4 Old Hollywood Beauty 'Secrets' That Would Never Fly Today

There was something about Old Hollywood that was so glamorous, we still refer to the time period to this day. The decades between the 1920s and '60s were full of stars, such as Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe, who have remained icons long after they were gone. When looking at their vintage pics and movies, we can only marvel at how perfectly put-together they seemed, with not a hair out of place or a speck of smudged makeup on their faces. They set the ideal beauty standard of their times, with both proving why red lipstick is always a good idea.

While modern women have certainly taken beauty cues from their fave Golden Age celebs, if they knew what certain stars of yore actually did behind-the-scenes, fans would think twice. With the arsenal of makeup brands and tools we have on hand now, it's hard to believe what Old Hollywood actors did for their looks back then. From using questionable products on their faces to endangering themselves with unsafe tools, there's a reason these retro stars' beauty techniques are a thing of the past.

Before there was a myriad of different eyeliners to choose from, movie stars had to DIY their own concoction, which didn't always go well. Iconic actor Greta Garbo knew what eyeliner and mascara could really do to enhance her eyes, but she did so with a mixture of petroleum jelly and charcoal. Not only does petroleum jelly sound like a sticky, oily mess, but the heavy metals present in charcoal can lead to serious health risks, such as glaucoma, when used around your eyes.

Garbo was also known to use petroleum jelly on her lids before applying eyeshadow to make them look luminous for the screen. Thankfully, there are primers now that have a touch of shimmer to make your eyes really pop, and they won't leave you with tacky lids. The "Flesh and the Devil" star quit filming movies at the height of her fame in the early '40s and stayed out of the spotlight, hopefully retiring her charcoal eye makeup as well.

There was no other doe-eyed screen siren in the '50s and '60s quite like Audrey Hepburn, whose pixie-like face always drew you in. One of the "Roman Holiday" star's best features was her enormous peepers, which she enhanced with her signature cat-eye liner and miles-long lashes. Her makeup was always so flawless, without a clump of mascara to be seen, and it was all thanks to her makeup artist Alberto de Rossi's trick. In the biography "Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit," written by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, he recalled de Rossi using a pin to go through each individual lash to separate them after applying mascara. Although the method obviously gave Hepburn perfect doe-eyes, we don't think you should try this at home.

When it comes to clump-free mascara, a lash comb is the secret beauty product you need for effortless glam. If you want to recreate Hepburn's makeup technique, get one with thin, metal teeth that replicate pins but are much safer. After one coat of mascara, wait about 10-15 seconds and run the comb carefully through each lash, then repeat if needed. You won't risk piercing your cornea, and it'll save so much time as well.

Long before Marilyn Monroe became the most famous blond bombshell, Jean Harlow graced the silver screens in the early '30s with her signature platinum hair. Although the movie star was already naturally blond, the studio wanted her to go even lighter, so she used a mixture of ammonia, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. You don't have to be a chemist to know that the combo is extremely dangerous, causing toxic vapors and possible explosion. Sadly, Harlow died in her 20s due to health complications, and it may be that the hair dye formula contributed to her ailments.

Going platinum these days isn't as harmful as Harlow's approach, and we recommend seeing a professional. Colorist Christine Thompson explained to Byrdie, "Bleach or enlightener is decolorizing the hair by breaking up the natural melanin in the hair. It actually doesn't affect the follicle at all, but it does lift the cuticle, and if not done correctly, it can damage the cuticle." While most people can achieve this level of blond, Thompson noted that it's best on virgin hair, and those who have frequently processed their strands should steer clear.

Many fans know Rita Hayworth as the glamorous beauty with fiery hair, but she was born Margarita Carmen Cansino to her Spanish dad and Irish-American mother. As Hayworth's career grew, she underwent a huge makeover, which included dying her naturally brunette hair red and lengthening her forehead by getting electrolysis on her hairline for two years. Along with the painful process, the "Gilda" star also maintained her color by using bleach and dye twice a week, which seems like a disaster for hair health.

It turned out that Hayworth didn't even go to a licensed specialist for electrolysis, which wasn't regulated at the time and was a fairly new procedure. Hollywood makeup artist Max Factor was the one who performed the hairline-raising technique on the pin-up girl, but it seems he managed to do a good job. Hayworth's forehead actually looked super natural, and he left her with a signature widow's peak. We can't imagine going to a makeup artist for electrolysis, but the '30s were certainly a different time — especially when it came to beauty secrets.