5 Strange Beauty Standards From Around The World

While most of the western world has conformed to eurocentric beauty standards as the norm, many places from around the world have a completely different idea of what constitutes beauty. What was that saying about beauty being subjective again?

Ideals and norms may seem universal. However, when one begins to dive into the cultures, traditions, and ways of others, it quickly becomes apparent that this is not true.

Beauty standards around the world tend to vary from place to place. In fact, what we may consider flaws and pay to fix, others strive hard to achieve. Here are 5 strange beauty standards from around the world.

1) Blackened Teeth

While you’ve probably spent hours and hours of your life trying to get bright white teeth, the women of the Lahui tribe paint their teeth black. This is done to show their readiness for marriage.

This seems to be a custom throughout southeast Asia. In Japan this practice was known as Ohagura which was believed to enhance sex appeal. Now, lacquered teeth are said to be a symbol of high society in Japan.

2) Aegyo-Sal or "Cute Eye Fat"

While many of us put in a lot of effort to get rid of our eye bags, the same cannot be said for South Korean women who are actively trying to get puffy “expressive” eyes.

Women in South Korea strive to be as cute as babies, some go as far as getting fat injected into their eye bags. Others get commercial fillers and some just settle for using makeup to make their eyes appear puffier.

3) Yaeba (Crooked teeth)

While most of the Western world spends thousands of dollars at the orthodontist to get perfectly straight teeth, young women in Japan have, in recent years, been engaging in an unusual practice known locally as “yaeba". While spending the same amount of money on orthodontic surgeries, this is all done in an effort to make their teeth more crooked.

Japanese women do this in an effort to seem a little less perfect, and therefore less intimidating. As a result, men find these women to be more approachable .

4) Faux Nose Jobs

In Iran, it's common practice for young adults to bandage their noses to give the impression that they underwent plastic surgery, reason being, plastic surgery has become a symbol of wealth and status in Iranian culture.

Often, these bandages are misleading and no facial work was done. Sometimes, the bandage is actually hiding a nose job which supposedly showcases bravery and wealth.

5) Unibrows

If you live in the west, you probably have a standing appointment at your beautician to rid yourself of the horror that us a unibrow. However, in Oman and Tajikistan, the Unibrow is a symbol of beauty and purity. Women without the unibrow gene even fake it using makeup or herbal treatments.