Between issues of safety (thanks, Trumpers) and being in an HBCU (historically Black college/university), I have been contemplating my "look." I have noticed many of my non-White friends looking a bit "Whiter" these days but being at a place that promotes people of color to embrace their natural selves and beauty, I feel like my outward aesthetic needs work.
Things this post is not meant to do:
1: Be judgey. Dude totally do you. You have your reasons for why you present as you do. If you like it then rock it.
2: Tell you how to look. Do you.
3: Determine my final look. It, as everything, evolves
So what is bothering me with my look?
Hair:
Well, I'm turning 40 this year and blessing and curse is that I don't look my age. I usually get pegged somewhere between 30-35. I'm in a profession were being older is equaled with experience and knowledge. Librarianship is a greying profession and while there are plenty of young librarians out there, most aren't directing an academic library like I am. I have 10+ years in the field of library and education but my "look" doesn't not necessarily show that. So I do try to look a little older. I stopped coloring my hair. Not only do my gray/silver streaks promote the idea that I am older; it also cost me less time and money to maintain than if I keep on coloring it. I've noticed so many Latinas with naturally dark hair going blonde, like their entire head not just streaks. I got some blonde highlights a couple years back and I hated them! I wanted to cut them out I hated them so much. They were super well done. My husband paid mega-bucks for me to have an amazing salon experience and I hated those highlights with a passion. Why hate them? I felt so fake. I would look in the mirror and that person just wasn't me. So the idea of turning my entire head blonde sounds like a good way to end up shaving my head. I'm not sure about keeping my gray. I had been doing a bright red and really loved it but again it makes me look younger. Jury is still out on this one.
Makeup/Face:
So again I don't really look like I'm turning 40 in May. I have some fine lines but nothing major. What I don't do is use base/foundation at all. I wear lipstick to work or if I go out. I wear some black eyeliner and that's pretty much it. I look around and see people posting pictures of eyeshadow palettes. People doing something called contouring. I don't have any idea why someone needs so many eyeshadow colors and why change the shape of your face like daily? I understand for performance or a special night out but daily? Fuck that. My face it okay. I get lots of complements on my skin so I don't foresee a change to my makeup routine as of yet. Red lips, black eyeliner for the day, remove with coconut oil, start the day with almond oil.
Hands/Nails:
Everywhere I look I see women and men with their nails done up. The guys tend to wear clear polish but they look good. Like, my nails are weak AF! They break if I type too hard. In theory a cover of shellac might help. I love having red polish on but I smudge it and chip it almost immediately so it feels like a waste of time. I don't want to wear fake nails because I don't want long nails. I like mine short so that I can work. I've had the nail stuff put on, minus the tips, to help keep my nails looking good but that is a commitment. Going in for a fill every 2 weeks, I just don't have time. I would love to turn this into a thing I do but I don't really see it happening.
Feet/Toes:
It is winter so so far toes are under cover. I do like to have color on my toe nails. It makes me feel pretty. I usually see women of color with designs and such but this is the only time DH steps in. He hates designs on toes. I don't care enough to fight him on it so classic red it usually is. I like to take Gymgirl for mom/daughter mani/pedis so maybe we can bring that back.
Overall you just read a whole lot of nothing! Final thought, do you.
Things this post is not meant to do:
1: Be judgey. Dude totally do you. You have your reasons for why you present as you do. If you like it then rock it.
2: Tell you how to look. Do you.
3: Determine my final look. It, as everything, evolves
So what is bothering me with my look?
Hair:
Well, I'm turning 40 this year and blessing and curse is that I don't look my age. I usually get pegged somewhere between 30-35. I'm in a profession were being older is equaled with experience and knowledge. Librarianship is a greying profession and while there are plenty of young librarians out there, most aren't directing an academic library like I am. I have 10+ years in the field of library and education but my "look" doesn't not necessarily show that. So I do try to look a little older. I stopped coloring my hair. Not only do my gray/silver streaks promote the idea that I am older; it also cost me less time and money to maintain than if I keep on coloring it. I've noticed so many Latinas with naturally dark hair going blonde, like their entire head not just streaks. I got some blonde highlights a couple years back and I hated them! I wanted to cut them out I hated them so much. They were super well done. My husband paid mega-bucks for me to have an amazing salon experience and I hated those highlights with a passion. Why hate them? I felt so fake. I would look in the mirror and that person just wasn't me. So the idea of turning my entire head blonde sounds like a good way to end up shaving my head. I'm not sure about keeping my gray. I had been doing a bright red and really loved it but again it makes me look younger. Jury is still out on this one.
Makeup/Face:
So again I don't really look like I'm turning 40 in May. I have some fine lines but nothing major. What I don't do is use base/foundation at all. I wear lipstick to work or if I go out. I wear some black eyeliner and that's pretty much it. I look around and see people posting pictures of eyeshadow palettes. People doing something called contouring. I don't have any idea why someone needs so many eyeshadow colors and why change the shape of your face like daily? I understand for performance or a special night out but daily? Fuck that. My face it okay. I get lots of complements on my skin so I don't foresee a change to my makeup routine as of yet. Red lips, black eyeliner for the day, remove with coconut oil, start the day with almond oil.
Hands/Nails:
Everywhere I look I see women and men with their nails done up. The guys tend to wear clear polish but they look good. Like, my nails are weak AF! They break if I type too hard. In theory a cover of shellac might help. I love having red polish on but I smudge it and chip it almost immediately so it feels like a waste of time. I don't want to wear fake nails because I don't want long nails. I like mine short so that I can work. I've had the nail stuff put on, minus the tips, to help keep my nails looking good but that is a commitment. Going in for a fill every 2 weeks, I just don't have time. I would love to turn this into a thing I do but I don't really see it happening.
Feet/Toes:
It is winter so so far toes are under cover. I do like to have color on my toe nails. It makes me feel pretty. I usually see women of color with designs and such but this is the only time DH steps in. He hates designs on toes. I don't care enough to fight him on it so classic red it usually is. I like to take Gymgirl for mom/daughter mani/pedis so maybe we can bring that back.
Overall you just read a whole lot of nothing! Final thought, do you.
