On opting out of beauty standards
Today I complimented a woman I work with on her gorgeous natural silver hair. There were other women around, which led to a conversation about how much money, time, and energy everyone expends on getting their hair done, as well as their devotion to their hairdressers.
I listened actively, smiled, nodded at the appropriate moments, looked shocked when it seemed like the right thing to do, but didn’t really contribute anything to the conversation. When the group was breaking up, one of them politely asked me who does my hair.
“Um… supercuts?”
God made my face, and She calls it good.
I often in public say things like, “I don’t really do hair and makeup because I’m lazy.” Which is partially true. I make excuses about makeup because it makes my eyes itchy. Also true. Mostly I say these things so people don’t think I’m being holier-than-thou. Because for me, opting out of some beauty standards is first and foremost a spiritual practice.
By not spending money on makeup, I’m not making some billionaire richer off my insecurities. I spend so much less time getting ready in the morning, giving me more time for the things I value. I don’t worry during the day about my makeup being messed up, and can focus on loving the people around me. I’m also just so much more content in the face the Creator gave me.
This is the first time in a long time my hair has been long-ish, but most of the time I just wear it up. I’m considering buying some wide headbands so it’s one less thing to worry about. A hair uniform, if you will. I intentionally choose not to use heat-styling aside from special events, both for the electrical energy saving and the personal energy saving.
Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t wholesale given up on all western beauty standards. I still pluck my eyebrows, shave my armpits, and occasionally curl my eyelashes. There’s still a stray tinted lip balm floating around here somewhere. I have insecure days when I wish I had some concealer in the house!
I also recognize that I have some degree of privilege here: I have naturally clear skin most of the time, and I work in a job where my professionalism isn’t tied to my appearance. I’m not judging anyone who does choose to participate more in societal beauty standards. That may be part of their spiritual practice (everything is spiritual)!
That said, simplifying my beauty “routine” down to basically just keeping myself clean has freed up my brain, wallet, and heart for doing the work in the world that I’m meant to do: loving others.
Is there a societal norm that you choose to opt-out of (beauty or otherwise) as a spiritual practice? Tell me in the comments!
