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Have you heard the saying "you can have the figure or the face?"

Well I think it is true. I am back a t a good weight for my height Yay!
However I look older, hands are wrinkly face thinner and less full of vitality. I can reasses my makeup ( htinking I might try serums)and my wardrobe without too much difficulty but there is something I find I can do nothing about...
my biggest vanity problem is my hair. it is naturally very curly which all the mags, forums etc etc tell you is very aging. I look like Crystaltips if anyone can remember that childrens cartoon. Itis basically a curly triangle of hair. Quite boho/gipsy looking. Slighlty mad cat lady look at times too! Not too good.
When I try to straighten it then it just sticks out in a slightly wavy triangle. I am scared of more layers as they add to the curl and I could end uo with a curly tennis ball of hair!
ps Im 51.

Has anyone else had the same problem and what did you do?

Sorry for ranting but I just caught sight of myself and AAAARRRRGGGH!
Norn Iron Club member 473
«1345

Comments

  • londoner1998
    londoner1998 Posts: 800 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Artytarty wrote: »
    Well I think it is true. I am back a t a good weight for my height Yay!
    However I look older, hands are wrinkly face thinner and less full of vitality. I can reasses my makeup ( htinking I might try serums)and my wardrobe without too much difficulty but there is something I find I can do nothing about...
    my biggest vanity problem is my hair. it is naturally very curly which all the mags, forums etc etc tell you is very aging. I look like Crystaltips if anyone can remember that childrens cartoon. Itis basically a curly triangle of hair. Quite boho/gipsy looking. Slighlty mad cat lady look at times too! Not too good.
    When I try to straighten it then it just sticks out in a slightly wavy triangle. I am scared of more layers as they add to the curl and I could end uo with a curly tennis ball of hair!
    ps Im 51.

    Has anyone else had the same problem and what did you do?

    Sorry for ranting but I just caught sight of myself and AAAARRRRGGGH!

    Oh, yes, that is so true. I realised it last year: due to too much work with hardly any rest, and a lot of stress due to impending redundancy, I lost a lot of weight very quickly. Result? My face lost it too and I suddenly looked older, and I am 37. Photos were the ones that gave it away for me. I got a bit obsessed and upset about it for a while but I have re- gained a little bit of weight and I feel (and look) so much better. The lack of energy was also a problem.
    I have also seen it with people I know from my yoga class: someone I know went on a very strict diet at some point and through a period of training and her face showed it big time.

    I think if you give yourself some time you will get a tiny bit back and will help your face. I try to eat good stuff: plenty of vegetables and fish, plus avocados: they are great for the skin.

    As for the hair, may be you need to find someone who can handle curly hair. My australian friend had the same problem and she only trusted her hairdresser, for the same reason. May be a good stylist can advice? Sorry, I'm sure others will be able to help with that. But I'd say, don't despair: drink lots of water, moisturise and continue eating well. You might get some bounce back on the skin and I am sure there is a remedy to the hair as well...

    Ax
  • daska
    daska Posts: 6,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Low fat diet by any chance? Try increasing your consumption of natural fats: nuts, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, ghee, lard etc.
    Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants - Michael Pollan
    48 down, 22 to go
    Low carb, low oxalate Primal + dairy
    From size 24 to 16 and now stuck...
  • j.e.j.
    j.e.j. Posts: 9,672 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Artytarty wrote: »
    my biggest vanity problem is my hair. it is naturally very curly which all the mags, forums etc etc tell you is very aging.
    I actually think that the trend for dead-straight (as in straightened) hair is not very flattering on most people, tbh. That's why people with this kind of hairstyle tend to wear a lot of make-up, - it is a very harsh sort of hairstyle, and it doesn't disguise anything. Curly hair gives a much softer appearance, imo, but it's going against the grain a bit, and the fashion Police wouldn't approve :rotfl:
  • Nicki
    Nicki Posts: 8,166 Forumite
    My own theory is that the ideal weight for a woman increases as she gets older, so a weight which suits when you are in your twenties will be far too low in your forties.

    I am currently trying to drop some weight and when I checked online for my ideal weight, it ranged from 130 to 155lbs. I am currently around 160lbs and a size 12 but there is no way my face or body could look good at 130 now even if they did when I was a teenager or in my twenties. I personally think my new ideal is around 145lbs which would have me easily slipping into a size 10 at 5'6" but I would have been horrified to be over 140 when I was younger and would probably at that age been a size 12 at that weight.
  • Hughjass
    Hughjass Posts: 387 Forumite
    The answer is to stay at a lower weight, slimmer is always more youthful and easier to dress and get botox, I know that sounds extreme but it really does work, save the money up that you would of spent on creams etc that can only do so much and if it bothers you go for what really works.

    Hair wise I too have curly hair and it does get drier with age, stop having layers cut in and grow it, in fact try to avoid having it cut at all, there are a few strange tips that have worked for my hair

    1. Never brush hair when dry, always comb with a wide tooth comb when wet with large amounts of conditioner in it.

    2. Do not rub with a towel, pat.

    3. CO washing works well (search on here or google) but I dye my hair every 3 weeks so it was a bit pointless.

    4. Trial and error with products, I love Redken all soft shampoo and heavy cream conditioner, I don't use serum etc but did have some success when I did with half serum and half non alcohol gel on wet hair and left to dry naturally.

    5. Avoid hairdryer, straighteners etc like the plague, heat and curly rarely mix.

    If I can help anymore please let me know, good luck:)
    All power is from within and therefore under our control
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hughjass wrote: »
    The answer is to stay at a lower weight, slimmer is always more youthful and easier to dress and get botox[,

    Ha ha! That will go down well.
  • Artytarty
    Artytarty Posts: 2,642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks all, yes low fat diet, Slimming World, I have maybe gone a bit too far. I am the same weight now as when I was in my twenties.
    My diet is healthy, I feel good,& have energy but I lok older.
    Meh to the hair, its here to stay!
    Norn Iron Club member 473
  • Hughjass
    Hughjass Posts: 387 Forumite
    Ha ha! That will go down well.

    But its honest and the truth, hopefully I give advice and opinions that help not just sycophantic comments:)
    All power is from within and therefore under our control
  • Artytarty
    Artytarty Posts: 2,642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    And I appreciate that!
    Norn Iron Club member 473
  • Pamylib
    Pamylib Posts: 47 Forumite
    Congratulations on reaching your target weight!!

    I agree with the former posters: a low-fat diet can cause loss of collagen from the face - though Slimming World has more protein than most. I aso think a little more weight doesn't hurt; at 66 I'm a size 14 and a stone heavier than in my youth.

    However you might try using a facial oil rather than a serum - you can use them even with oily skin. I get my skincare from Essentially Yours online (they have a brochure, too), and you can get a sample size to try. Don't be put off by the atrocious spelling. I don't know if they're dyslexic or what, but the advice is sound and you can email the cosmetic chemist directly, or even speak to him on the phone!

    Not particularly cheap, though...
    Toiletries Starting Stash Nov 2013:205
    May 2014: 178. Jun 2014 175/178. July 2014 167/175



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