Looking effortlessly groomed...

[elliej83]

Hi everyone,

I've been a little glum this week as just find no matter how hard I try I always seem to look a bit unkept.

I have very fine hair which is always wispy no matter if I tie it up or have it down. Shorter styles are even worse to keep. I always seem to have bags under my eyes and just look a little unkept.

I was discussing this with a friend today who said that its one of those things you either have or you don't. Or... You spend a fortune to get.

Does anyone have any tips on looking groomed on a budget?

There really is no such thing as "effortless grooming" there may be "effortless beauty" but if you want to look put together you need to work at it.

Clean, blow dried hair - unless you're the 0.1% that looks great sporting a cut that can be air dried and styled with their fingers

Up to date colour - no roots

Manicured nails

Chuck out clothes that are past their best - no bobbles/pulls/holes or fade

Full face make up - you cannot look groomed post 30 without a full face.

And agree to you need to commit to grey - and continue to style it even if you're not coloring it.

I am way past 30 and I don't wear a full face of make up - just mascara, eyeliner and lipstick. Full make up looks fake and screams trying too hard rather than effortless grooming.

I was about to say what flamingo said- grooming doesn't really ever look effortless imo. You can look effortlessly stylish (and I would love to!), but to me, groomed implies some kind of nails, hair, make up- and at the extreme end, the whole overdone TOWIE look!

Nothing wrong with not wearing a full face of make up but if you want to look groomed then its extraordinarily unusual that you can get away without a decent (by that read expensive, not obvious) base.

TOWIE is not well groomed

This is well groomed - and I'd be amazed if she had less than twenty products in her face

Off to lie down.

You look old if you want to. I like to keep myself looking younger. Like you don't just leave your house to look aged. You paint it. Etc

People usually say I'm well groomed & well dressed, despite having poorly controlled rosacea and thinning hair from autoimmune issues.

Key things:
Good haircut every 6 weeks & styling - hides my lack of hair. Learn to do a nice simple up do for when your hair isn't co-operating
Good subtle makeup - I use Bare Minerals, same rose lipstick every day
Simple jewellery - nice Longines watch or casual tan strap watch, diamond studs, a number of simple necklaces that I match to my outfit
Simple clothes - I wear a lot of dresses, simple tailored clothes. If it doesn't fit perfectly I'll get it altered
Clean ironed clothes!!!

I don't wear fake tan (too pale), don't buy into many fashion trends.

This is nerdy, but my concession to the school of thought that simplifying daily decisions into routines is a productive life hack, is to break my wardrobe down into lists of outfits - I have a note inside my wardrobe with lists of work outfits (dress/shoes/jewellery) & weekend outfits. It makes getting ready easy.

Please, canarywharfmums, and anyone else, what bag shapes are in at the moment? I never seem to have any idea and don't know where to look to find out!!

Getting my grey roots done makes me instantly feel groomed. I found a hairdresser that gets the colour just right, warm brown but no hint of red.
Now if only it didn't cost me £81 a time...
I'm overweight though and think it's near impossible to look groomed if overweight, clothes just don't sit right. Unless you're wearing some sort of Spanx but then you just look/are uncomfortable

So agree. Brown no red is holy grail

It takes effort

TOWIE is what over groomed looks like (to me!).

I think well groomed also needs to fit what you are doing- a well groomed receptionist might look
quite different to a well groomed reception teacher.
Brown with no red is impossible with home dye.

Brown with no red is impossible with home dye
Ain't that the truth!
Tried to get out of her what colour she used - she said "flat 6 mixed with a bit of 7" if anyone understands that

There are some excellent related threads on MN. Check this one out from December:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2537782-How-to-look-expensive

Looking groomed is something to do with having a pared down look which includes no 'extras' in the jowl or other departments. Each component of the face & body has to be 'spare' - if you know what I mean. Ditto for clothes - no fiddly add-ons, just a clean line.

I need this thread!!

Tanaqui try Clairol Nice 'N' Easy with 'ash' in the tile - e.g. medium ash borwn, light ash brown etc - I has the same issue with red and got the Clairol recommendation on Mumsnet ages ago - it really is OK and £2.99 a go from Superdrug...

Sorry and to ChicagoBull re the Clairol £2.99 jobby.

JackieandHyde4eva try Bally for comfortable work shoes. I'm sure that decent, supportive shoes improve posture too.

Thanks avacrowder i will do.

I thought Flamingo was exaggerating when she said twenty products. Then I did my "natural neutral face" and I got to about 15, plus nine brushes. So yes, probably about there! Natural, effortless.... pah! only if the work that has been done is it invisible, and there lies art (artifice).

only if... IS invisible, obviously.

ilove torrential rain thanks I might try that on an inconspicuous but. I'm cynical though - I've tried loads of box dyes with 'ash' in the title