Whether you consider yourself low maintenance, high maintenance, or somewhere in between, putting effort into your appearance matters. We live in a world where you are judged on the level of effort you put into your appearance, and personal hygiene is apart of overall health. A low maintenance routine could simply consist of basic hygiene or you could do the most, the point is that you must take care of yourself.
One of my goals for the year is to reinvigorate my personal maintenance routine. During the first few months of this Pandemic, all of the usual places I go for beauty maintenance shut down. Naturally, I adapted to what I could do at home, but not everything could be done well at home. Now, everything is open and I want to get back into the habit of taking care of my personal appearance.
Benefits of good personal hygiene
For most women, a basic personal hygiene routine consists of dental care, skincare, and haircare. Most of which can be incorporated into a simple morning and evening routine. However, a low maintenance routine should also include routine doctor visits for dental health, vaginal health, and overall physical health.
Basic attention to your health will ensure a more seamless transition as you age and hormones dictate changes in your body and physical appearance. Every aspect of personal hygiene relates to internal health in some way shape or form, so at least a low maintenance beauty routine is a must. Plus, a high maintenance beauty routine begins with good personal hygiene.
“The best color in the world is the one that looks good on you”
My High Maintenance Beauty Routine
I use grooming and personal maintenance to pamper myself and treat myself with a bit of extra care. The benefit is that I can easily go anywhere from the grocery store to a formal event with minimal effort. A high maintenance beauty routine includes:
Haircare: I love my natural hair and it is an expression of my personality. Good haircare is as simple as regular washing, maintaining an overall shape that flatters your face, and always taking care to style your hair before leaving the house each day. I live by the ‘Cleanse, Condition, Coat’ motto for natural hair care, and have a routine that ensures my bad hair days are less than a handful each year. If you have yet to build a hair care routine, use my hair routine template to create a plan for healthy haircare.
Skincare: Skin is one of the first things people notice about you, and they judge too! Much of our skincare woes are genetic, but having a morning and evening skincare routine is a must. If you have problem skin, I recommend visiting a dermatologist to quickly get your skin under control and to avoid the trial and error process. On top of basic maintenance, regular skin treatments will help to keep the skin in the best possible condition as you age. This may include facials, peels, and botox from a licensed dermatologist or esthetician.
Body care: Soft supple skin begins with a basic shower routine (include vaginal maintenance here as well). Moisturized skin that glows is a sign of health, so lotion up regularly and use a body oil to add a supple appearance to the skin. Also, whether you shave, wax, or laser, you must have a regular routine to manage body hair. Some people are hairier than others, some prefer to maintain more hair on the body than others. Regardless, intentional attention to body hair is a must.
Makeup: Makeup can enhance your overall appearance and definitely shows effort. A 5-minute, 10-minute, and 15-minute face can be done with a well-stocked makeup kit. Choose your look and stick to it. Generally, anywhere from glam to effortless takes a bit of makeup to pull off and will help you stand out as someone who cares about their daily appearance.
Scent: Choosing how you smell can be that thing that makes you unforgettable to everyone you meet. Your scent can also just leave everyone you meet with a pleasant feeling. Regardless of what you choose, do not leave your smell to chance. Instead, intentionally scent your body with lotion, oil, perfume, or anything else that fits the bill.
Becoming High Maintenance
I did not become high maintenance overnight. At some point I chose a routine that fit how I want to appear in the world, and it fit the high maintenance lifestyle. You can choose your low vs high maintenance routine by simply deciding how often you will make effort toward the details of your appearance. My maintenance routine looks something like this:
Daily
Shave: I do not enjoy the feeling of prickly hair, so I shave my legs and underarms every other day
Weekly
Exfoliate: I use this to exfoliate my body three times a week to keep my skin smooth and more even all over.
Haircare: Once a week I maintain my hair through a wash routine that includes a deep conditioning treatment. Then, I style my hair in such a way that it will remain presentable for a week. I moisturize my hair mid-week to keep it from appearing dull and I will apply oil as necessary. I have a lot of haircare products, but my favorites are listed here.
Monthly
Bikini wax: I get a bikini wax every four weeks. I’ve been getting waxed for years, so the hair does not grow back as fast anymore. One essential for preventing in-gown hairs is this product here.
Facial: My skin does best when I get monthly facials. Sometimes I go for a hydrating facial, sometimes exfoliating, it depends on how my skin is acting that month.
Mani/Pedi: I am rubbish at shaping my own nails, so I go to the nail shop once a month. In between, I change my polish once a week and get rid of any dead skin.
When Needed
Brows: I tweeze my brows as needed because I like to keep them pretty full. However, next month I will get micro blading, so my brow routine will change a bit.
Chemical peel: I have problem skin, so I get a peel a few times a year to deal with any new blemishes.
Budget for grooming
Over the years, I have gone from low maintenance to high maintenance as my budget allows. I outsource more now, and I find that doing so saves time and is often a better result than anything I could have accomplished myself. Every month, I budget for regular maintenance, but how high or low the cost of outsourcing is totally up to where you live.
In my life, a high maintenance beauty routine allows me to easily look put together when I leave the house. I simply apply the scent that is speaking to me that day, throw on clothes from my capsule wardrobe, and voila! I’m out the door feeling confident in how I present myself to the world. When in regular times, I attend semi-formal events on a regular basis, and the occasional formal event throughout the year. This personal maintenance routine is how I am able to transition easily from work to events feeling confident in my appearance.
