Blog about Preening

“Never test the depth of the water both feet…”

This little saying came my way this week, and made me smile every time I read it!

But I jumped with both feet into some serious preening this week, as I went from the hairdresser to the beauty salon to have my eyebrows….. threaded! What a strange sensation. Even though she was only inches from my eyes, I really could not see how she did it, but I have the smoothest, hair-free eyebrows in captivity! And they still look like mine.

Having returned to my original hair colour (brunette)  and having dumped the blonde look, I am happy that the effect is improved. Which only goes to show that some people have skin more suited to blonde and others to brunette. Pays to find out, but a clue might be the colour you were when you were young. 

Then the question arises: whether to jewel up or go for super-casual? You might say it depends on the occasion, and to some extent that is true. But in this crazy world where women lose their fingers and are beaten up to get their purses and rings, the Europeans have perfected the art of stylish, but non-precious decoration.

Some years ago I bought the most beautiful stainless steel necklace/chain in Paris and it does not have a gem anywhere in it. But when we were young it was a mark of being desirable (by boys/men) if someone found you so attractive they gave you a ring, preferably with a diamond, and for the 4th finger. But gold jewellery was acceptable up to the moment when engagement was required to be marked with The Ring.

Now  that girls expect a house complete with washing machine and landscaped gardens,  perhaps the ring has taken a back seat, unless you  are Kim Kardashian of course! Wow, 21 carats, I’d definitely be scared to wear it in public without  teams of bouncers around me, and who needs that?! You could hardly wear it  to the supermarket for a spot of grocery shopping.

But how sad it is to find that ‘women of a certain age’ have not moved on with their hair do or their ornamentation. Both will make you look very stale if neglected. A good rule of thumb is: if you are still wearing your hair in the same style you had when you were 25-30, and now you are 50 plus, time for a real change. Same goes for make-up.  It also pays to get away from the assumption that every woman over 50 has to have short, short hair, preferably blonde. Men don’t run away with women with short ‘Nana’ cuts! They run away with longer-haired leggy girls with less brains than them! 

The mysteries of female grooming are unknown territory to men and even those who have been happily and securely married for decades would prefer not to be witness to the leg-shaving, hair-colouring that some women indulge in at home.. Go to a salon, or at least to a girlfriend’s and save your mystique. Men don’t  care so much about the spider veins on their spouse of 20 years, but a shaggy hair that need  washing and a dull face without make up OR a smile, will surely turn them off. At an age when they need all the encouragement they can get, it is  up to us to make an effort!

I  remember my grandmother talking about the sin of vanity, I guess to stop teenage girls spending hours in front of the mirror. As I grew up I slowly realised that vanity is a lot more complex and has little to do with mirrors. But my generation were warned against too much preening so it was not until I lost a lot of weight that I was able to take an interest in my grooming. If weight is holding you back, and you hate the way you look, don’t   wait until you lose weight. Go and get your hair done, eyebrows plucked, threaded or whatever, and get your nails done. Anything to make you happier with even the smallest improvement in your appearance. The congratulate yourself and take the next small step, every day improving something. Gradually…… you appear!

Then you can make exciting changes in all sorts of things, different food, different clothes, different company, maybe even a different man!! But don’t throw the one you have out for a new hair do, win him over seductively!

Be well!

Maura