Please help me sort myself out!

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

I’m a mess!

I’ve dropped from a size 30 to 22 so far, still have a way to go of course but I would like to feel better about myself right now.

My hair is a mess, it used to be gorgeous full curls and now, because I’ve lost a load of it from stress, it’s a thin frizzy greying mess

My skin is ok but dull, I have quite severe PCOS so have loads of chin hair so I’m either hairy or have a razor type redness on my chin, I’ve never worn make up in my life

My eyebrows are a state

I’m a flabby, floppy loose skinned mess and I don’t know how to dress. I keep buying tents that I would’ve worn before

Where do I start!

TIA

Well done on the weight loss that's amazing!
Have you tried the 'curly girl' method with your hair?
Booked in for a free stylist session at John Lewis (or similar)?
Visited a make up counter for a free make over?

Thank you!

I did think about a stylist but I figured they were aimed at people who could probably afford higher end clothes and who, if I’m honest, we’re more of a standard size.

Bumping for anymore help

Well done on your weight loss that is amazing.

First invest in a Philips lumea if laser hair removal is not in your budget (check your hair colour first though)

Arrange a visit to your hair dresser or find one to have a colour put on your hair and see if they can recommend a cut to help bring the bounce back to your curls.

For clothes get that basics right - good underwear or shape wear is a good place to start and think about the look you want.

Do you have Instagram? Lots of plus size bloggers who have great dress sense

Thank you!

I’ve looked at the Phillips lumea so many times but I just can’t work out if it’s worth the investment!

Friend of mine has put me in touch with her hairdresser who’s ace but he doesn’t colour, so will need to go to a hairdressers, there’s a chain one nearby that currently has 50% off colour should I get it coloured or cut first?!

Yes underwear will make a definite difference I think! Where’s the best place to get measured?!

Thanks so much!

And which is the best lumea? Money is pretty tight right now so I’m hoping Someone says the cheapest model is just fine!!

Hey really well done on the weight loss 😊

I’ve got PCOS and got a Lumea a few Christmas’ ago... it worked a little bit still have daily dark hair under chin so for PCOS I wouldn’t recommend. Friends have used it for legs etc and got on really well. I’m currently considering laser hair removal at a clinic as seen some really good results - although it’s £2k+ so quite an investment!

Thank you

Ive looked into laser hair removal but I just don’t have the money for it! Is there anything like the lumea that will work do you know?

Well done for losing weight!

Get a lumea its life changing. It works. If you are not the right skin or hair tone for it get electrolysis.

Keto and low carb is amazing for pcos.

Eyebrows, threading and filling in sparse parts. Tinting if needed.

Get good tights because they hold you in, warm (duh!) AND open up skirts and dresses.

Post pic for hair? Box dye in natural hair colour, semi permanent. Frizz, get keratin or brazilian blow dry .. kits sold on amazon.

Wax them then or pluck. The more you lose weight the less hair there will be as your hormones will improve.

Get yourself a decent pair of tweezers and tweeze those bothersome hairs away every few days. Watch YouTube tutorials on how to pluck your eyebrows. I pluck and I only need to do my eyebrows once a week.

If you want to start off light with a bit of make-up, get a good bb cream (rimmel is cheap and great), apply a little blush and use mascara lightly. This will give you a glow.

As for clothes, at a size 22, you should be able to get into jeggings at least? You can't go wrong with a decent pair of jeggings, a tunic top or gypsy top (hides the tum) or an oversized jumper. Team with a pair of calf high boots or trainers.

Your hair... I would say to get a thickening shampoo and use it bi-daily and use dry shampoo on non wash days for volume. Deep condition once a week and keep up with cuts every 12 weeks. A mobile hairdresser will do a trim for you for £15-£20, this is all you really need. Make sure you blow dry after washing as leaving it to dry on it's own can give a straw like look.

You've done the really hard bit! This is how the easy bit 🙂

Well done, OP. Three years ago I lost 6 stone, so I do understand that feeling of not having a clue what to do with your new body. Tbh, I’d avoid JL personal styling until you are 16-18. They carry very little above that it store and I actually found it quite an upsetting experience at size 22. Save that for your next treat. I can’t help with the hair as I have alopecia but I do a couple of things.

1. go to a Bobbi brown counter in a dept store and book a makeover. Although they don’t do a hard sell, you might feel obliged to buy something, so I’d stick with a lipstick Or foundation in a colour they put on you, then buy dupes for the rest in Superdrug.

2. get a bra fitting at bravissimo. It’s transformative. Bras there cost around the 30 quid mark but again you can buy one (and I would buy the first there as if it isn’t working for you, they will change it if they fitted you. You can then buy more in old colours from bras top or eBay

3. big knickers to contain the apron. I can’t bear wearing control briefs all the time, but a big stretchy pant from primark will def help

4. slather moisturiser everywhere, every day. Cheap as chips is fine but it will really help with the look or your skin and also will stop the itchiness that extreme weight loss can cause

5. join the skincare threads on here - they will help you out together a decent skin care routine, which can absolute be done on a budget

6. go to Sainsbury’s or Asda and try loads on. Aim to put together a small capsule wardrobe that will take you through the next couple of sizes. I focussed on jeans, dark trousers, and slouchy tops in neutral colours. Once you get to an 18, loads more options open up - sadly true.
   Hope that helps! Congratulations!

Thank you all! Some great help!

I’m definitely still toying with the idea of the Lumea, John Lewis have the Lumea Advanced for £200. Is the prestige worth the extra £100+?!

I wear either jegginga or skinny jeans (which I actually do look quite good in) but then have a “glory” (read Tent like!) top on...I mean absolutely huge on me! I don’t know how to dress a body that has a bit of shape other then round to it!!

My hair is just wiry and just doesn’t curl like it used to, it used to be big and bouncy and I knew how to style it, now it’s straggly, thin, still curly but I just don’t know how to style it. I want my curls back!!

My skin is ok, I have the horrid facial hair (I can’t wax, my skin goes horrifically painful and lumpy and there’s too much to pluck) and the red areas I just need to find a skincare routine that brings a bit of glow!

Good ideas about makeup counters! Can anyone recommend a decent place for that?

And will check out bravamissio!

Thanks so much

www.johnlewis.com/our-services/personal-styling
John Lewis offers a free one hour personal styling service. There is no obligation to buy so you can get ideas how to style the upper part of your body.

Check out pinterest for ideas. I'd suggest slightly more tailored Or wrap style tops to avoid the tent look.

To tackle your loose flabby skin, start swimming as that will tone your entire body in one go.

Good luck.

I really like instagram over pinterest for photos, just search plus size and follow those you like the style of. Order online and try at home. Some shops have klarna whw
ere you try before you buy.

I shave my face, use a fresh mens reuseable razor not womens or disposable or used for your body.. if its nlunt it doesnt cut well.
exfoliate your skin regularly with a scrub and dont go over thesame area more than twice. Put a calming cream on afterwards.
You can also thread them. Chin is easy to self thread look it up on youtube.

Check out Styled by Susie for clothes advice.

Well done you!!! Be proud of yourself!!!! I’m proud of you!!! I lost lots of weight too. (9.49 stones - I have kept it off for two years so far.....It’s very hard to stick to and it’s boring, but so worth it!!!) Do you have PCOS? Is that why you need the Lumea? (You might be able to get laser or IPL treatment on the NHS if you have a diagnosis of PCOS - not sure, but think I have seen it mentioned here. I’m in Australia, so we get f-all.) Anyhow, my skin isn’t too bad, considering how much weight I’ve lost - and that I’m an old fart and I don’t exercise as much as I should. I drink plenty of water and do keto which I think helps the skin. (In my case, anyway) and I take vitamins. My hair thinned as a result of perimenopause and I went straight to a dermatologist who specializes in scalp conditions. (Female pattern baldness runs in my family and I have seborrheic dermatitis.) I am now taking an oral minoxidil and spironolactone combination and it isn’t as bad. (Never back to it’s former glory, but I don’t look like a mangy Tom cat either.) I would recommend you see a derm about the facial hair. Spironolactone is a treatment for PCOS too - it treats that as well.

Thank you all!

No laser treatment on the NHS in this area, am definitely going to look more into the Lumea I think!

Thanks for all the advice, I massively appreciate it!

How did you manage your weightloss? I was 22 and I'm now at 18/20 thanks to stress but I'd like to lose weight a healthy way as right now I'm yoyoing between the two right now.

I also have PCOS and the hair thing is an issue for me but I tend to go by the fact most people wont notice it as much as I do personally so I try not to worry about it. I've also usually got quite blotchy red cheeks but this goes when I drink enough water and avoid scented or perfumed products. Palmers cocoa butter helps with razor burn and redness. I use it once I've been in the shower or before I go to bed as it goes red before it soothes.

I have quite a good waist, my sister says if I were slimmer I'd be considered an hourglass and if you've noticed you've got more of a waist now go for clothes that are tighter in the waist. I also know I've got good boobs so a decent bra and fairly low neckline are essential to me. It draws the eyes away from my stomach. Also don't wear long tops, particularly if theres little shape to them as they'll make you look bigger or boxy. It's taken me a long time to get the confidence to wear clothes that are more suited to my shape instead of hiding it but it's a massive confidence boost and now I sometimes even look forward to clothes and wearing new things. I still hate clothes shopping though and I don't wear makeup.

Your hair will look better if you get it cut and styled, go for something easy you can maintain at home. A decent hairstylist will also be able to give you tips on how to maintain the look and bring life back into your hair.

Thank you!

I’ve used weight watchers, I’m absolutely not evangelical about them but I think tracking everything massively helped me realise what I was eating.

I’ve realised dressing for my size, despite being larger, is definitely more flattering then trying to hide it!

Will look at palmers cocoa butter!

I shave facial hair with an electric razor. Takes seconds every few days.....

Unfortunately I need to do mine everyday and the electric razor still makes it red and looks like a razor burn

For the chin hair try a facial epi stick. It hurts like buggery but once you get the hang of it it'll whip those hairs out like nobody's business.

Thanks! I’ll have a look!

Can anyone recommend some amazing skincare?

My skin is super dull, a little dry, occasionally a little greasy and red but otherwise ok

I want something to make it look great, glowy and not so bloody dull

I’ve loved dermologica in the past but it’s a bit over budget right now

TIA

Bumping for skincare help :)