As a professional makeup artist, you’d expect that I wear
makeup every day, right? Well, I don’t.
I like makeup. I like the colors I get to choose from. I
like that I can up my “mojo factor” instantly and change it frequently to fit
how I’m feeling each day.
I don’t personally wear makeup every day, but I don’t judge
those who do. It’s their face and their body, so it’s their choice how they
present it to the world.
I always took being a cosmetologist’s daughter for granted.
But I realize how wonderful it is that I’ve never had to pay for a haircut or
color and that my stylist knows my hair better than anyone. Once, on vacation,
I had someone else cut my hair and didn’t like it; my mom always gives me the
best cuts (and they’re free as long as I blow them dry myself).
My favorite thing about having my mom for a stylist, though,
is that, most times, she let me do what I wanted. If I decided my new cut was
too short, she assured me it would grow. If I chose the wrong color
(remembering a time with way too many blonde highlights), well, I could always
change it back. No big deal. Mom tended to let me make my own choices, with
exception of a few times when she gently suggested that I try something else
that might compliment me more.
I always smile inwardly when I see someone walking down the
street with bright-colored hair. I think to myself, Good for them. My makeup
philosophy consists of the same three elements:
- Don’t be afraid to be a trendsetter instead of a trend-follower. Be daring.
- Have fun with it as much as possible (pretty much like everything else in life) and,
- Wear it every day or no days – it’s up to you!
When and where you choose to wear makeup is your choice. If you decide not to wear it every day, well, maybe
you’re of the philosophy that you have better things to do with your time, like
read books or go for a bike ride or climb a mountain. Good for you! I hope your pastimes bring you
much joy.
If you choose to wear makeup every day because you think that
every day is special and you’d like your look to reflect that, that’s just as
fabulous to me. A positive outlook will flatter you more than any lipstick
shade ever could.
Side note: I LOVE spending time with both groups of
individuals because they are celebrating life and enjoying it how they think
best. Neither is wrong, just different and I’m a huge fan of different.
No matter how acne-free or acne-prone your face is, no
matter how sparkling white your smile is, or perfectly applied your makeup --
what counts is who you are.
Everyone has bad days, but I’ve noticed that, when I’m
applying makeup to someone in a sour mood, it just doesn’t work the same. I’ll
think to myself, What is going on, this
is the EXACT same product and technique I used on the person before them. Why
isn’t it looking as good? Makeup will never look the same from one person
to the next, for sure, but how that person feels about themselves has a whole
lot more to do with it than you would think. I’ve seen it firsthand and I’m a
believer.
When someone sits in my chair to get their makeup done and
they are already happy, I know that they will be extra happy when it’s
completed. For those who aren’t, well, I’m just a person who applies it. I do my best every time, no matter how big or
small the job, but the rest is out of my hands.
When I go to the gym, I don’t expect someone else to do leg
and abs workout for me so my body can get fit. It just doesn’t work like that. I have to do the work to get the result I
want. Makeup won’t change you. Neither
will someone else doing your workouts for you.
I hope to be one of those 80+ people at the beach someday
and, if I want to wear a bikini and don’t have the body for it at that age, well,
anyone offended can close their eyes because I don’t body shame and I won’t be
body shamed. My body is a gift from God (and
my parents) and how I look is how I’m supposed to look. People are different. I
love that!
Regardless of whether we decide to wear makeup, dye our hair
bright colors, or wear a bikini to the beach, we all look our best when we love
ourselves – too many blonde highlights or not.
Peace and Love.
