Freaky Global Beauty Rituals

Bizarre beauty trends can be traced back to ancient times, but still reign as supreme and shocking today as they ever were. From Bird-poop facials to mayonnaise skin cremes, these top secret beauty regiments are said to be better than Botox. Below, in no particular order, are some of these trends. Try them if you dare…

Bird Poop Facials - If you’ve ever seen the movie Memoirs of a Geisha then you know the importance of flawless skin to these Japanese businesswomen. For years, the smooth and silky skin of Geishas has been attributed not to fancy cremes or astringents but rather to bird dung. Bird doo doo contains a chemical called Guanine that is said to be better for your skin than even a million dollar 1oz bottle of amazing lotion. This Guanine substance can only be found in bird poop, and is used in fancy facials everywhere today.

Placenta Milkshakes - If you haven’t yet had a baby in the family you may not realize that a placenta is a piece of tissue that grows inside of women when they are pregnant. It serves to nourish and protect the fetus, and is pushed out after the fetus during what is called the "afterbirth." Who would think to drink such a thing? The desire for youth and beauty can be a strong one, which is why currently in Japan people are (literally) drinking ground placenta, and YES, you too can order this product online RIGHT NOW.

Leech Therapy - We’ve all either heard of leeches or had bad dreams about them AFTER hearing of them, but have we heard about their ability to HELP us? Probably not. A new trend in therapy involves these slimy creatures. It’s called (what else?) leech therapy. For those with surgery in their near future, leech therapy can be very helpful. The leeches not only help to prepare a human body for surgery but they also clear away poison and reduce swelling.

Mayonnaise Lotions - One aspect of beauty that is always highly in demand is tight, highly-elastic skin...and mayonnaise is said to get you there better than any other expensive creme on the market. When rubbed onto your skin, mayo is said to increase smoothness, softness AND elasticity.

Lemon-Juice Highlights - The completely natural way to lighten your strands...squirt some lemon juice on your hair and lay out in the sun for the cheapest most real-looking highlights you’ve ever had.

Bull Semen Hair Conditioner - Forget the hot oil treatments. The latest and greatest tress treatment is bull semen, which is said to not only strengthen and smooth hair, but also to add shine to it. The shine from this procedure is said to last weeks longer than any salon-advertised product.

Fish Pedicure - The key to fresh feet is removing dead skin cells, which build up from walking each day. This new and strange spa treatment has the client dip their feet into a bucket of fish who actually eat off the dead skin, leaving soft, fresh skin behind. Again, this procedure was initiated in Japan, China and Turkey and has now been adopted by salons across Canada and the U.S. See the video above.

If these beauty treatments seem too crazy to comprehend, consider society’s desire for youth and beauty and even the most bizarre rituals start to make sense.