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In more ways than one I could be considered a late bloomer in life.

It was up until my early twenties that I relied on my ‘natural beauty’ to carry me through in life. Unfortunately, nature may have outweighed beauty on more than one occasion. I am sure nature would have appreciated a little effort on my part in washing my hair more than twice in a week; even showering after every volleyball practice would have been an improvement I am sure. I did at least shave during my high school years, but I have to be honest and admit that even now that act can be sporadic at times.

It was not until my mid-twenties that I started using make-up in earnest, on the surface -literally- I figured that if I knew that I did not know what I was doing in the make-up and hair department then I had better just steer clear of it all. You can see plenty of disasters around and I did not want to be the girl who came in orange every day. At the real root of it all was the fact that I have always had a very strong sense of who I am as a person. I was afraid that if I plucked my eyebrows, dyed my hair, and covered myself in make-up that I would lose that person, oddly enough for a teenager I really liked who that person was.

I had various interventions from well-meaning, and those I am convinced were not so well–meaning, friends. One painstakingly plucked each one of my eyebrows and one made me look like a 1970’s country singer, yet somehow her make-up always came out as natural and perfect as Gwyneth Paltrow holding her Oscar.

I did eventually catch on. I proudly shower on a regular basis now and I get my eyebrows professionally waxed by a women I am convinced is a true artist. My hair stylist is also fabulous and talented. I am sure she wishes I would visit more than twice a year though. With age I have learned that ‘enhancements’ are ok.

Experimenting with hair color and contouring with make-up make me feel good inside. I have not fallen into the trap of having to do it every day, but it does feel nice to go out and feel like the whole package is working or walk into a meeting with an extra boost of confidence. Even if it does take a push-up bra and a pair of spanks.

In short, go out and buy yourself a flat iron, round brush, and styling lotion. Buy the make-up for the smoky eye and the gloss for sexy lips. I endorse it all. As long as you can still feel like you when it is all off, even if it is not the sexed up glammed up Adriana Lima version of you.