Women being moaned at for missing the hairdresser/beauty treatments.

I refuse to be made to feel bad for missing my hair/eyebrow appointments, getting my hair done makes me feel good and is part of my self esteem and how I see myself, I’ve never done it for anyone else other than myself because it makes me feel good and i damn well want to get back asap

I dont know why asking about a skin cream means I "have no life" its still a bit of a mystery to me as I have a very full and active life. Its very possible to use skin cream and still have a life lol I do the absolute minimum about my appearance, hair cut twice a year if I can be bothered but I need (as in essential) a cream with SPF. Red head with freckles and I'd fry without it. It is probably the only thing I'd worry about during lockdown although I have got to the stage where I know my hair has gone beyond anything that could be considered reasonable.

Obviously I do need shampoo, soap and antiperspirant but they are so basic I don't really think about them.

Enjoy your face cream

Thank you! I will

I really needed my hair cut in February, thought about it before lockdown but didn't get round to it. My hair is now horrendous.

I console myself by looking at all the dark roots showing on people on TV.

And Tbf trolls will troll. Enjoy your face cream.

I have a fair few friends who have decided to let their hair colour grow out and not go back. I’ve found it useful to get the final wear out of some tired clothes. I haven’t been aware of any ‘judging’ ( but avoiding dementor threads).

I do think, for some people, this might be a resetting of what they can be bothered with post coronavirus.

And yet in Style and Beauty, it happens with tedious regularity

Yes it does. I asked about a skin cream on style and beauty and was told I should "get a life" and "get out more".....during lockdown

I dont know why asking about a skin cream means I "have no life" its still a bit of a mystery to me as I have a very full and active life. Its very possible to use skin cream and still have a life lol

You are absolutely right to say that. I think the point is it's not remotely clear who has been making the sort of value judgements the OP is referring to- apart from it seems a few sanctimonious posters on MN

Gotcha. Personally, ive only seen disparaging comments on MN about "trivial beauty" things. Everyone I know in real life has expressed how sad they are that they cannot access the things they like to do- eg. hair salons, restaurants, gyms, sports activities, cafes, etc and people agree with them.

Ive not heard a single person in real life scold anyone that they should "give their head a wobble because people are dying!". All of us must miss something- even if its just grabbing a coffee and sitting quietly in the sun watching the world go by. Its the little things like that, that I also miss.

I have been known to hang out on both fashion and football forums, and would completely agree they're both pretty trivial in the grand scheme of things.

Not once can I recall anyone barging into a football chat to tell us off for daring to care about something so flighty. And yet in Style and Beauty, it happens with tedious regularity.
Go figure.

I couldn't give a flying fck if anyone judges me for it

You are absolutely right to say that. I think the point is it's not remotely clear who has been making the sort of value judgements the OP is referring to- apart from it seems a few sanctimonious posters on MN.

I'm not a key worker but am working from home. I'm still smartly dressed each day with the same amount of (fairly minimal) makeup and jewellery I'd wear if I were going to the office.

all stereotypically 'women's interests' as trivial.

I'm all for people doing whatever they want.

The cost and time required for women to 'present' themselves in society is out of all proportion to that required for men.

So much about women's clothes is actively 'counter functional' with no pockets, subject to passing fashions and as for shoes, which are valued for being beautiful rather than functional and really do wreck peoples feet

The triviality of women's existence is prized above all else.

There has got to be a reason and it isn't because we have women's best interests at heart.

I am missing botox, hair dressers and beauty salons.

I couldn't give a flying fck if anyone judges me for it. I'm a key worker and I'm working really bloody hard to keep people safe and well. I am allowed to miss things that cheer me up and give me a mental boost. I truly do not care if anyone doesnt like that. They can fck right off with their unwanted opinion.

That may be true to an extent Lamahaha but it depends who you hang around with and where you work. Another take on it, is that all that stuff is there for people who want it, take it or leave it.

You can easily swerve most of the beauty industry, just as you'd chose to swerve the meat industry if you're a vegetarian, the alcohol industry if you don't drink etc. All large, visible, heavily promoted and normalised industries. All a case of take it (on your own terms, to the extent that you want to), leave it, take an interest, dismiss with indifference. Up to you.

It's the Kool-Aid of our time. True, no-one says out loud that they don't respect you if you don't play by the rules. But the subtle message is there all the same

And yet millions of women in every day life in any workplace, shopping centre seem to manage to get by without fretting about this. The vast majority of women do not adopt the high maintenance standard you have rejected.

Why do you think other people think that makes you unworthy of respect? What you describe covers many, probably the majority of women in real life.

The size of cosmetic departments in pharmacies and department stores, the abundance of beauty parlours and nail salons, women's magazines, TV shows, videos, Social Media -- all proclaiming to women that they must abide by these rules in order to stay relative in the working world and attractive to men.

It's the Kool-Aid of our time. True, no-one says out loud that they don't respect you if you don't play by the rules. But the subtle message is there all the same.

Which is why mens opinion holds no value in what women decide to do (for themselves)

I'll eat my hat if men start embracing women's leg and armpit hair during this crisis or any other

Are people not able to shave their armpits and legs as they usually would, if they usually would

Yes, I didn't really get that point and in a working from home context it must be rather specialised work if one's armpits and legs are on display in a Zoom or Skype conference call.

I bi-pass the whole lot by doing my own 'beauty'. I don't think the whole industry has a great reputation for being good to women. Plenty of adverts shaming women into buying unnecessary products and beauty treatments.

I make my own hair dye from foodstuffs, dye my own hair and don't have too many qualms about cutting it, have done it before. I don't have salon treatments. Main way I look after my appearance is through good diet and exercise.

I'll eat my hat if men start embracing women's leg and armpit hair during this crisis or any other.

Are people not able to shave their armpits and legs as they usually would, if they usually would?

There is a certain type of person who sees all stereotypically 'women's interests' as trivial.

Yes! Chick lit and chick flicks too. First something is associated with women or femininity. Then it is devalued. If it is re-associated with men or masculinity then it gets value or gravitas added once more.

On the subject of hair again, I have heard more men joking about their unkempt locks than women. I do wonder whether an abusive partner might use this opportunity to make nasty comments to a woman about her appearance though. There was someone on the Relationships board early on in lockdown whose partner said something nasty to her about her looking like she had let herself go. I could imagine the self same man mocking her for her trivial interests in hair and makeup at other times. Abusers can specialise in this sort of thing.

There is a certain type of person who sees all stereotypically 'women's interests' as trivial.

Yes, a large proportion of people who post on this board do.

There is a certain type of person who sees all stereotypically 'women's interests' as trivial. So hair, make-up, fashion, gossip magazines, socialising, 'gossip'; while seeing stereotypical 'men's interests' as important. So sport, beer, newspapers, 'talking politics'.

These people are sexists. They are men and women.

I've fallen for it a bit in the past, correlating an interest in fashion and make-up with 'non-seriousness' and lower intelligence. Turns out that's not true.

I personally am tired of the fact that my own personal look I don't wear any make-up or high heels or fashionable clothes, and go to the hairdresser once a year at most; but I am clean and groomed, and pay attention to person hygiene might be a signal to others that I am unworthy of their respect

Why do you think other people think that makes you unworthy of respect? What you describe covers many, probably the majority of women in real life.

What men? Most don't notice these things. It's only women that I've heard any complaints about not getting hair done etc - and they are light hearted enough about it.

men who would moan about women neglecting themselves and letting themselves go during non pandemic times

Who are these men?

The people I know most stressing about their own hair are men.