I have had bangs, of one sort or another, pretty much my whole life. From a solid block of hair to a whispy fringe, I have covered the territory of bangs, much the way the bangs have covered the territory of my forehead.
I was pretty contented with my bangs and wasn’t planning a change. But, we spent this past winter in Mexico and my bangs grew out while I was away from my beloved hair stylist back home.
I will confess to having “cheated” on Beloved Stylist as I did have a trim at a local salon 2 blocks away from our Mexican condo. I had it on excellent authority the owner and main stylist was really good. He didn’t speak much English, and my Spanish is non-existent, so I just held my breath and let him do his thing (very unlike me!).
He left my grown-out bangs and did some layering that enabled them to be swept to the side in a way that was swingy and sexy, and yet stayed out of my eyes. A miracle haircut (especially when you consider the cost of the shampoo, cut and blow dry was $15.00 including a hefty tip – yet another reason to love Mexico!). The haircut turned out to be easier to blow dry and style without dealing with bangs, so I decided to give the bangs a permanent rest, well, for now anyway.
But the new style has exposed my forehead. Visible now are the horizontal creases and vertical frown lines that I knew were encroaching, but previously camouflaged via bangs and simply pretended they did not exist.
As I’ve mentioned in previously blogs, we are currently living in a hotel suite for a couple of months while our home in Canada is being repaired from flood damage. The desk in the living room where I have my laptop has a low mirror positioned directly above it, so I am looking at myself a whole lot more than I am used to! The forehead lines are at the forefront, especially when the harsh sunlight is streaming through the sliding glass patio doors! It rather reminds me of a Sharon Stone quote I once read – she was answering the question of what’s the hardest part of being over 40 and she said “riding in elevators with mirrors and fluorescent overhead lighting”!
I’m due to see my doctor – she has an anti-aging, mid-life health and wellness focus to her practice which includes things like Botox, laser treatments and chemical peels. I am thinking about asking her about Botox. It scares me a little, for a couple of reasons. First, there are the potential side effects. Secondly, I am worried that if it works and I love it, that it could be like renovating a room in your house. Freshening up one area makes you dissatisfied with how the rest of the place is looking, and from there it’s a slippery slope! Not that I’m worried I’d ever turn into a Heidi Montag type! At least I don’t think I would.
Being an “I’ll try just about anything once” sort of person, I will at least chat with my doctor about the option. If she’s able to whip out the needle on the spot, I will probably try it (less likely to do so if it requires a second appointment to get my forehead frozen). I’m curious about whether I’d see a difference and if anyone else would notice (i.e., think I look younger/rested, and not like I’d had a “procedure”!).
Not sure what I will end up doing, but at least I know I can always go back to bangs.
Todo bien, amigas. (It’s all good, girlfriends).
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I guess we all have to do what makes us happy. Personally, I’m not one for injecting a toxin into my face, but that’s just me.
I’m lucky in a way…come from a Mediterranean family of olive skinned people. As far as aging is concerned, we look great on the outside…but no so great on the inside! My mom died of chronic kidney disease, and my dad was hit with a rare neurological disease.
I spend more time worrying about what’s happening inside me, as opposed to the outer shell!
I went through the same thought process, worrying that if I did Botox, I would want more of this and a little of that, a nip here and a tuck there, and then finally succumb to the total facelift. And the answer for me was, YES, that’s what happened … sort of! I had just gone through two emotionally and physically draining years, and just before my 60th birthday, decided I needed help with the outside while I worked on the inside. In the course of three months I went through a series of treatments planned with an aesthetician and her doctor-husband. Treatments included Vibraderm (a very mild dermabrasion), mild chemical peels and facials, which were spread over the three months. I also had a slight Juvaderm enhancement in my upper lip to reduce wrinkling above my mouth, and botox for my “elevens” and the outer corners of my eyes. Do I look younger? I don’t know. But I do feel and look refreshed with smoother, brighter skin, smaller pores and less noticiable wrinkles. My friends tell me I look healthy and beautiful, which definitely helps with the continuing inside work. Would I do it again? I absolutely would and probably will, though not in the compressed schedule we used for this recent round. The cost, over the treatment period, was about $2,000 and worth every penny.
Ive had bangs for years ( my forehead is huge and could be rented out as signage ) …..so no need for botox with me.
But if I were to grow the bangs out……I’m not so much for injecting myself with botulism.
Of course–never say never. But for now I”m keeping the bangs and they can keep that needle away from my forehead.
Juviderm is better than botox and it is our friend. I had unexpectedly lost weight and my face looked so old. I trust my Doctor totally and he suggested juviderm and it was perfect. All anyone noticed was that I was back looking healthy and rested. If you do an injection once a year, your face ages with more softness than without. I love it!! And will take an injection for my Christmas and birthday present any day!
Good for you – a little bit of plumping with Juviderm has nothing to do like some “plastic women” we see on tv. We work the body in the gym, and there is no gym yet for the face.
I have become a fan of non- surgical enhancements since I turned 50 (several years ago). Before I needed it, I had no idea why people would want to alter their looks- the joke was on me! The key is to be sure that your doctor is a board certified surgeon, not an aesthetician, if your choice is to have injectables. Costs a bit more, but it is your face! I routinely receive Botox in my forehead & restylane for the lines from the nose to the mouth. I do not look like I have a “frozen face,” just look like I am happy, which I am!
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Just a quick clarification. Botox is used primarily from the eyes up: the “elevens” or frown lines, horizontal forehead lines, crow’s feet.
Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, etc. are dermal fillers. They are used to literally “fill” the deep lines and wrinkles on the face (e.g., the “parentheses,” — the lines from your nose to your lips) and to add the volume we lose as we age.
The result of these non-surgical, non-invasive procedures is usually much more natural and soft than a traditional facelift.
Non-invasive procedures? Using a needle to inject chemicals or “fillers” into your face is non-invasive?
Personally, I would rather look at a person with a few wrinkles than someone like on the TV series “V”, with that blonde lady all botoxed to heck, with the same mild facial expression (except for her mouth) no matter what’s happening. Same thing with the show ‘Couger Town’ – I can’t even watch it because of the puffed up lips and botox – they look like zombies who’ve been smacked in the mouth! Be who you are. I bet you are beautiful and beloved. My husband says any wrinkles are marks of my life lived, and they are mine, all mine. Smile, and let the light shine from within, and no one will look at a wrinkle!
You know, as said before, you can do a bit of Botox and not look like some “zombie”! I have always said that I didn’t mind my crow’s feet around my eyes, really didn’t bother me. Then, I attended a seminar about Botox and decided, what the heck try it just on the corners of your eyes and see what the big deal is. First of all, there is no pain. Second of all, the lines are gone and I don’t look so tired. I don’t look frozen , I just look a bit more rested. I have decided that you can use every cream known to man on your face but they can only do so much. I don’t mind getting older and I don’t mind a few wrinkles, but I do not like looking like I need a nap all the time. I get regular facials, use very good creams on my face too. But I will probably go the Juvederm route this summer, just to softer some of my lines. You can work on the outside as well as the inside and really be happy. I want to look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside.