CHICAGO – Do you remember your grandmother saying, “Pretty is as pretty does.” She probably learned this idiom from her Grammy, who learned it from her Ouma or her Baba or her Grootmoeder.
It’s an American version of a British proverb dating back to “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 1300s: “Handsome is that handsome does.” A variation – “Beauty is as beauty does” – first appeared in America in 1774 in the “Journal of a Lady of Quality.”
Apparently the idea has been around longer than that. A similar saying was inscribed on the wall of a Chinese tomb from around 200 B.C. Wisdom has a way of sticking around! While the nuances of its meaning vary, it can be taken literally as a mantra for 21st century beauty practices, say the consultants at Chicago’s Salon Trendz. Here are some of the things they suggest:
Timeless Beauty Practices
Eat properly. Your body craves pure water, vitamin-packed produce, quality protein and a diet rich in minerals and cancer-fighting phytochemicals. If you are malnourished, your hair and skin quality will be the first things to suffer. Beauty is as beauty does.
Take the time to schedule regular appointments with your hairstylist and dermatologist. Procrastination is rarely a positive influence on your look. Think split ends, gray skunk stripe from overgrowth, stubbly eyebrows, hair in your eyes, reddened scalp. Get your calendar and pick up the phone. Beauty is as beauty does.
Cleanse your face gently, naturally and religiously. Bacteria and a buildup of grime, excess body oils and makeup will dull your skin and aggravate acne problems. Clean supple skin takes only a few extra minutes of work each day. Beauty is as beauty does.
Get your rest. If you want healthy hair, nails and skin, you must get adequate shuteye at night. That’s when your body repairs itself. If you continuously neglect this facet of healthy living, your body will begin to show signs of stress and aging. Dull hair, lifeless hair, brittle hair, gray hair. Wrinkles, flaky skin, red eyes, bad mood. Think about it! Beauty is as beauty does.
Go natural. Put a filter on your shower head to get rid of chlorine. Read the labels before buying your cosmetics and hair products, especially if you have allergies. Look for organic ingredients. The shorter the list, the better. Taking action to reduce chemical exposure will pay off both short term and in your long-term health. Beauty is as beauty does.
Reduce stress. Aerobic exercise is a known stress buster. Take a yoga or tai chi class to increase flexibility and balance and minimize tension. Cross off two to four optional social activities each month. Protect your sanity and your well-being. Beauty is as beauty does.
To schedule a revitalizing scalp massage or beauty-enhancing haircut, contact one of the professionals at Salon Trendz, a women-only salon in
