Impeccable Maintenance

I admit, I could spend more time on maintenance. Those women who shave daily, get weekly mani/pedis and waxes, tan (or spray), tweeze, snip, straighten, and match their shoes to their handbags, must have nothing else going on. By the time I get home, write to my lovelies, feed myself and the future Mr. Impeccable and watch the compulsory tivo’d shows, it’s time to crawl into my impeccable bed and get some frickin’ rest.

Tonight, though, I broke into the backstock and treated myself to a touch-up. If anyone asks, of course I’m a natural redhead. But after three months, my roots were really starting to give me away as the blonde I am. I am totally hooked on L’Oreal Coleur Experte in Ginger Twist. I need two boxes to cover the gigantic mass of hair on my head, but the results are worth it.

Due to the winter blahs, I skipped the highlighting step for tonight. I just didn’t have it in me. But when I go back to the office tomorrow my roots will have disappeared finally. And when the sun comes back out, I can add in the highlights and no one need be the wiser.

How to Be Impeccable When You’re In a Hurry

So, you wake up half an hour late, you have a crosstown bus to catch and your boss is not the most understanding type. You run out the door rumpled, unshowered, makeup-free, hair in a bun, and mismatched socks with your frumpy shoes. This need not be. Miss Impeccable is here to save your day from Impeccability Ruin.

First, the easiest way to save yourself from the mad morning dash is to lay out your clothes the night before. If your outfit is pre-picked and pre-ironed you will save yourself from the getting-ready-in-the-dark black pants and blue shoes.

If you haven’t pre-ironed, throw your clothes, hangers and all, on the shower rod. A few minutes in the bathroom steam will kill the worst of those wrinkles and give them a fresher smell than the back of the closet left them with.

Even if there’s no time for a shower, apply deodorant, a little baby powder to any sweaty bits, and a fresh body splash- Miss I is a huge fan of pink grapefruit as both a freshener and a waker-upper. Your officemates will thank you (and assume you are freshly showered). The biggest mistake most ladies make is to take what Mr. Impeccable calls a “lady-of-the-evening bath” (politely). Large amounts of perfume will only give you and everyone else a headache. The goal here is to feel fresh, not smelly.

Depending on the state of your hair, you may have options. If you have dry, wavy hair, a little shine serum and a hand-toss can give you that popular tousled look. Greasier ladies can save themselves from shiny roots with a tiny bit of baby powder rubbed on your palms and then run through the roots. Be very careful- too much will give you a powdered wig look that went out hundreds of years ago.

Any makeup at all can add polish to your last minute look. Before you dash out of the house, apply a little blusher, a natural-looking lipgloss, and some mascara.

There. No one needs to know how late you were out (or in) last night with your person-friend. You have gone from impossible to impeccable in fifteen minutes or less.