A manicure has made all the difference

[SnowyLamb]

I've realised that after too many years od work and DC, then caring for a seriously ill DH until his death, I have become a bit unkempt. Even "before" I was never particularly worried about my appearance, but I had youth on my side then!

Anyway in the interests of rebuilding a life for myself, I have among other things, recently started having manicures. I always thoughy I didn't like coloured nails butbthey are transformative!

I don't want a big makeover and anyway wouldn't keep it up if I tried to do it all at once, but what baby step should I make next? I already have my hair cut regularly and am naturally very blonde so don't need colour and my eyebrows are shaped professionally.

It’s up to you. I suffered with awful dragon toenails for years and years. I’m allergic to the medication I need to address the fungus and no treatment ever cured it - I spent 30 years feeling rubbish about it.
I got to the point where I sliced and cut them and pruned them back as far as they would go and shoved them in socks and boots. They I went to a local beauty place / asked to see the manager privately and showed her my feet I cried my eyes out.

Fine she said I can deal with them. Don’t cut them for 4 weeks and then come back. She filed and cut them (not much as not much to work with) and painted them a deep purple with gel polish.

she said don’t touch them and gave me a follow up
I went back 4 weeks after that and so on - my toe nails aren’t perfect but no one would notice / I can wear flip
flops.

for me a decent haircut, hot stones massage (think about what you can’t see as well as what you can!), reiki, pedicure, foot massage and my nails all feel amazing.

I hear you about rebuilding your life, I too lost my Dh - so you have my empathy in that

Well I can add a pedicure to your list - having lovely feet in sandals, and painted toenails makes me feel happy.

I dye (my lightish brown eyebrows) a darker brown which I find frames my face

Using all the bottles of cream I have been gifted over the years means that for once my legs and arms are actually really smooth and not dry (who knew 😀)

Using a lovely deodorant (something like the Claris spray one or the Dr Hauska roll one means I smell lovely

and then, for the real changes I have started doing a mix of yoga / walks / swims - this has been the real transformation for me and has helped me mentally, helped me with sleeping and has helped balance the emtions I feel and the grief that creeps in.

I have also more regularly accessed massages and reflexology which helps for the loneliness / anxiety part of being widowed - I am thinking of trying acupuncture again as well.

I hope you find many small changes to make you feel better

she said don’t touch them and gave me a follow up
I went back 4 weeks after that and so on - my toe nails aren’t perfect but no one would notice / I can wear flip
flops.

love this story! Very pleased for you.

There are lots of good people out there aren't there.

Tinted eye lashes, facials and back, neck and shoulder massages

What kind of facial and what exactly will it do for me?

If your lashes are straight you could look at LVL, it's a perm for eyelashes, looks great, you look more awake and wide eyed without mascara.

Buy a beautiful designer handbag.

i would say commit to two mins a day of exercise e.g. two mins HIIT or something. That's easy to commit to, and if you keep it up you will likely build on it, even if you don't manage more than 2 mins each day. Nothing like it to help you feel better.

I already exercise a lot. It's what kept me going through lockdown, his illness and subsequently

I want to hundred percent agree with this, mine literally makes me smile every day and that’s what I spend my money on now beautiful jeans that fit perfectly and make my arse look good on a daily basis not expensive occasionally dresses that hang in my wardrobe with the tags still on.

I think the last few years is taught us all to be happy in the moment and enjoy them now you don’t need to wait for an occasion.

How do you feel about your teeth? I always had yellow teeth and paid for professional bleaching and it completely changed my life. (If your teeth are naturally white lucky you 😀). My other suggestion is to always wear lipstick/ tint/gloss. I think it always makes you feel 'better' and requires little effort.

Pop into you local salon and ask what treatments they do. There's basic types, then others that include Indian head massage, neck, shoulder and arm/hand massage. The longer the treatment the more luxurious it tends to be. So ask about the duration.

You can ask them to recommend one. They'll ask what your skin type is and what results or help you're looking for with your skin - hydration, fine lines, brightening etc.

I've worked my way through the treatment list at my local salon - it does get addictive!

Let us know what you try

I wonder if you'd benefit from seeing a chiropractor? I imagine you've been holding onto a lot of stress and they might be able to literally straighten you out.

Do you were any make up? Most days I don’t wear much but days I wear a bit people often say how well I look. My very basic look is a bit of tinted moisturiser, under eye concealer, some blusher (at the moment I’m using drunk elephant rosi drops which is barely blusher) and mascara. Takes five minutes.

You get your hair cut regularly and eyebrows professionally shaped, and now a manicure too - and consider yourself unkempt… crikey, I must have really let myself go. I don’t do any of those things

Just a heads up, if you are concerned about your nails go to a foot health professional or podiatrist. They will sort out the problem. A beauty therapist will not, they will only cover up the issue.

I do see an osteopath about every 6 weeks to help undo the damage all the exercise does

I've recently discovered a slightly tinted primer that makes the world of difference. I mostly wear that with some powder, a tiny touch of blusher and tinted lip balm. Proper make up makes me look like a clown to my eyes, although it looks good on others.

Teeth whitening is on my list actually. I've tried a few DIY things that haven't really helped, should have saved the money and just gone for it.

Ear piercing is the other. My holes closed when I took the earrings out because babies were pulling at them and didn't put them back in for 20 years!

A decent haircut and tidy brows.