Beauty Trends in the Middle Ages: The High Forehead Look

During the Middle Ages, beauty standards took an unusual turn as women strived for a forehead that was as large and smooth as possible. To achieve this, they would shave off their eyebrows completely and pluck their hairlines high, creating a strikingly expansive forehead. This dramatic change in appearance was meant to convey a sense of purity and innocence, as the women were often compared to the smooth, unblemished features of a baby’s head. The look was seen as a symbol of youth and virtuousness, embodying ideals of femininity in the medieval period. While this beauty trend may seem odd today, it reflects the ways in which cultural values and perceptions of beauty shaped personal grooming practices in different historical eras.