Are you well groomed?

I agree with bags and others that grooming is only about cleanliness and tidiness.
Marion it sounds as though it's only your hair that's the problem, as it is mine. I'm lost without the hairspray I get from the hairdresser's I go to, it's Regis Designline Ultrahold and it a miracle product as far as I'm concerned!

That's true tegan. A friend of mine went grey very young, she bought several colours of hair dye and just mixed up a little of each colour every couple of weeks in turn. Then she painted one colour on, the next colour two weeks later, and so on. Gradually she bought paler and paler colours and increased times between colourings. She has a lovely white bob now.

Re hair; could you not have a mixed colour ie with highlights amongst the dark hair, and then slowly lighten it. I used to have highlights and then realised I didn't need to have them done so often; it dawned on me that it was because my grey hair was growing through. Eventually I just let the grey hair grow through. I was going to have low lights again but tried that touch of silver shampoo the other day and really like the effect [I was worried that my hair was going to turn blue, though, but it didn't]. I'm now going to have a make up rethink to go with it eg pink blusher rather than bronze, which will go better with the silvery effect.

Hair mascara is good, I shall have to google the spray. I have grey streaks, so last xmas invested in a lightest brown hair mascara that lasts for about two weeks. It's brilliant because I can just brush it in when the more permanent colourant starts to grow out (I only apply it to my parting) and so the length of time between applications is lengthened.

I was even eyeing up Just for Men last week, but haven't got around to googling that yet, either.

When I don't bother at all with how I look and leave off the make up as well I feel completely invisible, and that's quite liberating. Although when I'm in that mode it always surprises me when people that I know recognise me . I saw something the other day on the shopping channel for something that you spray on to cover grey roots; it looked very impressive.

I put on a little makeup and tamed my unruly hair before I went to tesco this morning and I noticed one or two very smart, well-madeup, smartly dressed ladies in there. When I came out it was wet and windy so by the time I loaded the car and took the trolley back I looked like a bedraggled mess.

ga I'm not too keen on your sister!

Hair roots are a major problem for me, first two weeks after a visit to the hairdressers I can wear my hair up, after that I really can't.

I wish my hair was white, my friends mum has the most gorgeous white hair cut in a beautiful bob.

I used to be light auburn, it went mouse brown, now it has more and more grey as the days go on. At least the inch that I see at the roots before I get it done does.

my long hair shines, my face is natural, no one believes I'm 70 depends what you mean by well groomed, in my opinion animals are groomed, on the other hand my hair is long because short it looks like a haystack and refuses to be permed styled or captured and I have good genes, also have never put chemicals on my face never smoked or drunk alcohol.

Oh I'm sure, Jess - I just wouldn't have thought there were so few well-groomed women around, that's all!

I like to coordinate my colours - purple socks with purple top, for example. I have a naturally pale complexion so do wear a foundation that is a little darker than my skin, plus a coral lipstick that never stays put. I don't feel complete without earrings - even tiny studs which I'm wearing now. And in spite of all this, I rarely feel well groomed.

Not unknown or unspotted ana

Thank you, Tegan, I will definitely give that a try

I wear the full works when I leave the house, but not a scrap indoors. I have long thick curly hair, for shopping and things I can just twist it up into a chignon and it stays there. I know I am lucky with my hair, but I do find it hard to keep makeup on. I always seem to be scratching or rubbing my face without realising that I am doing it, and I never bother to look in the mirror while I am out so do sometimes leave the house looking good (in my opinion!) and return looking as if I have been at the Harrod's sale.

I enjoy getting ready before a big night out though. I find it calming before having to greet strangers. I feel quite sad that it takes longer and more makeup each time to produce slightly inferior results as the years pass, but I just do the best I can and don't worry about it too much. As for elegant - lack of fussy bits and pieces provides that. Long clean lines in neutral colours are best. I am rarely elegant, as I do not possess a single long clean line in my body. I want a long neck. It's almost worth wearing those copper necklaces for, like those African women do to elongate their necks. Then I could wear long dangly earrings when I wear my hair up, without worrying that they will catch in my clothes.

Or even the jealous type!

My 62 year old sister loves her hair - and so she should, it's so thick it can't go in a pony tail, but.......she hasn't washed it herself for over twenty years! She has hairdressers in the UK, America and Australia who will open up early especially to wash her hair. (She has homes in each country.) My sister is always well groomed and has hardly ever worn make up until just recently when she has started to use a pale lipstick. She has always used Clinique soap on her face and her completion is flawless. Good job I'm not the jealous typs.

bags is right - make up is an add on (though I consider it an essential one!)

Being well groomed, to me, means being clean, clothes and all, hair brushed and tidy, no visible whiskers, nails well kept (don't do varnish) and feeling (key word) good.

And, by the way, I think that apples to men, especially those with awful bushy eyebrows and hair poking out of the ears and nose. Ugh!

I wonder if the perfectly groomed one looks at you and wonders how you manage something? She probably admires you in a different way.

Most people are at least a bit self conscious and I have yet to meet someone who likes their own hair! It is so easy to say get a good cut but for some of us that still doesn't work. If you have difficult hair you have a problem which can only be solved by using masses of products and no one wants to do that every day.

On Anglesey, Jess?

This time of year I feel as if I am wallowing in a scruffy, outdoor-clothes late-winter state. Working from home...
But this morning I made the effort to spray stuff into my hair so that it is a tidy bob rather than an unkempt mess.
If you see a really smart woman around here - high heels, tights, full hairdo and full makeup etc - in the day, she will probably be a he.

I love that glossy, clean look. Barely-there makeup, clean, buffed nails, well-cut, shiny hair...but I can't pull it off myself.

I can't bring myself to leave the house ( or even rattle about inside it) without full slap ie foundation, powder, lippy, eyeshadow. And nails. Hate being without nice glossy, dark, unchipped nail polish. I draw the line at eyeliner and falsies though. (Eyelashes, that is..).

I don't think I'm groomed, particularly, though. Now Joanie Collins..THAT's what I call groomed!

Tegan I know that feeling !

I used to work with a girl who was very glamorous. In fact; when she moved to another office, my boss [it was an open plan office and our desk was in front of his] said [in a West Country Accent] 'oh dearr; oi won't 'ave anything noyce to look aat now'. Made me feel great that did. Anyway, one Christmas we all got tarted up for an office do and she turned up totally the opposite; simple dress and very little make up. Result was she looked stunning. I learned a lesson that day. But I think what annoyed me most [this was a long time ago; think Life on Mars era] no one noticed that it was me that did all the work and she used to sit at her desk filing her nails .

Make up is an essential for some, optional for others and not needed/necessary for the rest to feel groomed.

It's an essential for me due to looking like an albino rabbit around the eyes without it

I must say that the lady next to me who always looks groomed wears minimal make up and is a lovely person, she's been my friend for over 20 years and just seems to always look good!

Bellsnana; Olay's Complete Care multi radiance Day is as good as a foundation imo. I love make up; always have, always will. But have to say I hate to see girls/women wearing too much. Used to know a young girl who wore really heavy full make up every day and wanted to say to her, take most of that off and people will see how pretty you are.