Are you well groomed?

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.

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

Not unknown or unspotted ana

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.

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

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.

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.

ga I'm not too keen on your sister!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

It's funny isn't it, that being well groomed has nothing to do with beauty? Quite often rather ugly women look good simply because they look well groomed and stylish.However, IMO you can overdo the styling, and look as if you are trying too hard.It's all about confidence, if you have that it goes a long way.Being clean, of course, some make up usually helps us all [however good our skin] it gives a bit of colour and glow.Also it helps if you don't go out looking as if you dressed in the dark.It would seem our hair is the main concern; mine is fine [would love thick hair, but a good friend who does have thick hair hates it!] So I can't have it short, and am too small [short] and don't have much of a neck, so the best style is a multilayered bob.I keep it highlighted blonde.However, going out on a windy day [or a drizzly day] turns it into a wavy haystack, even with hairspray.I have stopped worrying about it.

I have a friend who always looks incredibly tidy and cared-for, almost shiny! Even after a five mile walk she barely looks hot, next to my sweaty, wind-blown self! And she is a lovely person, too, I don't think she gives her appearance much thought, is just built that way - some people are!
I do love make-up, but have never been that good with hair. It's short these days, when it was long it just wouldn't stay put in a French pleat (remember those?), I do notice women who can just wind their hair up in a chignon and look very chic in seconds, but I'm happy just to have hair.
We should all remember that a smile can make us all look years younger, brighter and warm - it really does!

Some women seem able to wear scarves effortlessly and look so chic and stylish. I can't, they just look a mess.

Tegan an apricot blusher is a soft colour with silvery hair.

I wear the hijab (headscarf ) so don't have to worry about my hair, but I have watched so many tutorials on different ways of wearing it and no matter what I do I always look like a babushka. I have friends who just throw it on effortlessly and look instantly chic. I think it comes from within ! As a kid I had a sister who my father used to say 'would look good in a bin bag.' I ,on the other hand,looked-even in tailored suits-like 'a sack of spuds tied round the middle'. He was right..!

On dear, ummlilia; and I always thought the hijab could be the answer to my problems !

Sounds as though she'd make a good workhouse manageress.

ummlilia - I can remember my friend and myself getting all 'tarted up' when we were about 15. My friend's mum came into the room and we said 'how do we look?'. She said 'like 2 sacks of spuds tied in the middle!' She was right too

My DH said I looked like that many years ago, and I was a lot thinner then. No hope for me.

I just put on my make-up in the morning and comb my hair and forget about it. It has never occurred me to check on it during the day. I used to occasionally top up my lipstick but that is so old fashioned today and I haven't done it for years.

I think the well-groomed look looks desperately old fashioned these days. Very 'take a letter Miss Smith'

I do well-groomed for formal occasions but the rest of the time I do comfortable. Formal occasions have become less frequent, I am glad to say, over the years. I do like to put nail varnish on my toenails though – but perhaps that's just tarty.