It is an obligatory rite among various African tribes to lose two or more of their front teeth.

A tradition among certain Peruvians was that the Conqueror Huayna Coapae made a law that they and their descendants should have three front teeth pulled out in each jaw.
Cieza speaks of another tradition requiring the extraction of the teeth of children by their fathers as a very acceptable service to their gods.

The Damaras knock out a wedge-shaped gap between two of their front teeth; and the natives of Sierra Leone file or chip their teeth after the same fashion.
Depilatory customs are very ancient, and although minor in extent are still to be considered under the heading of mutilations.

The giving of hair to the dead as a custom, has been perpetuated through many tribes and nations.

In Euripides we find Electra admonishing Helen for sparing her locks, and thereby defrauding the dead.