did you change your makeup or jewelry routines?

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#1 Post by **tacoma braced** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:06 pm

Ok
so this is pretty superficial, when compared to others question and journeys, but I'm struggling a bit here.
I'm into day 11 of upper metal braces--at age 47. I'm in braces, to try and prevent further problems with my 4 tooth bridge. ( lost my 2 front upper teeth as a teenage from a bicycle accident).

I can't figure out what looks less worse now. usually lipstick and colors or go mild and neutral. big earrings, or small subtle ones? what's worked for you?

#2 Post by **Megan11** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:31 pm

Good question! I am interested to see others answers as well.

Ever since I had my braces put on I wear MUCH LESS jewelry. NO earrings at all except cartilage ( and this is coming from someone who had 9 ear piercings prior to). I hate how my earrings looks with my braces. I feel like its just toooooo much. So now I stick with subtle necklaces/rings/bracelets.

I only wear chapstick and vaseline now. A lot of times I actually want to put color on my lips because they look so big and, dare I say, luscious now lol. But, I tend to regret it almost immediately. It just doesn't seem to look right.

#3 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:25 pm

This is a good question... I got my braces at 39 and I just turned 41. I really didn't change my jewelry at all. I'm pretty simple, usually some type of hoop earrings , a necklace, a chunky watch and some bangles or regular link bracelets.

As far a makeup, that pretty much stayed the same as well, I do have nice lips and my mother always thought that I should wear red or something dark, I personally never liked dark colors, because it made me look harsh/cheap. I have always prefered some type of gloss or a very sheer lipstick.

B

#4 Post by **Petunia** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:58 pm

I don't think I've really changed anything in my routine.... But then again I've never been a big makeup/jewelry gal

I've heard that playing up the eyes works well with braces.

I don't have pierced ears but I was thinking about it for awhile but I think I'll probably wait - the braces along with glasses give me enough of a metal look already

#5 Post by **milliondollar** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:17 pm

So far, I've been wearing my hair down every day (I wear it up about half the time) and wearing more necklaces, rings, even earrings to keep people eyes distracted from my mouth. While I dont think it works, at least I feel all done up and nice...

#6 Post by **newsboysgrl777** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:54 pm

My routine makeup and jewelry-wise didn't change either. Probably because both were 'subtle' to begin with. As far as my jewelry, I've never really worn much, so what I've worn, I still wear - small diamond earrings (got them for Christmas, so before that, NO earrings. I wanted these bc I wanted something I could wear all the time without thinking about them), a journey necklace, a purity ring, and when I go out, my engagement ring. Not even a watch anymore. LOL

As for make-up, I've always played up my eyes the most anyway just because it's all I've really got to 'play up' (if that makes sense?). Plus I wear glasses, so I kind of have to play them up to even get the makeup noticed...LOL. As for lipstick, I never wore it because I do some weird thing with my lips that always keeps them chapped and always wears off the lipstick/chapstick/gloss. I don't EVER know that I'm doing it though, so it's hard to quit...LOL. But, I think if I had worn more before, I'd probably wear LESS now with braces...at least in the beginning. Not because of the aesthetics, but because I'm poking into my mouth a LOT more now than ever before (either to clean, or simply to get stuck food out of brackets, or to rinse my mouth (even just swishing more with water), or to put wax on to stop pokiness, etc.)

Sorry if my answer wasn't helpful.

#7 Post by **Andromeda** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:47 am

I've always worn colored lip gloss but now with braces I can't! It looks bad and I read an article that said my wet glossy look actually reflects light off the brackets and makes them more noticeable... it suggested wearing more eye makeup to draw the attention away from the mouth.

Jewelry is the same... especially necklaces. I got some flashy metalic neclaces for christmas and haven't been able to swar them yet - it just brings attention to the other shiny metal objects in my mouth.

I can't wait to wear the lip gloss and jewelry I want again!

#8 Post by **beth1966** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:14 am

Hi - I'm also a female in my early 40's, and have to have braces to correct a bad bite. Haven't gotten them yet.

But I'm a bit confused - why would earings (big, little or none) have any affect on your braces? Are you saying because you feel like you have too much metal above the neck - assuming you have metal brackets? I keep trying to figure this out - and this is all I can come up with?

I understand the lipstick question, as you don't want to attract as much attention to your mouth, though I'd assume that will happen regardless - - so I'd rather my lips look likes, as I hate the look of no lipstick/gloss on my lips when I am out.

Good discussion either way, I'm getting ceramics, but either way my earings are staying as is.

#9 Post by **beth1966** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:17 am

That should have said "I'd rather my lips look NICE"

#10 Post by **Lela** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:19 am

I didn't change my jewelry wearing at all but have switched to mostly colorless lipbalms. My usual rosy pink lipstick was getting into the groove on the bottom of my clear brackets and looking icky.
I wear earrings and a diamond pendant everyday and have never felt it was too much. All of my jewelry pieces are set in white gold so they blends with the brackets and wires

#11 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:20 am

My makeup and jewelry are also pretty subtle and I have not changed anything about either since getting braced. Honestly my initial reaction, although perhaps unhelpful is: wear what makes you comfortable--what makes you feel good--and if that is bold colors, lipstick, big jewelry and earrings, wear them! Don't let braces hold you back from wearing what you love.

#12 Post by **Neptune** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:36 am

Before braces, I wore tons of accessories. To me, accessories are just more fun than clothes alone. In addition to color, sterling silver (or its look-alikes) were my metals of choice. When my braces were installed, I consciously went out of my way to avoid wearing metal earrings and necklaces.

Now - almost 13 months into treatment - I don't care about avoiding metal as I once did. Gradually, I started wearing all my old metal jewelery again -- I've just added more colorful accessories to the collection. I've even started wearing lipstick; I'm inspired by the changes to my smile that show behind the braces.

#13 Post by **rolo** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:43 pm

I booked an appointment at my favourite makeup counter to learn how to put eye makeup on as a treat for having four extractions and upper linguals and lower ceramics fitted in one day. Before I anything other than mascara looked like a child their mothers make up. It was great, I now own eye shaddow and liner, experimenting with eye make up took my mind off my mouth.

Oh, I also treated myself to a manicure and pedicure and some retail therapy - I'm not a good patient and I'd booked that day and the next day off work so I thought I may as well make the most of it. I still treat myself to a magazine for the waiting room and chocolate after. Last time was my Easter adjustment and I had three cadbury's cream eggs in the car before I drove home.

I have read others on the site have treated themselves to getting hair done etc after having work done.

#14 Post by **jrb2008** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:39 pm

I'm guilty of having put ALOT of thought into this question over the course of my 22 months in braces. Hopefully only one more month to go.....
I have clear ceramic uppers and traditional metal lowers. I have medium length hair so I didn't give up my silver hoop earrings. If my hair were short, I'd have gone with a non-metal earring or something a bit smaller as to not have so much metal around my face. Also, in the beginning, I tried to not use too much lip gloss, too reflective. As I grew accustomed to the braces, I reverted back to the gloss but in paler shades and amped up my eye makeup instead to draw attention to the upper half of my face.

Hope these ideas help!

#15 Post by **tacoma braced** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:33 pm

I'm so glad others have thought of this as well. I do feel so full metal jacket looking now! I tried some pearl studs today and like that look- nothing dangling that brings attention to the lower half of my face and not having any more metal helps.

I'm still having to use a ton of chapstick( really like Blistex deep renewal!) and havent tried any lip color yet

Metal Mouth Message Board

did you change your makeup or jewelry routines?

did you change your makeup or jewelry routines?

thanks for the thoughtful answers