Terrifying Vintage Beauty Practices That Aren’t Making a Comeback Anytime Soon

Beauty standards are constantly changing, so it’s difficult to judge beauty practices from the past.

But some trends were so unusual, and in some cases shocking, that they’ll seriously send shivers down your spine…

Binding Your Feet

In China, when a girl was around 3 or 8 years old, the toes on her feet, minus the big toes, would be broken and laid against the sole, creating a triangular shape. Foot binding started around the tenth century until the early twentieth century.

The feet were then held in place with a silk strip. Over time, the wrappings became tighter, leaving young women with dysfunctional feet, which was a symbol of privilege and wealth since only able-bodied women could work the fields.

You’ve Got Worm

In Victorian times, people ate a tapeworm cyst. Once it grew to full maturity, the tapeworm would absorb most of the fats and the nutrients that the person ate. But this extreme diet fad led to epilepsy, meningitis, and dementia.

Digestive and rectal issues were also common when trying to excise the tapeworm from the body.

A Hair-Raising Upgrade

Before the revolution, French women used heavy wigs that went up to one and a half times the height of their own faces. They were also decorated with all sorts of feathers, pins, cushions, and accessories to look high class.

Freezing Freckles Off

In the1930s, people froze their freckles off with carbon dioxide. But they had to use airtight plugs to protect their eyes during this freaky procedure. Their nostrils were filled in, too, so they had to use a tube to breathe.