Monday, June 16, 2008

To Blow Dry or Not To Blow Dry

I rarely look good for work. I think it's because I stopped trying around month three when I realized that there were no eligible men at work and after I saw The CEO wear a diamond-bedazzled skull and crossbones sweatshirt to work for the first time. I mean, if The CEO can wear a studded zip-up that promotes death then I think I can scale it down for my day-to-day wardrobe.

This lack of trying has made me commit many a Working Girl fashion faux pas. For instance, I don't wait for causal Friday to wear jeans. I wear the bare minimum of make-up (bronzer, cover-up and blush thanks). I wear flip flops once my heels start to make my feet ache. And I've even worn a sweatshirt to work (to be fair, it was really, really cold out and I was hungover). 

My latest lazy wardrobe no-no has been wet hair. I had never really thought that wet hair at work was really a big no-no until recently when a work friend of mine admitted she felt guilty coming to the office with dripping hair. And let me tell you, I'm the queen of wet hair. In a bun, in a ponytail, still waiting to dry wavy hair. If wet hair is a crime they should carry me off to jail today since I commit this one at least three-four times a week. 

So my question of the moment: should I care more and blow dry my hair? 

For instance, today I was supposed to have a meeting with a client. They cancelled at the last minute and I was so angry because I had dressed up today. I can tell when I truly look nice when my co-workers actually comment on my appearance. My favorite today was, "Omg, WG2, you wore make-up today!" - sadly, they were right. I really did it up today. I wore a nice dress, nice shoes, cute headband, and I even put on eyeliner. And the client cancels. I was pissed because when they reschedule for later in the week I'm going to have to look nice again - more than once in one week! 

That's when I realized that I was mad at a client not because I was all ready to go with my great presentation or because we had to reschedule for the third time. No, I was mad because I would have to look pretty again (maybe even on a Friday). Wow. I have let myself go. 

So this is my pledge to try a little harder not because I want The Boss to notice or to catch the eye of a Working Boy. I'm doing this one for me. 

And personally, I just decided that wet hair during the months of June, July and August is totally acceptable. Using a blow dryer in this heat? Brutal. 

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally know what you mean. I come to work in jeans, flip flops, tshirts, no makeup whatsoever, and glasses. LoL I look like crap 90% of the time, and only 'dress up' if I have a press event to go to, or something. Although I mostly shower at night and not in the morning so my hair is rarely wet when i come to work...

Unknown said...

Gosh I adore how I can read about all the things I've been thinking about recently. My commute is long enough to let my hair fairly air dry, which I think is worse because it never turns out looking good whatsoever but I can justify it because it's not wet. I too want to start trying more. For me.

Barb said...

I would be pissed for the exact same reason, too!

Marshall Family said...

Oooooh yes getting out my front door with kids and myself dressed and raring to go for 8:30am.... nightmare! Never a hair in place in my case :o)

Tricia said...

I agree! I work in a totally casual office, we can wear jeans/shorts, ratty tshirts, flip flops every single day. The guys embrace this look wholeheartedly, but most of the women still dress up, do their hair, wear make-up, look nice. I don't want to do that, I want to wear ratty tshirts and holey jeans. I want to come in with wet hair and a scrubbed clean face. But I don't. I compromise. I often do my hair, wear mascara and a nicish shirt with my capris and sandals (for summer) or jeans and loafers (for winter).

I don't understand why these other women don't jump at the chance to let it all hang out like I do! LOL

Auburn Kat said...

Wet hair in my conservative industry would definitely be a no-no.

I wish I didn't have to dry my hair but if I don't it turns into a big frizz ball!

Kim said...

Guilty as charged. Although I do wear make-up lol

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

I have felt this way too, I went from a fashion forward city girl, to a living in the mountain hippie chic......my pointy toed shoes collect nothing but dust now.

I tend to take showers at night, and blow dry my hair then, it's so much silkier in the morning.....then I use a straightener to get rid of my wave....unlike you, I could never let my hair air dry. It's gets frizzy and wavy!

alexa @clevelandsaplum said...

i always feel better when i dress up. but the thing is i have no desire to anymore.

if i don't have a client meeting i wear jeans. hands down.

hell even if i have a client meeting i sometimes wear jeans - creative agencies can get away with stuff like that.

i too have been wearing no make-up to work and doing the wet hair thing but only because i like that wavy look it leaves once it drives.

i think i may need to pick up the dress though..... sigh

Anna Routh said...

This is a perfect post for today. I chose not to blow dry my hair this morning simply because I was too lazy. What is the point? These people see me everyday, and I hate some of them so much (really just my fat boss) that I feel no need AT ALL to impress them. My office isn't event that casual, but I still only dry my hair two or three times a week, tops!

Ivonne said...

I work at a VERY, VERY casual office where I'm the best dressed even when wearing jeans, a nice tshirt, sandals, no makeup and only my bangs done.

Anonymous said...

here is my advice ..... don't dress up and get all cute too often. i started doing that, and now i'm the girl who is expected to look nice and put together everyday. when i come in looking even slightly disheveled, the first comment is "damn what did you do last night??"

hold on to the casual as long as possible!!

moardy said...

I just purchased the best hair blow-dryer/curler thingy that is perfect for when you have to do your hair - but don't have the time (or energy as in my case). Think lovechild between a blow-dryer and round brush - best $20 I ever spent!

christina said...

I've always enjoyed this blog because I can definitely relate to many aspects of the working world that you bring out, although I must say this: one of my former jobs required for people to have blow dried hair, since wet hair looks "unprofessional". I agree. My boss is glad that I look real nice when it matters (such as when we do a site visit with potential donors and have new volunteers) and most of the time I try to maintain that. Although, I do think business casual is silly unless we are around others. The skirts, suits, ties, and dark colors. We might as well be in school uniforms.

JK said...

I also tend to look like crap at work and then the days I actually "try" to look nice, I just feel worse when everyone says, "wow, you got dressed today" or "your makeup looks great".

Blow drying in the heat just sucks. Don't do it unless absolutely necessary.

CC said...

I used to dress up when I first started. I also used to wear make-up and be on time. And dry my hair. Now that I've noticed my boss is never on time, there are no eligible men, and that I'm not privileged enough to go on client meetings I pretty much look like crap most of the time. I wearing jeans (trouser jeans, but still..) right now and came to work with wet hair this morning!

tired of it all said...

Love it. I'm one of those people who always does my make-up and hair and dresses cute the first few months of working somewhere. Then, I get to where I just don't care anymore and start slacking off. And always wet hair - especially in the summer. I hate blow dryers!

Excellent post. Loving this blog!

Cari said...

I know how you feel. I am wearing knacki's today instead of dress pants (which would be the dress code). I always blow dry my hair but I've been lax on make up (blush and mascara only).

The Alleged Ringleader said...

I'm such a slob going to work most days and hear the same things as you!

Anonymous said...

Hi! Just stumbled across your blog, and it is really good! Having said that, the wet hair to work thing...yikes, I leave EVERY SINGLE DAY with wet hair! I am a natural curly, and blowdryers scare me, for multiple reasons, the main one being major frizz!
Now I feel decidedly unprofessional...but it isn't enough to get me over my blowdryer phobia...I mean the constant comments (co-workers and family members alike) weren't. Nor was the time my hair actually FROZE, I live in Michigan. I'll admit it is going to bother me though...

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