If you're fed up of looking permanently frazzled, read on for some tips on how to create a more polished and put-together look. It's easier than you think; just a couple of simple changes to your personal grooming routine can have a hugely positive effect on your appearance.
Treat yourself to regular manicures and pedicures
Your hands are one of the few parts of your body that are always on display. During the warmer months of the year, your feet too, will be on show to the world most of the time. As such, it pays to put some extra time and money into looking after your finger and toenails.
Few things look worse than scraggly cuticles and misshapen, discoloured nails; even if you put a lot of effort into creating a flattering outfit and hairstyle, this seemingly-small feature can spoil the entire look. Conversely, a simple outfit can suddenly seem much more elegant if you have a tasteful French manicure or a pop of bold red polish on neatly-shaped nails.
Whilst it's certainly possible to take care of these areas of your body at home, getting professional manicures and pedicures is a nice way to treat yourself. Whichever option you decide to go for, make sure the treatment includes exfoliation (to remove dead skin cells), nail buffing and shaping, and a cuticle massage (preferably done using a nourishing oil, such as almond or coconut).
Have your teeth whitened
Although daily brushing is of course, an essential part of personal grooming, it's not always enough to give you that put-together appearance. If you smoke for instance, or love to drink coffee and red wine, brushing alone won't stave off that unsightly, yellow staining that these activities cause. Even if you're fortunate enough to have straight, healthy teeth, you're unlikely to look very polished if they're noticeably discoloured.
In such cases, it's best to book an appointment with a dentist that specialises in teeth-whitening. Whilst you can buy an at-home whitening kit, the results that this type of product produces are often disappointing; cosmetic dentistry practices have medical-grade products that can deliver a much more dramatic effect, lightening the colour of your teeth by several shades in just one or two sessions. For more information on cosmetic dentistry, contact a local dentist.
Take care of your clothing
Many people assume that if they want to look well-groomed, they must spend a small fortune on expensive, designer-label clothing. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The key to achieving that 'effortlessly' chic look is to spend a bit of time taking care of your clothing and removing any items from your wardrobe that are irreparably stained, or have lost their shape.
There are a couple of inexpensive products that will greatly improve the appearance of your garments; a lint roller, to remove hair and fluff from darker-coloured items and a basic sewing kit, to repair loose buttons and broken zips.
It's also worth finding a good tailor, who will be able to tweak your existing clothes so that they fit your individual body shape better. One or two minor alterations done by a talented tailor can transform a mediocre garment into one that makes you appear taller, slimmer and more polished.
Share26 August 2016
I have worked as a school nurse for decades. Children come to me with all sorts of scrapes and bumps and bruises. Black eyes from playing football, sprained wrists from falling off the monkey bars and stomachaches from too many sweets are common complaints. However, the issue that seems to cause the greatest angst is tooth problems. Sometimes a child will have a second tooth knocked out when playing sport and parents arrive in tears. At other times, children come to my office crying because their friends are teasing them about teeth that are discoloured or stick out. I take an active interest in the latest dental news so that I can give parents and children comfort and advice. I have included some of my collected wisdom on these pages. Perhaps this information can help you understand some options when faced with a dental problem. Thank you for reading.