It is funny the lengths most women and men are willing to go in order to improve (or so they think) their beauty appearance. Throughout history, women and men have gone to extreme lengths to look good. Sometimes even at the cost of their health. Here is the list that made us raise our eyebrows:

Urine

Most of us have a relationship of absolute necessity with our urine; one quick flush and it’s gone. There is however, a small but dedicated community that rave about the supposedly renewing properties of urine. It is believed that drinking urine can cure or at least relieve symptoms of a large number of diseases, ranging from eczema, acne and clearing up psoriasis. The best urine is apparently taken first thing in the morning, when good hormones have been able to build up overnight. Either way, I wouldn’t recommend swishing your pee around in your mouth – even if it is free. There’s a reason your body expels it.

Tattooing of the gum

This bizarre beauty treatment is done in Senegal, it is whereby black ink made from oil and Shea butter residue is poked with a needle into gums. The technique is generally performed on women and it is supposed to turn gums black in an effort to make their smiles more beautiful and appealing. The technique is not simply cosmetic either; it also apparently removes bad breath and boosts dental health. I don’t ever picture myself torturing myself-there are dentists to take care of my dental health not black ink!

Vampire facials

It is one of the latest anti-ageing treatments which consists of drawing a significant amount of blood from the patient’s arm so the plasma can be removed and then be put back into the face using small needles. This process promises to fill wrinkles and regenerate fresh blood. Kim  Kardashian caused a commotion in March 2013, when she underwent the painful “Vampire Facial.” Ouch!!

Fire facials or Huǒ liáo

This new Chinese beauty treatment is a widely practised form of alternative therapy. It involves soaking a towel in alcohol and a “secret elixir” and placing it on a “problem area” such as the face, legs, back and neck. Next, the beautician sets the towel on fire for several seconds before extinguishing it with another cloth. Beauticians claim that this dangerous treatment works wonders on ailments like dull skin, the common cold and obesity. Never mind the possibilities of hair catching fire and hyper-pigmentation.

Face slapping

As the name explains itself, people Thailand choose to pay up to $350 for a slap in the face,  because they believe the procedure will enhance their beauty. Face slapping is a beauty method which helps with wrinkles, increases blood flow in the area, makes your face slimmer and makes your pores smaller.

All of the above mentioned extreme beauty treatments made my skin shiver, but the list goes on and on. There is Eye lash tinting, Bird poop facial, Snail facial, snake venom facial to name a few. I cannot imagine myself going through the pains in the name of beauty but that is their choice to do and who am I to judge?

Corsets

Corset have been around for centuries helping women keep that hour glass figure.  An hourglass figure is technically defined as one where the bust and hip measurements are at least ten inches wider than the waist – resulting in that famous hourglass shape. It is said that some women  wear corset the whole day and even sleep wearing them just to have that hourglass shape. Question is how do they manage to breath in this whole process with their organs squeezed together?

To know more about what measures people will go to in order to be beautiful, read “50 Shades of Brown” by Zizo Ntuku on page 18 on our latest issue.

Sources

www.smartem.com, www.aestheticshub.com, www.pinterest.com, www.oddee.com