The Best Thing About Aging 2

March 18, 2010

…is being your real authentic self without apologies.

I don’t know a single woman over 40 who would go back to 20. But few of us are showing the world our real selves. We got distracted in an over-marketed world and forgot that we’re fine the way we are.

Sigourney Weaver looks easy and real, better now than she ever has. She hasn’t succumbed to the blonde highlights and the injections. It’s so much more relaxing to be around than the supernatural way she used to look. This woman looks intelligent and in control of her world. She also shows off the Autumn Season’ s ability to exactly match hair and eye colour.

Young costumes on older women set up a conflict. To resolve it, the viewer has to work. Who wants more work? They work every time they hear music they don’t like, a light turns red, cell phones with 65 buttons. People are attracted to ease and what feels good.

I used to do dress like my kids. I don’t think it was nervousness about age so much as I liked the clothes. I still like them. Hoodies, nylon pants, workout clothes especially, layered tops, they’re comfortable.

People probably thought : What is she saying about herself? That she can still be fun? Is she trying to look younger… does that mean she worries about looking old? Am I supposed to think something or notice something? Am I supposed to react to this?

I have realized that it was hard to look at. It felt uncomfortable to people. You can’t go by the compliments. People want to say nice things and they’ll find a reason to. Hearing “your eyeliner is crazy” or “blonde hair looks dull and flat on you” is not likely to happen, even if it should.

I hear hairstylists say that women need lighter hair as they mature. I don’t buy it. Maybe a shade or two lighter to soften the effect on the skin (so Sally Field’s skin is better with a medium-dark brown these days, instead of black-brown), but there are too many yellow chunks and stripes walking around. When the colorist stands back and looks at the head they just worked on, do they just look at the hair or the face that has to wear it? Does anyone else find these stripes jarring or aging?

And this just looks like a bad wig.

We have to police ourselves or lose our credibility. That’s a big price to pay, especially when we can have it so easily. It’s the gift that comes with Over 40. It could be almost automatic.

Give them a reason to keep looking by making it look easy and feel good. Life is so much simpler for everyone when we have nothing to prove. That’s a battle best left to the young.

Cover grey if grey doesn’t feel right but don’t look like you worked too hard to change anything. Aging can be scary, but it can be beautiful and powerful.

Wear makeup that looks believable so people don’t feel forced to react to it. Turquoise eyeliner requires a reaction even if you’re 30. Makeup should be your supporting cast, but never steals center stage.

Tell the world who you really are. Look like you really look.

Posted by Christine Scaman | Filed Under Color Analysis, Great Hair, Happiness, Makeup

Comments

2 Responses to “The Best Thing About Aging 2”

Kathy on March 19th, 2010 12:15 am

Wow, Sigourney looks great, except for the fake hair color. Love Diane Keaton! She looks like her hair could be gray (although it isn’t). Her face is untouched. She has a great life attitude. She does as she pleases, fairly authentic. I’m a fan.
Cheryl Lawlor on March 19th, 2010 7:26 am

Some people are just born brunettes I think.
When Elizabeth Taylor was shown on T.V. at her 70th birthday, she had short dark hair and it looked wonderful. So much younger than the ash blonde do I had seen her with in earlier photos.
I too have tried to go ice-cream blonde with the help of my hairdresser but I could never persevere beyond the light brown or yellow stages. As soon as I would go dark again my whole face would just come to life. I am 61years young and as Christine says I just feel so right and at ease with the brunette colour. It just fits. Sigourney Weaver too,just looks so right with her autumn hair colouring whereas Dianne Keating isn’t flattered by the colour she is wearing. Don’t get me wrong I love Dianne Keating and I think she is a gorgeous lady.

I think Christine has hit on a really good observation. It really does feel uneasy and difficult when it looks wrong. Even when you are looking at other peoople. I know I straight away have this feeling of relaxation and peace with myself when I am a lovely winter medium brown with no reds or yellows. Thanks to Christine’s perception I now fully realise why I feel that way.

Every time I used to wonder if it was time to finally go light because of my age as was the advice being given I would think of how Ophrah Winfrey would look with blonde hair and in my mind I immediately got a pictute of Ophrah looking 15years older.

If necessary try a shorter cute style first before changing a colour that has always been so right on you.