Fashion has always been a reflection of the times, and throughout history, many beauty trends have come and gone. While today’s styles can sometimes feel extreme, some trends from the past would shock even the most daring modern fashionistas. From using sweat as skincare to painfully tight corsets, here are 10 surprising beauty practices from previous centuries.

1. Gladiator Sweat as Skincare

In Ancient Rome, wealthy women sought unique skincare solutions. One of the most bizarre trends was using the sweat of gladiators, believed to enhance complexion and improve skin health. Gladiator sweat, mixed with olive oil, was highly prized and presented as an exotic facial elixir. It was a luxury that symbolized status and wealth.

2. Unibrows Were the Height of Beauty

In Ancient Greece, a unibrow was considered a mark of intelligence and beauty. Women who didn’t naturally have one would fill the gap with artificial “unibrow wigs” made from goat hair. This look was embraced as the ideal aesthetic at the time, symbolizing unity and wisdom.

3. Colorful Eyebrows

In China during the 2nd and 3rd centuries, an emperor initiated a trend for blue eyebrows. Women shaved off their natural eyebrows and painted new ones using expensive colored inks imported from other countries. This fashion not only pleased the emperor but also displayed the wealth of those who could afford such luxury.

4. Shaving Hair for a Youthful Look

In 14th-century Europe, high foreheads and long necks were considered the epitome of beauty. Women would shave the front part of their hairlines and the back of their necks to achieve this look, as the aim was to mimic the appearance of a baby’s smooth head, symbolizing purity and innocence.

5. Blonde Hair at Any Cost

Thanks to the 15th-century poet Petrarch, blonde hair became a trend during the Proto-Renaissance. Women spent days applying various mixtures to their hair to achieve the golden shade that was highly prized. The process involved covering the hair with leaves and reapplying solutions over several days.

6. The Corset Craze

Corsets, a well-known symbol of historical fashion, reached extreme levels of tightness in the 16th century. Some women compressed their waists down to an unbelievable 13 inches. While it achieved the desired flat silhouette, the intense pressure caused significant damage to internal organs and breathing difficulties.

7. Blue “Tattoos” in the Décolleté

In the 17th century, plunging necklines were incredibly popular, but women of the time took things a step further. They would paint their veins with blue dye to create the illusion of delicate, translucent skin, enhancing the appearance of their exposed décolleté.

8. Lead-Based Makeup

During the 18th century, pale skin was considered a sign of nobility. Women used dangerous lead-based powders to achieve a porcelain complexion. These toxic substances often caused lead poisoning, which was further exacerbated by the use of lead-laced red makeup for the lips and cheeks.

9. Teeth Transplants

In the Georgian era, people would go to extreme lengths for a perfect smile. Wealthy individuals would have teeth implanted from live donors, who were paid for their extraction. These teeth were then attached to the recipient’s gums using wires. While it provided a quick fix for missing teeth, the practice was painful and unsanitary.

10. Long Fingernails as a Sign of Wealth

In China, especially during the Qing dynasty, long fingernails became a status symbol. The longer the nails, the more it signified that the person did not need to perform manual labor. Fingernails could grow as long as 10 inches, with aristocrats protecting their fragile nails by covering them with ornate jeweled caps.

These historical trends remind us how far people have been willing to go for beauty. While some of these practices might seem strange or even dangerous by today’s standards, they reflect the evolving ideals of beauty across different cultures and times.