my lips were another story. this was painful and the color did not turn out even.

I recently heard this kind of remark on a very popular makeover show, so the derision apparently hasn’t died down, over the years.

I am a natural blonde. My eyebrows and lashes are practically invisible. Think of a woman with no facial hair…no eyebrows or eyelashes. There’s something “wrong” with that picture, right? You’re probably thinking more along the lines of chemotherapy or alopecia.

Eyebrows frame the face, and are expected. When they’re seemingly missing, the person’s face just doesn’t look right. (I remember being annoyed when, after explaining to a female acquaintance that I’d forgotten to apply eyebrow pencil over my blonde brows, she compared that to having plucked her own brows out, and electing to draw on brows entirely. …No. …not the same. I don’t have a choice.)(grrrrr)

This is how I look every morning, every shower, every workout session, most of the time in the pool, at night before bed, in bed, and anytime I don’t take the time to put on eyebrow liner, mascara, and even some lip colour. (My lips are pretty much flesh-coloured, too.)

I recently came across a web site for a respected permanent make-up business, and I noticed nearly all the before and after shots were of fair, usually blonde, women.

I think it’s really unfair…especially from brunettes…to accuse blonde women of being lazy for having permanent make-up done when, in fact, the desire for make-up is a function of society, where I have, on many occasions, been made to feel I look ill, or tired, or even scary, simply because I’m naturally so fair-skinned and fair-haired.

Case in point: This morning, I felt great after my workout and shower. I put on some comfy clothes, and prepared a nutritious breakfast. Then I realized a package would probably be arriving today.

(Yesterday’s parcel delivery was notable, in that I answered the door completely au naturale…facially, I mean. I caught the delivery person kind of staring at me…inspecting my face a bit. …Just noticeably not engaging me, but more like staring. I felt embarrassed.)

So, today I though, ‘I’ll do a quick “layer” so I look “normal”, and don’t get stared at.’

I zipped back to my vanity, and put on eyebrows, mascara, and a quick coat of lip gloss. I look plain. Not gorgeous or sophisticated or sexy. Just…normal. I have eyebrows.

It all reminds me of a talk show, in an episode where several guests were invited to “go blonde”. The stylist/model who was the expert for that show said something that resonated with me. She said, “I find it funny that so many of you have mentioned wanting to go out and get tanned, now that you’re blonde. I’m a natural blonde, and I don’t tan. I burn. When I wake up, I look like an albino.”

I couldn’t agree more.

I have no judgement about people getting permanent make-up. It’s not for me, but I understand, particuarly when a fair-skinned person grows weary of being made to feel unacceptable in her natural skin.