History's Strangest Beauty Trends

Summary

This video explores some of history's strangest beauty trends, from erotic piercings in Victorian England to ancient Greek unibrows, Chinese foot binding, and skull reshaping by the Maya. It highlights peculiar practices such as blackening teeth in Japan, Renaissance ideals of short teeth, and men flaunting muscular calves. The script also touches on eyebrow painting in ancient China, heavy makeup use in the 1700s, and the painful yet fashionable use of corsets. These bizarre trends reveal society’s ever-changing and sometimes extreme notions of beauty across time.

Takeaways

• 👗 Fashion trends have constantly evolved, often leading to strange beauty practices throughout history.
• 💉 In Victorian England, wealthy women pierced their nipples, sometimes connecting them with a chain, while men sported Prince Albert piercings.
• 🖋️ Ancient Greek women considered unibrows a symbol of intelligence and purity, and if needed, they would paint them on using coal pigment.
• 💀 Mayans practiced skull-shaping as a sign of ornamental beauty, starting from infancy by molding their children's heads.
• 🦷 In ancient Japan, blackened teeth were a symbol of beauty and marriage commitment, lasting until the 19th century.
• 💪 In the Middle Ages, men’s calves were a significant focus of attraction, with stockings highlighting their muscular legs.
• 👄 During the Renaissance, short teeth and a gummy smile were considered extremely attractive, as part of a list of 30 beauty traits.
• 👠 Foot binding in China reshaped young girls' feet, symbolizing beauty and nobility, despite its painful and damaging consequences.
• 💅 In the Qing Dynasty, long fingernails were a sign of wealth, and special nail guards were used to protect these lengthy manicures.
• 🦸‍♀️ In the Middle Ages, women removed their eyelashes entirely to dissociate from oversexualized beauty norms and embrace a bare look.

Q & A

What is the general theme of the video script?

The video script discusses some of history's strangest beauty trends, spanning different cultures and time periods, and highlights how perceptions of beauty have drastically changed over the centuries.

What was the Victorian era's surprising beauty trend mentioned in the script?

One surprising Victorian-era beauty trend was the piercing of women's nipples, sometimes connecting them with a chain. Men also participated, with some choosing to get intimate piercings like the 'Prince Albert,' supposedly for comfort when wearing tight pants.

Why were unibrows considered attractive in ancient Greece?

In ancient Greece, unibrows were considered a sign of intelligence and purity in women. If a woman didn't naturally have one, she might use coal pigment to draw it on.

How did women in the 17th century emphasize their cleavage and pale skin?

In the 17th century, women often drew blue veins on their chests to mimic the appearance of translucent skin and emphasize their cleavage, which was considered fashionable at the time.

Why did Japanese women blacken their teeth after marriage?

Japanese women blackened their teeth after marriage as a symbol of beauty and commitment. The practice continued through the 19th century, but is no longer common.

What was significant about men's calves during the Middle Ages?

In the Middle Ages and up to the 18th century, men's calves were considered an attractive and important physical feature. Men would show them off in stockings, sometimes even padding them to appear larger and more muscular.

What was the purpose of beauty patches in the 1700s?

Beauty patches in the 1700s were small pieces of fabric adhered to the face. Originally used to cover blemishes, they became fashion accessories, with their placement on the face conveying social signals, such as marital status or flirtation.

How were tiny teeth viewed during the Renaissance?

During the Renaissance, small teeth were considered attractive. Having a 'gummy' smile with short teeth was one of the 30 specific traits listed as ideal for beauty in women.

What was the practice of foot binding, and why was it done?

Foot binding was a practice in China where young girls' feet were tightly wrapped to alter their shape and size, as small feet were considered attractive. The process was painful and involved breaking the bones of the feet.

How did the Tang Dynasty's beauty standards differ from modern ones?

In the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), beauty standards favored women with round faces, big cheeks, and plump figures—very different from modern standards that often emphasize slimness and sharp facial features.