before being abolished due to its severe health consequences.