My Latest Feel-Good Escape
I must still be feeling the Love Yo’Self love. Because lately — much like Kristen — I’ve been pampering myself a bit more — and it’s been feeling really, really good.
Honestly, make-up and hair products usually intimidate me a little. Okay, a lot. After 35 years on the planet, watching countless YouTube videos and having various friends and professionals do my hair and make-up for everything from high school dances (thanks, Tish!) to magazine covers (thanks, Erica!), I can’t say I haven’t tried or picked up tricks from the best. But, dammit, a curling iron still freaks me out to this day.
But, somehow, someway, when I had the chance to try a new CHI Escape Cordless Curling Iron, I said yes. Maybe it’s all those bust-out-of-your-comfort-zone memes going to my head and heart — and hair. I’m pretty sure I originally thought: “Sure, I’ll try that. It’s battery-operated and cordless and would be perfect for the gym!” And I do have a CHI hair straightener that I do use regularly and love — that ceramic tech is cool and works extremely well on my coarse and wavy hair.
But, then I got it and was all like, “OMG, now what?!”
And then I just kind of decided to let go of all my intimidation and just started playing.
Some of my curls were good. Some were crimped and I almost burned my hand. (Um, don’t touch it, duh.) I had a hell of a time getting to the back of my head. (For the record, this has everything to do with me and nothing to do with the curling iron.) But, for this intimidated beauty newbie, I had a bit of a breakthrough. I DIDN’T CARE.
And here’s how something as simple as a curling iron (albeit an awesome one at that) gave me a personal breakthrough: You don’t have to be good at everything. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to consider just showering as a beauty routine. That’s perfectly acceptable.
But … It’s also okay to play around. Make mistakes. Get dolled up and have fun. (Even if you end up pulling your hair up into a ponytail.)
Now that I have a daughter who’s watching me get ready in the morning, I’m acutely aware of what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. And what I hope she sees is that a “beauty routine” can be whatever you want it to be — but it should be fun. You don’t have to have eyeliner and a kick-ass curling iron to feel good. But, if that makes you feel good, rock on with your bad self.
And, seeing that my current CHI straightener is going on 10-plus years, she just might be able to use the CHI Escape herself. Again, if she wants to. (And hopefully by then I’ll have enough practice having fun with it to curl her hair!)
Heck, the next time I travel I may just throw the CHI Escape in my bag. Its lithium battery allows up to 30 minutes of consistent heating and it’s small enough to throw in a carry-on or even your purse (it comes in a travel pouch and has a locking mechanism, too, for safety).
Getting crazy, I know.
Beauty newbies: you feel me? Next up: eyeliner. —Jenn