Being a card-carrying, professionally certified worrywart, I have quite a few irrational makeup and beauty-related fears, but the most serious one has to be getting my brows professionally done.
I’ve always taken care of my brows myself and have never had them professionally waxed, plucked, threaded or otherwise tended to by a stranger, mostly because of the aforementioned fear. I’m terrified of someone (else) accidentally messing them up.
If I mess them up myself, OK, that’s one thing, and I am guilty of making bad brow decisions, for sure.
But I don’t know… I can just see myself sitting down in a chair and having someone accidentally wax off half my left brow or pluck both of them into a weird shape where I look permanently surprised. I’m seeing too many different doomsday brow scenarios play out.
Really, though, that’s the tip of the irrational beauty iceberg. I’m also afraid of…
- Accidentally shaving off my own eyebrows in the shower with a body razor.
Don’t ask me why, but I can totally see this happening.
- Being startled by El Hub coming around a corner while I’m curling my lashes with my lash curler and accidentally pulling them out mid-curl.
- Losing my makeup bag on an important work trip. My rational mind says, “Don’t worry, Karen. You could find replacements for everything in a pinch.” But my irrational mind says, “OMG! I’m freaking out! What am I going to do?!”
OK, babe. Spill them beans. 🙂 What’s your most irrational makeup or beauty-related fear?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Greetings! Welcome to the hump.
I’m happy to report that there’s silence at the end of the noisy tunnel… That construction project I’ve been talking about is (hopefully) winding down today. Or at least this week. As we speak, they’re pressure washing the windows, so there’s a generator humming and a high-pressure hose hissing outside, but honestly, those are like a whisper compared to the racket of the past few weeks.
Or maybe I’m just becoming immune to it all, haha!
I’m off to make another cup of coffee (Target’s Archer Farms Light Roast Breakfast Blend). Can I get you one?
thebeavercat says
Using makeup brushes, and then dipping it back into the pan. All them eye germs. 🙁
Jennifer says
My fear is that I will get a giant sty on my eye from a not clean brush – so I obsessively clean my brushes. HA HA
Tammy says
I fear grabbing the curling iron by the barrel when it’s on. I’m sure it will happen one day. Ouch!
Trisha says
I’m sure if I put a lot of thought into this question, I could come up with a really long list of things…but this is the first thing that came to mind:
I’d really like to get a side shave like Cassie and other famous people. What am I afraid of? That I’ll seem hardcore or out there, when I’m actually not. I’m a relatively normal girl…
And this is coming from a girl who had green hair in high school. Weird how different I am now.
Laure says
I’d say go for it 🙂 I rocked a side cut for a solid year and I really liked it.
I do have to warn you about growing it out. If the fact that it’ll look ridiculous for a while when growing it out worries you, maybe this isn’t the hairdo for you. Otherwise, if you’re ready for a big change, go for it.
Erin says
A couple of months ago, I ended up with a shaved side after going in for a haircut and telling my stylist that I was a little bored. I love it though, my hair is otherwise a few inches past my shoulder and the shave is subtle if I leave my hair down, and more exciting if I pull it back. I would also say go for it! But, I haven’t yet gone through the experience of growing it out like Laure. 🙂
Deanna says
Omg! Your fear of getting your brows professionally done isn’t irrational at all. My mom talked me into getting mine done at a salon once, even though my brows are pretty tame to begin with. I was left with what looked like a fine-tipped pen mark above each eye. I was so upset that I started crying in the salon! The person who committed the aforementioned crime just said “Since I waxed them this thin, you won’t have to have your brows done for quite a while, so it saves you money!” I was like, “Um, right. I won’t EVER be having by brows done again!”
Anyhow, moving onto other irrational beauty-related fears…I am always afraid that someday far in the future, I’ll find out that one of the beauty products I’ve used religiously causes some sort of terrible disease. It’s crazy–I know!
Alison M says
I have the same shaving and travel bag fears!! I only do carry-on for beauty products which makes packing interesting. But I don’t trust the baggage handlers. I’m clumsy enough that if I slipped in the shower while shaving, I’d lose both eyebrows.
Kiss & Make-up says
It has happened to me before, getting a bad professional brow wax, so your fear is totally legit!
One of my biggest fear is going on a trip or holiday and forgetting my make-up bag, or one of my must-have make-up items.
Danielle says
I have actually had my eyebrows somewhat waxed off at a salon, so that fear is completely rational! My other fear is also the eyelash curler! I couldn’t use one for years because I was terrified.
Lauren says
My irrational fear would be my hair falling out pre-maturely!!! Every time I see a strand fall off in the shower I get super worried that i’ll emerge bald!
Erin says
Brows being over waxed, hair falling out from bad dye at the salon, and a dental mishap. These have all actually happened to me.
thebeautybadger says
Weirdly I have the exact same worry about the eyebrow situation.. Somehow I can picture me going to shave my legs in the shower and then some big commotion and suddenly the razor is eyebrow level..
Haha this made me laugh!
Miki says
I would have to say my fear is actually having my make up done by anyone else, professionals included. I’m that girl that people see and automatically want to test their hand at making me up. And I just don’t like it. Except two, no one has done it how it I like it. Blech. I’m very particular. I did however have my best friend, who is a special effects make up artist, do my makeup for my wedding, and she made me look frikin stunning. I was amazed myself. And at an Arbonne party I let the saleslady do my makeup (everyone else was doing it so I figured I’d give it a go) and she actually did great too. AND even put way less makeup on me than anyone has, including myself, and I loved it. She showed me that I don’t need so much, made me hella more confident. She didn’t even use liner! So maybe this fear should be a thing of the past … hmmm, I don’t know …
Ashley Celikay says
One of my biggest fears (i don’t know if most people would consider beauty related but it does affect your overall face) is my teeth falling out. I can imagine so many different ways of this happening, I even have nightmares about it. Other than that I’m always paranoid when I go away that I will forget one of my makeup items that I’ve brought with me.
Sassa says
For some reason, loosing teeth is a very common nightmare for women, mostly of childbearing age. By that I mean a real nightmare – at night, asleep. Nobody really knows why it affects women so much more than men, or why it seems to dissipate in menopausal women.
Fancie says
It would definitely be losing my train case! I’m always leery about what I pack in there because you never know what can happen lol
brenda says
Yep, recognise the eyebrow issue… even my boyfriend is not allowed to touch them if i put makeup on… every morning i try to make them as perfect as possible, i’m even considering to transplant some hair from the back of my head to my eyebrows but it’s pretty expensive..
Julia says
Reading all these fears makes me feel more normal! I have all these same worries and I figured I was the only one!
Kim says
I think blinding myself with eye cream. Like someday I’ll just be blind and research will show that anti-aging creams ruin your eyesight and should never have been applied! That is seriously why I’d never use Latisse or any other lash product.
Btw, happy Wednesday! It’s been forever and ever but I did think of you (Hey, Girl) while in Target picking up some b’day presents for my friends’ son’s 1st birthday. 🙂
Denise S. says
I’m worried that the eyelash growth serum I use might make my light brown eyes darker or worst cause blindness. I’m also scared of eyelash curlers, afraid I’ll pull them all out! Every time I dye or relax my hair I say a prayer that I won’t ruin my hair. None of this stuff is mandatory so why am I doing it! VANITY, lol
Amanda says
I fear that a new product will cause a breakout. I also worry about wearing too much, but that’s mostly because of my work environment.
Sylirael says
DEFINITELY the eyelash curler thing. Heck, I’m afraid that I’ll just pull all of them out one day with it, without even being startled!
Otherwise, probably looking like I have face makeup on (powder or foundation) – I’m totally OK with bright lips and eyes, but having my skin look not like skin terrifies me, so I’m a but neurotic about blending stuff in and sheer layers…
Lisa says
I’ve accidentally shaved off an eyebrow in the shower! I was in middle school and had the dumbest thought, “What if I just pass this razor through my eyebrow?” For whatever reason I didn’t think the WHOLE eyebrow would come off.
Also, I’ve never gotten my hair cut professionally. I’ve always done it myself, or had my mom do it.
Vanessa says
Getting antiperspirant in my eye.
Also, I don’t know if this is an irrational fear, but I take it to an irrational level. I get kind of sensitive skin, so I usually test all new eye products on my arm a day before applying. It only takes one case of really swollen eyes to develop a fear…
Katherine M says
I have lived out some of my biggest fears in life and in beauty. I lost about half the hair on both sides of my head from an allergic reaction when I was 16 (and got a feel for what people going through hair loss or chemo felt like); when I was younger, I had a stylist take off way more hair than I wanted (I didn’t cry, but I was annoyed at not being able to do my trademark french braids); I had a huge butterfly rash on my face that wouldn’t go away without prednisolone (from the allergic reaction that also got my hair); and I have survived trips without a beloved makeup item.
I guess now (since I’ve pretty much been through some of the worst things both with beauty and with life) I am afraid of losing makeup to the baggage claim people whenever I travel. Some makeup, as we all know, is not that easy to replace, and not that affordable to replace. I took way too much makeup on my cruise, and while everything remained intact, I am always on the lookout for any makeup that will pack on my carry-on or in my purse and is solid in some way so it doesn’t have to go in the quart ziplock bag.
Kellyn says
I get freaked out when I envision myself curling my eyelashes in the car, and the driver suddenly slamming on the brakes, and my eyelashes getting ripped out! 😮
Bree says
Ohhh I will not touch my face with any tester make-up. I don’t get how people go to cosmetic counters and try on products that people (including myself) have stuck their fingers in!!! I try it on my hand instead. I also prefer to match my own foundation. I know my skin the best, how can some stranger match me in crappy lighting?
I will also never let anyone touch my brows or get a pedi again. I prefer my feet fungus free! Not to mention the nightmares I have experienced. One guy actually sanded my toenail down. Yikes!!! I also have a discoloration between my brows from waxing. Tweezerman is my best friend now.
Leticia says
I have a few, but the possiblity of getting a bad hair coloring or haircut really freaks me out!
Carla N. says
This is a ridiculous thing to “worry” about, but whenever I find a product that I really love, every time I apply it, I have a twinge of anxiety as I think, “What if I use all of this up, and I can never ever get this exact same color again?”
In terms of worry time, this issues ranks WAY higher than global warming and the national debt, combined. 🙂
Tamera says
I have a fear of catching a foot or toenail fungus at nail salons. I would NEVER let anyone touch my feet, I am the only person that will ever do so. I actually know 2 people who ended up catching a toenail fungus from these so called salons who claim they are the cleanest. It has caused them so much embarrassment and expensive doctor visits. Yuck! I think it’s best to avoid the risk by just doing your own feet!
Denise Proctor says
I totally get where you are coming from Karen, I went thru a phase where I got my eyebrows threaded and I have to say that for the first 2 or 3 visits they did a bang up job but after that I think the lady who did it started getting thread – happy so that my naturally thick eyebrows got thinner and thinner so I started looking as if I was permanently surprised.
I am also funny when it comes to putting my makeup in my carry on bag. Don’t trust those baggage handlers, no siree.
The other thing I point blank refuse to do is get a pedicure. Putting my feet in those foot spa thingies? Potential breeding ground for all sorts of nasties? No thanks. I’m sure that most of them are cleaned thoroughly after use but after seeing a programme on tv about what you could get, I’ve decided my flippers aint going nowhere near them.
Wendy says
Your too funny… I’m afraid of burning my face with the curling iron, over bleaching my eyebrows, people touching my face and rubbing my makeup off agh … And little aliens taking my fav concealer 🙁
Bianca Gallegly Horkan says
The eyebrow thing here too — especially since I once had a gap in my right brow (right near my very slight/almost non-existent arch). I hardly get my brows waxed any more because of that. But when I do…I always tell them that they have to be very, very careful and then explain why. I haven’t had them done in years.
I also kind of freak out over the eyelash curler. I’m more scared about pinching my eye lid so hard that I tear the skin or temporarily blind myself.
Lulle says
I would really like to get an eyelash perm but I’m afraid the products they use will damage my eyes, or they will poke my eyes with tweezers, or the perm will cause my lashes to fall out…
I also own several pairs of brand new false lashes that I have never even tried putting on because of the tweezers near the eye thing.
Savannah says
I got 2 styez in 6 months last year ( even though I think it was because of my eye makeup remover) I’m always cleaning my brushes, wiping the top layer of products off and washing my hands before I go near my eyes. I also patch test new face products on the right side of my forehead ( my bangs cover it ha ha) that way if I break out its not a huge deal.
Last thing, is traveling and forgetting my makeup or something happening. My stuff ain’t cheap nor can I get most from a drugstore. I actually have had nightmares about this where I wake up unsettled and cheap to see if my collection is still there LOL
Savannah says
* check. Is what I meant, not cheap
Bassmah says
Only ever get my brows threaded but having them waxed for the first time this weekend…this has made my fears even more real! x
Fran says
I can relate to the eyelash curler fear.
A few weeks ago I accidentally set my side braid on fire while cooking on a gas stove. Watch out, long-haired ladies! Fortunately my kitchen is tiny, I was right next to the sink, put it out immediately, almost no harm done, but… when I think of what *might* have happened…
My most irrational fear: that I will have the kind of stroke where you don’t realize that one side of your body exists, somehow not realize this, and walk around with my hair and makeup done on only the left or right side! This must come from working with older people with dementia, and being not so young any more myself. Of course if I am that bad off I will probably not be putting on my makeup in the morning and going to work, lol, but knowing me, I would still be trying to do just that!
Iris says
I have a fear I’ll poke myself in the eye when applying eye makeup.
Kaelyn says
Probably some of my biggest fears are reflected in your post!
I used to fear eyelash curlers, thinking that secretly the pads were razors that were gonna chop of my brows.
I am also skeptical about having my brows professionally waxed because I was burned badly once.
I have a weird fear of people doing my nails (mani or pedi). I still occasionally have them done but for the life of me I cannot relax during either of those!
http://www.myfairdaily.com
Kaelyn says
*eyelashes not brows lol