Cosmetic Surgery or Natural Beauty?

Concern about the cosmetic surgery industry has been in the public eye over the last week with a new report regarding regulation just being published.  An interesting Q&A has been posted by the BBC covering the main points.

Vanity is not a particularly nice interpretation – however, excessive pride isn’t something to be ashamed of is it?  After all, ‘If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well!

At House of Colour we believe it’s up to the individual to choose their path to beauty however, in almost 30 years our consultants have seen clients numbering in the hundreds of thousands.  We have a tried and tested three step process, taking into account age, shape, size, colouring, budget, lifestyle and the latest fashion trends, giving access to looking and feeling your best by utilising and enhancing your natural assets. 

And so I’ve had time to contemplate my appearance.  The grey hair, or is it distinguished silver highlights, much as the logical head of my Colour Analyst and the knowledgeable head of my Personal Stylist KNOW without a doubt that I can make look great,  so why does it still bother me?  My husband says he doesn’t notice it, but then he is a man, can I believe him? My friends say they don’t notice it, but do they see me objectively?   

In many colour analysis consultations, I’d cite the example of the Mother of the bride.  She needs to know she looks good so that her attention is focused on her daughter and guests, not her outfit, how it feels, how it looks, does it work?  I realise that if I overcome my commitment phobia (time and money) to regularly cover up my ‘natural highlights’ I will also remove a constant ‘niggle’ that my husband and friends are only being polite.    There are some who even think dying hair and wearing make-up is unnecessary – opening a completely different debate!

But where does it end? Countless billions are invested in research and expenditure on various beauty treatments.  The subtle change to my jowls with the onset of my 40s, the change in skin texture on my hands, the ‘laughter lines’ around my eyes, suddenly become redefined as ‘crows feet’, never mind the tramlines appearing on my forehead, Dad always used to call them character lines, are we really removing our character?

Do we take the long and expensive road to eternal youth, embrace the way we look, accept  our changing appearance or find some middle ground to  work with it naturally, involving make-up, clothes and hair styles?