Please help me improve my hair and makeup - feeling v drab.

[GetStuffezd]

Hello all,
I really need some advice on making the most of myself. I'm really overweight at the moment and feeling quite low, so until I've shifted the pounds I want to make the most of my hair and face. My hair is a curly nightmare so I scrape it back every day, but wouldn't mind a down style - except I don't know any!
And my make up is so dull - what can I do to liven up my face a bit? Would a bright red lippy look good on me or silly? I've put a pic on profile, if you recognise me please don't say!!
Many thanks!!!

Wearing the right red lipstick will add loads of impact to your look, for basically zero effort. I always feel like the rest of my outfit feels more intentional, iykwim, when i'm wearing red lipstick.

Have you got a hairdresser you can just ask for help re your hair? I have poker straight hair so no use really, but there are lots of MNers who seem to have success with no shampoo methods etc for managing curly hair.

I don't have a regular hairdresser but need to find one who understands curls. Any time I wear my hair down it seems to turn into the Fuzzy Triangle. I might give the red lippy a try, it always seems to look nice on other women. Thanks Hopefully

You've got strong features so I think red is a look you could carry off. Isn't it MAC Rubywoo that's meant to be a unit all red?.

Aveda do a leave in conditioner I appear to have bought the last one sorry. It's brilliant for calming hair down.

Ah, the Crystal Tipps look? That's what my hair prefers too!

What I did was book a consultation in a really nice local salon. The stylist I spoke to listened to what I wanted, and worked out how that would work with my curls, the condition of my hair, my lifestyle, even my face shape. I had the one expensive haircut, then armed with the knowledge of what suits me I had the confidence to go to cheaper places and tell them exactly what needs doing.

Do you watch YouTube videos on makeup? I got qquite a few tips from Lisa Eldridge's videos. A wearable red lipstick that is very praised on this forum is Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple. It's not a scary red, but you can build it up to get a bolder look.

Ruby Woo is often called a universal red, but I have warm skintone and it is horrible on me. Think it is v rare to find a true red (i.e not warm or cool).

Thank you, you lot. I am taking note of these products. I would kill for a shampoo that tames stupid curls so will check out the leave in conditioners as suggested. Also, when i move, i will take care to find a nice salon who will help me out.
No clue where to begin in looking for red lipsticks, I might have to drag a friend along for that one!

agree on the lipstick comment! I feel better with lippy!

Aveda do a range called be curly, it gets good reviews on their own website but I shop around for it.

I knew a girl with curly hair and she ended up growing it really long, it looked nicer long tbh.

Don't bother with a hairdresser, the vast majority really don't understand curly hair. I grew my hair out to waist length and the weight pulls it down and stops it puffing out. I condition it well and scrunch umbertto gianni into it and a bit of texture cream to stop it being flat at the top and its good to go.
Make up wise, find a good foundation and primer first that matches your skin tone. Even if you have good skin it will even out the tone and texture and you will have a good base for colour and look fresher.
A bright coloured lipstick in a shade that suita you will instantly will instantly make you look 'done' and it is worth investing in a matching lipliner.
I personally wear eyeshadow and liquid eyeliner everyday but this is more force of habit then really needed it. Splash out on a decent mascara (i personally recommend boujois clubbing mascara). You can add a flick of eyeliner along the top lid to bring out your eye colour. Purple is great for brown or green eyes, gold for blue. Black suits anyone really. The best liquid eyeliner i've used is barry m in the littke pot. Avoid the felt tip style ones, they dry far too quickly.
I experimented a lot with make up when i was younger, i used to be very overweight myself so relied on hair & make up to make myself feel better.
One of my more 'distinctive' looks like i remember was blue eyeliner, eyeshadow and pink mascara...

Wow, loads to take in there mermaid - thank you! You're so right about the makeup. I must admit, mine comes from the knockoff rather cheap shop and is usually crap. And I definitely need to practise the Flicky eye liner thing, it looks great on other women! I have this vision of leaving work for summer holiday in July then coming back in September with the weightloss begun and looking great!

You're really pretty and I think red lipstick would look fab.

I find laura merciers, 'cavier sticks' a god send. They are eye crayons that you can use as eyeshadow. They go on in seconds, the formulation is lovely and they are pretty hard wearing. Really good for quick make up in the morning.

I also rave about Mac blooz eyeliner, a ink coloured pencil. Is lovely to use on lower lids.