Keeping Up Appearances - How to look good while feeling ill

Ysabelle-S

Ysabelle-S

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Okay, so some of us might be a lost cause around here when it comes to trying to look good while feeling awful (;);)), but some ME sufferers seem to pull it off. However this is not just about clothes, or makeup (which might be more suitable for those with sensitive skin), it's also about dressing in a way that's also practical or comfortable for those who perhaps have to spend a lot of time lying down. I know many find the highest form of haute couture in a pair of pyjamas, or fluffy socks. Maybe you found a way to tame your hair so that you don't have to constantly fiddle about with it and exhaust your arms. Whatever your suggestions, post them here. :)
 
Going to start with my own suggestion - shave your hair off! Yes, why bother with brushing it at all. Just get rid of it. :rofl: You'll never have a hair out of place, because you have no hair, or at least, nothing long enough to get messed up. Back in June I bought a pair of clippers for £20 from Boots, and stuck a number four guard on. It's so quick to redo, and it uses very little shampoo. If it stands upright in the places because I've been wearing my headphones, I just chuck a bit of water on it, and smooth it down with a towel. Easiest hairstyle ever, and already drying within minutes of having a shower. :thumbsup:
 
I can't help it but my natural allure is usually enough! :laugh:

Nah but, really. I like my hair long and provided I keep it washed, brushed and/or tied back it looks fine. Plus making sure I take the time to shave. If I don't do those things, I look like a cave man and doesn't really help with my self esteem. Although both activities don't take a tonne of effort, I don't always do it (read: only if im going out, ha ha). If you can keep up the minimal effort, it's good but I do really respect the idea of shaving off your hair. I just can't bring myself to do it (yet, anyway!). You could get away with shaving most your hair off and having like a fringe or "fauxhawk" element kept, which doesn't require any tending. The trick is to not have a hair style that needs any work!

I also have given up jeans for the most part and wear colourful and interesting "joggers", usually with a more plain tshirt. This means it looks good/interesting when I'm moving around and can also be used as comfy pyjamas at the same time. It's a good compromise for having both at the same time! :)
 
My hair is hip length and curly. I got it cut really short when I'd been ill for a year because I couldn't rinse it properly and my seborrheic dermatitis kept flaring up, but I found it took more faffing about with to make it look good and Mr S hated it short.
I found I can control the seborrheic dermatitis by alternating 3 different dedicated shampoos and using them only at weekends. I wash my hair with Green People unfragranced shampoo in the week. I wash it in the bath using a huge jug to rinse and finish with cold water to stop the dreaded post bath sweats. And I bath every two to two and a half days.
I drag a comb through it when it's wet and use my fingers as a comb between washes.
I'm going grey and I love it! I've wanted a grey temple streak since I was a teenage goth.
I can't use soaps, creams or make-up so warm water and a flannel is my 'beauty routine' (lol).
 
I have hung a pretty blue shawl over the fixed mirror opposite my bed. Waking to my ancient wrinkled visage every morning was more than a girl can take.

Brightly coloured socks and patterned trousers and/or t-shirts help lift my spirits. Since you can't iron out wrinkles, I've decided to embrace them.
 
I gave up some time ago. I look pretty scruffy most of the time. Not how I want to look, but it's hard enough just to get dressed each day from a practical perspective. I have a nice hat to keep my bald head warm and I'm pretty sure some people think I've got hair under there so that probably doubles my appeal.
 
People get dressed each day? When they don't have to? I thought I was being excessively wasteful of spoons coz I tidy myself up and get dressed for deliveries these days, I had several years when I didn't, coz splashing a bit of water around, getting dressed and then having to deal with someone at the door - that was at least a days worth of spoons. If I wanted to eat, and I generally did, something had to be dropped, and it couldn't be taking in the delivery lol.
 
Wonko said:
People get dressed each day? When they don't have to? I thought I was being excessively wasteful of spoons coz I tidy myself up and get dressed for deliveries these days, I had several years when I didn't, coz splashing a bit of water around, getting dressed and then having to deal with someone at the door - that was at least a days worth of spoons. If I wanted to eat, and I generally did, something had to be dropped, and it couldn't be taking in the delivery lol.
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Not when I've been at my worst. There were periods of time where it was a major achievement getting out of bed and making it to the sofa in my underwear. But I try to keep to a routine if I am able with getting dressed being a major part of it.
 
In my last "improvement" I was able to, wanted to, get dressed each day. Unfortunately it seems it was largely fake energy, and I now have several minor, at the time, jobs unfinished around the place, no idea when, or if I'll have the resources to finish them.

But routinely, unless there is a good reason, a reason that can't be put off, I don't wear outdoor clothing, at least partially coz I won't do it without getting tidied up first, conditioning I think, it's not something I can do - I'm odd, deal with it lol

...and the energy required to get a bath, shave etc., sort out clothes, it's a lot compared with what I have, most of the time ATM, even without that, I'm struggling to find enough simply to do the minimum so I can eat.
 
I was liberated from the day night clothes ritual when I broke my shoulder earlier this year. For about 6 weeks I couldn't dress or undress myself without help. I pay someone from a care agency to help me shower 3 times a week, so during those 6 weeks I simply slept and spent my days in the same clothes and changed to clean ones when helped.

Since then I frequently spend all day in my nightie, with a cardigan if needed. Saves a lot of energy.
 
I've never "dried" my hair, never have mirrors in the house (a window with light behind you suffices to check you haven't put your undies on your head or something), and never have clothes that need ironing (unless hanging them up or laying them flat suffices ... or the old trick with silk dresses when I wore them of twisting them into a knot and calling it crushed silk). I wear mascara and eyeliner on days (maybe once a month) when I'm going out and feel like I want to distract people from other features but only if I have time (time to rest before and after).
Moisturiser is a few drops oil (olive or rose hip) after I've wet my face for another reason. People compliment me.
Scarf, hat, gloves is what my grandmother taught me. I skip the gloves in my climate except in a garden where I wear them to feel useful while I sit.
ETA: oh, and ...forgot again... um... yes, always showered every other day for the sake of my skin but now I have to remind myself to ration energy for them and postpone if too much on (like a friend dropping by to say hi). Dry shampoo is good for weeks when it never happened but need to look presentable, again compliments from people who don't know me on hair when done - it's good for making lank hair fuller, not clean but sort of beach style in a good way.
 
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