Bizarre ancient Roman beauty hacks

Mar 13, 2025

Piyali Bhadra

Focusing on the beauty tricks used by the Roman women

Roman beautification methods played a significant role in shaping Western society and culture. While swan’s fat and leeches have been left in the past, some ancient beauty practices have stood the test of time and continue to influence modern skincare. Here are eight ancient Roman beauty hacks that may sound startling but were surprisingly effective.

Hair

Styling hair was an elaborate process for Roman women, involving bronze rods heated with hot ashes to create ringlets or soft curls, followed by an olive oil serum to set the style in place.

Hair removal tricks

Girls and women of upper-class society were expected to have smooth and hairless legs. This was achieved by using wax and sugar or by using secret ointments that had interesting ingredients like the innards of leeches and sea fish.

Makeup

The Romans believed in enhancing facial features with subtle cosmetic techniques, achieving a radiant complexion by applying white paint or chalk. For a touch of colour, they used a gentle blush made from red ochre imported from Belgium, often mixed with mulberries and wine dregs.

Eye makeup

Long, dark eyelashes were created by burning cork and soot, which was also used as an eyeliner, creating a smokey eye effect. From mixing beetle juice, henna, and beeswax, women used to wear red lips that were a hit back then.

Perfume

Perfume oils were initially used by mixing flowers such as rose petals and iris with a base of grape juice and olive oil, which were then used in a liquid and sticky form and had a long-lasting fragrance.

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Skincare

To achieve radiant and flawless skin, women used to apply salves and oils on their faces, keeping the base moisturised. Wealthy women used to wash their faces with milk, whereas other, less glamorous ingredients were the usage of goose fat to reduce wrinkles and grease from wool for a soft and supple effect.

The aura of the unibrow

In ancient Rome, a unibrow was considered the pinnacle of beauty and fashion. Women who lacked a natural one often resorted to drawing it on or even gluing animal hair between their brows to achieve the desired look.

Sleek figure

To achieve their desired silhouette, Roman women wore thick, layered clothing with shoulder pads to create the illusion of a stocky build, sloping shoulders, and wide hips. Young girls were placed on idealised diets or instructed to pad their clothing around the chest to achieve the era’s preferred proportions.

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