6 Beauty Trends from the Mayan Culture That Still Intrigue Us

Each culture has its own aesthetic standards, but interestingly, many of the beauty procedures we know today were invented by the Mayan civilization, around the 3rd century. Yes, the Mayans should not only be remembered for the human sacrifices they performed, but equally for their beauty tendencies. Although some practices may seem extreme at first, they were not very different from the procedures we know today.

O awesome.club discovered some similarities between the beauty procedures of the Mayan culture and some current ones. While not exactly alike, those from this civilization show how they influenced contemporary trends.

The Mayans were in the habit of putting stone inlays on their front teeth. Yes, that’s right, stone inlays like jade, hematite and quartz.
Although the practice is ancient, it is very similar to what some people do today. After all, it’s not uncommon to see rappers with gold teeth, is it?

Getting a tattoo in the Mayan civilization was a painful experience. The procedure was very painful because the technique used gave the appearance of a 3D drawing. Tattoos were symbols of bravery and an important part of the culture.

One of the aspects that most stood out in the Mayan civilization and expressed an important part of the artistic ability of its people were the adornments used on the head. They were made in the form of the popular animals of the culture, with colorful feathers and precious stones, including jade.

They say true beauty is in the eye, and the Mayans had a peculiar reading of that idea. They considered strabismus an aesthetic symbol. For this, parents used to hang a small toy between their children’s eyes.

Piercings are as popular accessories in modern culture as they were in Mayan culture. Just like today, the most common body parts to use them were the ears, followed by the nose and lips. For the Mayans, piercings symbolized honor to the gods; moreover, they enhanced people’s beauty even more.

Interestingly, the Mayans did nasal procedures. However, instead of a small nose, they liked one with an eagle’s beak profile, similar to those of the gods they worshipped. People who weren’t born with a curved nose artificially changed the shape, often with the help of layers of clay or wax.

Which of the Mayan trends would you dare to try in a contemporary version? What kind of changes to your body would you love to make? Tell us in the comments!