Medieval Beauty
Every part of a woman's face would be painted with
some type of cosmetic, and many women during the Middle Ages would sun-bleach
their hair. Medieval fashion prompted young women to pluck their hairline
giving them a higher forehead. A wedding might be the one time a woman
would wear her hair loose. Others would weave flowers into their hair
to make a floral crown.
Bathing and Perfume
Medieval society actually liked to bathe. Hot baths
were very popular and most towns as late as the mid-1200s had public bathhouses.
But as forests were depleted, firewood became expensive and the rising
costs of heating the water forced most of the bathhouses to close. Some
tried burning coal to heat water, but the fumes proved to be unhealthy.
By the mid-1300s, only the very wealthy could afford firewood for hot
water in the winter. The rest of the population was forced to be dirty
most of the time.
Perfumes made from the oils of flowers combined with spices were very popular during the Middle Ages as trade between countries improved. Perfume became an easy, quick fix for those who could not bathe.
