Do you match your dog?

It’s a joke, isn’t it, that owners grow to look like their dogs? In fact, I often say that I’d like to adopt a retired greyhound because, hey – I’m hoping!  But like all clichés there is more than a grain of truth in there somewhere.   

Every Monday afternoon I see a woman walking her Doberman. Now, there’s a match – especially when she’s in her black leather coat and knee-boots. A very pretty (honey blonde) I know has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  Well, of course she does.  Now moving onto another friend who keeps Old English Bulldogs – obviously I assumed that here was the exception to the rule: then I met her husband!  So here’s a thought; maybe, if your dog doesn’t match you, does he or she match your ideal mate?

What a novel idea for the dating scene. You already know that dog-walking is a great way to meet people, but now you’re going to be looking at the single men you meet (and their dogs) in a whole new way.

And, looking at my husband, I need to adopt a Smooth Haired Fox Terrier, not a greyhound. Oh well….

New Hairstyle, New You!

I’ve just discovered a new hairstyle… and no hairdressers involved!  Visiting the West Country for Easter, I rediscovered the ‘natural curl’ present in a damper environmentJ 

I’ve also had that rare luxury of being able to read the papers for more than 5 minutes!  How appropriate then to read Glenda Cooper’s account in The Telegraph and reasons for changing hairstyles through the ages, I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to many of those cited!

She notes that we give away more than we realise about our state of mind through our hair, whether we hold on to styles through the decades (The Queen, Jerry Hall) or morph frequently (Madonna, Victoria Beckham).

A change in relationship, lifestyle, life stage, job or career can prompt a need to change hairstyle, which could include colour and/or style.  Wigs have long been used as a disguise, to ring the changes or to hide changes brought on by health issues.   As with glasses and shoes, our hair is an accessory. 

Hair is an easily changeable element of our identity but the problem arises when you consider we make most changes on the back of an emotional charge.  Cheaper than a completely new wardrobe, less controversial than Botox, less permanent than surgery, faster than weight loss, not permanent, it can still be traumatic to some; we all want to get it right. 

The good news is that Personal Branding enables you to bring some objectivity and logic to the emotional motivation.  You can ring the changes while honouring who you are.  Working within your colour season, warm or cool, ensures you confidently ring the colour changes in line with your natural colouring.  Switching from bob to layers, long to short, curly to straight, can all be achieved but move away from working WITH your colouring and personality and you may end up with the kind of style that you’d like to forget but everyone else remembers!

It’s possible to ring the changes and look your best, feeling great rather than self-conscious.  We all have several styles that can look classy, elegant and stylish; it’s about working in partnership with your House of Colour consultant and your hairdresser to discover them.

My West Country break’s now over and my regular hairdresser appointment is booked; I wonder what will be discovered next!