Vintage Hygiene Practices That Are the Very Opposite of Clean

X-Rays Were Used for Hair Removal

Back in the early 1900s, people were on a constant hunt for new beauty techniques—sometimes with shocking results. One of the strangest was using X-rays to remove unwanted hair. It seemed like a fast and high-tech solution at the time, and many were happy to sit in front of radiation machines for a few minutes to achieve smooth skin.

Unfortunately, no one realized how dangerous it really was. People later suffered from radiation burns, ulcers, and even cancer. It’s a sobering reminder that not all beauty innovations age well—and makes you wonder which modern trends might horrify future generations.