When Beauty Was Black: Rethinking What We Call Beautiful 🖤✨

I paused a scene in a movie, not because of the plot, but because of a smile that wasn’t white.

In today’s world, young people often feel pressured to follow strict beauty standards, being thin, having an hourglass figure, flawless glass skin with no pores, and more. Watching that particular scene made me reflect. It was a Thai historical film, and when a woman smiled, I noticed something unusual, her teeth were painted black, not white as we usually prefer today.

For a moment, it felt unfamiliar. But instead of brushing it off, I think we should pause at moments like this. Because sometimes, what looks strange to us is simply something we have never been taught to understand. So, I looked up this practice and discovered something meaningful.

In earlier Thai history, especially during the Ayutthaya period, blackened teeth were considered beautiful, not just acceptable, but desirable. A darkened smile symbolized maturity, elegance, and cultural belonging. It marked a transition into adulthood and carried a sense of dignity. While women often painted their teeth as a beauty practice, men also did so as a sign of social status and identity. There was also a belief that it separated humans from supernatural beings, spirits were often imagined with white or glowing teeth, so blackened teeth made a person appear more human and grounded.

During this period, blackened teeth carried meanings beyond beauty. They symbolized adulthood and social acceptance. The dyes used were often made from natural herbs, which helped protect teeth from decay, blending aesthetics with practicality. Over time, however, especially with modernization and Western influence, these ideals shifted back toward white teeth, and the tradition gradually faded.

This wasn’t just limited to Thailand.

In Japan, the practice of Ohaguro was followed during the Edo period, especially by married women and the nobility, though some men, like samurai, also practiced it as a mark of loyalty and status. In Vietnam and across Southeast Asia, blackened teeth were associated with grace, refinement, and even protection against harmful forces. Both men and women adopted this practice, women more for beauty and maturity, and men for identity and social belonging.

So what does this tell us?

Firstly, we need to understand that beauty is not universal. What we admire today, white, polished, “perfect” teeth, is not some natural truth. It is a constructed standard, shaped by time, influence, and culture. Even modern advertising, like toothpaste brands, reinforces the idea that white teeth are ideal, when that hasn’t always been the case. Beauty standards evolve, shifting with every era.

And that means we should be careful.

Careful not to judge other cultures too quickly.

Careful not to assume that our version of beauty is the “right” one.

Careful not to forget that every standard we follow today might one day feel just as unfamiliar as that darkened smile. At the same time, this is not just about observing differences, it’s about learning from them.

There is something deeply meaningful in the way these cultures approached beauty. It was not just about appearance; it was about identity, transition, and belonging. The body became a canvas for culture, not just a surface to perfect.

Maybe we need a little of that perspective today. And interestingly, blackened teeth have even reappeared in modern times as a niche trend, showing how beauty constantly evolves and redefines itself.

 

Instead of chasing one rigid idea of beauty, we could allow it to be more fluid, more thoughtful, and more rooted in meaning than in approval.

Because a smile has never been just a smile. It is history, belief, and a quiet reflection of the world we come from. And if we look closely, if we truly choose to look, we might realize that beauty has never had one fixed color. It has always been changing.

And maybe, so should the way we see it.