Bizarre Beauty Contraptions from the ’50s & ’60s That Look Like Sci-Fi Nightmares

The beauty industry has always been full of wild ideas, but the 1950s and ’60s took things to a whole new level. In the name of glamour, women strapped on electrified face masks, sat inside vibrating machines, and endured bizarre contraptions that promised a flawless look.

Many of these devices looked like they belonged in a sci-fi horror movie rather than a salon. While some of these inventions paved the way for modern beauty tech, others were just plain terrifying.

Get ready to cringe (and maybe laugh) at 10 of the strangest beauty contraptions ever marketed.

1. The Glamour Bonnet

Imagine a salon hair dryer, but instead of a sleek dome, it’s a giant, inflatable plastic bag wrapped around your head. The Glamour Bonnet promised to dry hair quickly, but it also made wearers look like they were about to be launched into space. One wrong move, and you’d get a face full of hot air—literally.

2. The Rejuvenique Electric Facial Mask

This electrified mask looked like something a supervillain would wear. It sent tiny electric shocks through the skin to “tone” facial muscles, supposedly giving users a natural facelift. In reality, it probably felt more like mild electrocution than a relaxing beauty treatment.

3. The Nose Shaper Clamp

Want a more refined nose without surgery? Just clamp this terrifying device onto your face and wait for the magic to happen! The idea was that repeated use would reshape cartilage. In reality, it probably just left people with red marks and regret.

4. The Spot Reducer

A handheld suction device that promised to “melt” fat away by sucking on your skin. If that sounds painful, that’s because it was. It worked about as well as giving yourself a hickey and expecting weight loss.

5. The Vibrating Bust Enhancer

Why settle for push-up bras when you could strap on a machine that vibrates your chest into shape? This odd device claimed to enhance the bustline using gentle oscillations. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work, but it probably made for some very awkward moments.

6. The Steam Mask

A full-face mask that blasted users with steam, allegedly to cleanse pores. It looked like something a futuristic robot villain would wear—and it left users sweating like they’d just run a marathon.

7. The Leg Slimming Massager

This device was aimed at women wanting slimmer legs without the need for exercise. The Leg Slimming Massager featured rotating belts or rollers meant to massage away the fat. While many swore by it, claiming to notice a difference, doctors were quite skeptical.

8. The Sauna Suit

The Sauna Suit was designed to help users sweat out toxins by creating a personal sauna experience. Made from non-breathable materials, these suits trapped heat and moisture. While they were effective at inducing sweat, they were not particularly comfortable, often leaving users drenched and dehydrated.

9. The Chin Reducer Strap

A tight elastic band that women strapped under their chins to “lift” sagging skin. Instead of tightening the jawline, it mostly just gave users a headache and a strong urge to take it off.

10. The Beauty Microwaves

Yes, you read that right—some beauty salons experimented with microwave-like machines to heat up the skin and “rejuvenate” it. The idea didn’t last long (thankfully), but it’s proof that beauty trends in the past weren’t always well thought out.