Do you really know? What are the craziest beauty ‘standards’ in history?
Oct 3, 2025
Beauty standards have taken some wild turns over the centuries! From blackened teeth in Edo Japan to the gruesome practice of skull binding, history showcases extreme ideals. Explore the severe costs of foot binding in China and the alarming health risks of using belladonna for that perfect doe-eyed look. The episode also touches on how modern beauty trends mirror these historical extremes, all in under three minutes of captivating discussion!
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Beauty Is A Shifting Cultural Canon
- The word 'canon' shows beauty standards are cultural models that change over time and place.
- What counts as beautiful now might have been considered ugly in a different era.
Blackened Teeth As Status And Superstition
- In Edo Japan, high-status women deliberately blackened their teeth with iron and vinegar to fit the Ohaguro ideal.
- The practice also served folklore purposes, making women appear more human by avoiding demon-like white teeth.
Infant Skull Binding For Beauty
- Many cultures practiced skull modification from infancy to change head shape, including Mayans and people in southern France.
- In Toulouse, parents wrapped baby skulls; boys stopped around five while girls often continued for life until the 1920s.