10 beauty standards to make you question who can tell us what is attractive.
Every year, the UK population spends millions of pounds on St Valentines Day. A significant proportion of this expense includes investments in new clothing, cosmetics, and hair styling. Before you spend big on a new look, or feel pressured to be “more beautiful” for this specific occasion, consider the following unusual trends in the beauty world that will have you questioning what beauty really is.
1. “Yeaba” (Snaggle Tooth)
A current and unusual trend in Japan, Yaeba is the cosmetic insertion of additional teeth to create the “Snaggle Toothed” look. A mouth overcrowded with teeth is associated with youthfulness, innocence, and sweetness in this country, despite many people worldwide typically seeking procedures to straighten and align their teeth.
2. Receding Hairlines
The practice of shaving or plucking the female hairline to emphasise a large, domed forehead was especially popular in Europe during the Renaissance, but is still practiced by several tribal cultures today. A hairline receding back to the top centre of the scalp was associated with intellect, virtue, and attractiveness. This directly contrasts the many pricey cosmetic procedures offered today to conceal, reduce, or replace hair loss.
3. Unibrows
Why go to the trouble of plucking and shaping your eyebrows to be perfectly symmetrical when you can allow them to grow together and become one beautiful piece of facial hair? In Ancient Greece a singular monobrow was considered a highly desirable aesthetic feature for both men and women, to the degree that many would use charcoal and oils to draw on additional hairs should they struggle to grow their brows together in the centre of their forehead.
4. Sharp Teeth
People of the Afar tribe believe pointed, filed, sharp teeth are a sign of great beauty. This look is often considered to be alarming and intimidating by other cultures, however the Afar tribe have followed the practice of filing their teeth for many decades and consider pointed teeth a highly desirable trait in a romantic partner.
5. Pale, Veiny Skin
Throughout history, numerous cultures have perceived pale skin to be a sign of beauty, elegance, and wealth (the latter due to servants and labourers of lower classes often developing tanned skin). Women in 17th century Europe aspired to gain this complexion to the degree that they would paint blue veins upon their faces and bodies, seeking to mimic the appearance of translucent skin. This is a stark contrast to the popularity of tanning salons and serums today.
6. No Eyelashes
Despite the eclectic range of mascaras, lash extensions, and false eyelashes available on the market today to enhance the thickness and fullness of the lashline, another quirk of renaissance beauty was the perceived attractiveness of a woman with bare eyelids. Eyelashes were associated with “hypersexuality” and impurity during this period in western nations, leading to many women of the time purposely plucking their eyelids entirely.
7. Moustached Women
In recent decades the stereotypical image of a beautiful princess portrays a woman with long flowing hair, soft skin, a slender waist, and a delicate countenance. However, in 19th century Persia, two princesses of the time (regarded as the two of most beautiful women in Persia) were idolised for their “Soft, feminine moustaches”. During this period, the traits most often associated with male features became an attractive quality in women and potential brides, with many women wishing to mimic the striking image of the princesses.
8. Black Teeth
For thousands of years, black teeth were associated with wealth, beauty, and marital commitment in Japanese culture. Once married, many women would permanently paint their teeth black as an expression of loyalty to their husbands, but the feature was also regularly seen in women searching for their future love. This is quite literally the opposite of the popular cosmetic practice today of teeth whitening.
9. Chubby Cheeks
Although cosmetic contouring and facial surgeries are often utilised to define or enhance the appearance of cheekbones, this look was once regarded as extremely unattractive in Eastern culture. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907) round, plump, chubby cheeks were believed to be the most attractive facial features in a partner. Even today in North Korea, a rounded, “moon-like” face is considered highly desirable and beautiful.
10. Eye Bags
Another surprising beauty trend in the modern world, Aeygo Sal or “Baby-Fat Eye Bags” are currently considered so “cute” and “adorable” in South Korea that many people have sought a cosmetic procedure in which fat is injected under their eyes to create the baggy effect. Interestingly, the exact opposite procedure is also available worldwide to have fat removed from the undereye area and create a “glowing”, “refreshed”, and “youthful” look.
If you are looking to improve your self-esteem and learn to love your natural body, hypnotherapy can help. Consider contacting the practice today.
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