Maintenance for the #grownasswoman

New year, new plans for self-care and making sure I get better about daily care routines.

*FULL DISCLOSURE! Beauty secrets are about to be revealed! Men beware…you may not enjoy this one!!

When I was 12, I received an electric razor specifically for shaving my legs! Imagine my delight when seeing this under the Christmas tree. This was a long-time coming for me because as a dark-headed Italian girl, my legs were hairy…really hairy! I looked like I had just arrived from the old country! Most of the girls I knew had started shaving their legs much sooner than me, which made my legs look even more hairy, especially during the summer time.

I jumped for joy when I received this teal and white, double edged Lady Schick electric razor. My Mom told me, “Remember, once you start shaving your legs, you will have to keep it up!” I kind of knew that, but didn’t realize that shaving would become a daily thing for me…lasting a lifetime.

Dating and Marriage for me meant shaving every day! I know some of you are laughing but it’s true. One time, I was part of a focus group for P & G, testing shaving lotions/creams and I had to stop shaving my legs for two weeks in the summer. It was a terrible nightmare. I couldn’t believe I accepted that “job” but then when I got my $75 cash, I quickly forgot about my misery!!! Other than that time, and when I had my knee surgery, I shaved my legs every day for as long as I can remember. Then I got divorced!    

It was June 2018 and I was in an apartment complex that had a “party pool” so daily shaving continued because I was at that pool every day…until the first snowfall! On that morning, I woke up and decided it was too cold and since I had no where to go…I ditched the razor that day…and the next…and the next and soon it had been four or five days of no shaving! In a way, I felt liberated!

Then, the holidays were upon us and I felt like shaving my legs was part of dressing up and the remote possibility that I would meet someone…kept me motivated to keep shaving.

Fast forward to covid, no social life, pajamas and leggings. I admit, not shaving is still a little hard for me, but I have gone from daily to every other or maybe every couple of days…unless something special comes up!! I love the moisturizing lotion in the shower, basically killing two birds with one stone.

Enough about shaving legs! What about those little hairs that appear on my face? I mean I think I’ve mentioned this before but I can leave the house at 8:30am, look in the mirror when I arrive at work for one quick check, and BAM…a snake-like hair is growing freely out of the right side of my face. WTH??? Where did it come from? How long has it been there? Why in the hell didn’t I see it this morning???  

For those of you who have not discovered it, the Flawless is a great “as seen on TV” item sold at Kroger or Walgreens. It is a compact rotary face shaver for women and it removes peach fuzz. I highly recommend it and at $19.99 it’s a steal…and a lifesaver! I have been using that for a couple of years. In fact, if you ask me at any time, I usually have one in my purse, my work bag, and my car. You never know when a “wild hair” may jump out!

About a year ago, I found someone who did dermaplaning, or facial shaving. It is disguised as exfoliating the dead skin cells and giving your skin a refresh, but it is definitely a “shave” for your face. The peach fuzz disappears and your face feels so smooth…but it only lasts a short time for me as those stubborn Italian hairs go into hiding for about a week. Then they start to pop out on my chin. So sometimes I have to pull out the Flawless between monthly visits.

I do not go to a salon for this treatment, I go to an aesthetician who does this in a lovely quiet space in her home. It is much less expensive and honestly, that’s the only reason I do it. This is one maintenance process I don’t mind paying for the service!

Since starting the dermaplaning, I decided to get more serious about washing my face with a better moisturizing lotion/soap, night cream and the daily “repair” cream. Not really sure what I am repairing, but figure at 63+ years old, it can’t hurt. I can devote more than 30 seconds to this face of mine.

My gray hair has taken on a look of its own and I’m finally getting used to it. Thanks to those of you who always compliment me and have cheered me on through the process. I decided that I would try some hair products that are supposed to provide a thicker, fuller look, and reduce the amount of hair loss we get as we get older.

At the recommendation of AARP, (has it come to this???), I purchased a few products from Better Not Younger and I think it’s working. I’ve been using these hair products  regularly and after almost a month, I think I’m seeing a difference. At least I’m not shedding as much!!

I’m giving my fingernails a break from the shellac polish of every two weeks. I have never had great nails, but I am determined to strengthen them for 2-3 months, meaning a daily coating of nail strengthener.

Now I won’t bore you with the rest of my maintenance routines, but I have to say, I am doing well with these efforts. I made a checklist on a calendar so I can be more accountable to myself. Whatever it takes to keep me on track friends…that’s what I do!

So many routines, but honestly, it takes so little time. I’m hoping it pays off!! Once this quarantining is up, I should be looking good! Too bad I didn’t bother with this when we first got locked down…I’d be ready for a pageant!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

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