Looking to try the next big beauty trend? Well, leave it to the Japanese to rock the bagel head look. The bagel head trend consists of injecting saline into one’s forehead, producing a bulbous protrusion which is then lightly pressed in — creating an indentation that resembles a bagel. The trend has been around for years in Asia, but was just recently aired on National Geographic’s series Taboo, which finds and brings to light offbeat and, well, taboo rituals, traditions, lifestyles and so on. The Huffington Post reported on the trend playfully calling it the ‘new Botox.’ Or is it?

All photos taken from the Nat Geo Taboo Bagel Head episode video

The bagel head look was started at Modcon (a body modification show) in Canada back in 1999, but according to Vice.com it was photographer/journalist Ryoichi “Keroppy” Maeda who brought the trend to Japan where it really took off! “People who like extreme body modification want to find their own way of doing things, and they’re always looking for new ways to do that,” said Maeda. “The more progressive the scene gets, the more these people have to experiment and go their own way.”

The appeal may be subjective to some, if not most, but here at BeautyStat we got to thinking: Is injecting 400 ccs of saline into one’s forehead safe? Cosmetic chemist and formulator Judi Steward calls this trend ‘bagel head brainwash.’ “There is discomfort and risk to obtain this look,” explains Steward. “This will stretch your skin and increase the sagging and wrinkling of skin; you risk broken capillaries, nerve and cell damage.”

Even technicians who perform this beauty trend procedure advise to be careful and to do it the “right way” (as said in the episode video) to reduce any serious risks. The saline-induced forehead only lasts for about sixteen to twenty-four hours, with the saline then being absorbed by the body. Although this trend is more of a unique body modification than a beauty trend, it is certainly a “look” that raises eyebrows and questions.

So, will you be rocking the bagel head look this fall? What do you think of the trend? Let us know by commenting below, which will automatically be posted to our Community Forum (click here to check it out!) where you can find other beauty related discussions! Don’t forget to also submit a photo to our Photo Of The Day (click here!) feature, where a new photo will be picked daily. Your photo just might be selected, so get going!

– Theresa Romano

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