“I Enjoy Being a Girl!”  That was a standard song I would often call on for last minute auditions; thanks to my mom who taught my friends and I plenty of talent show tunes including, “Has Anybody Seen My Gal,” “Honey Bun,” and “Let Me Entertain You.”   My mom would have loved to be a performer on Broadway…maybe in another life, because she knew all the shows and all the songs.

The sentiment of the fun, mostly girly, songs she taught us still puts a smile on my face.  And, nothing more than “I Enjoy Being a Girl.”  You see, it’s true.  I am a girly girl.  I have always loved getting my hair done, working on the perfect smoky eye, waving my fake acrylic nails and adding another fancy dress to my closet.  In my heart of hearts, I truly wish fashion had not become so casual.  Not that I don’t appreciate wearing Uggs, leggings and a sweatshirt with my hair pulled up in a tie; but, I would have actually loved to be required to roll-up my hair every night and wear high heels every day.

And, as I sit in my friend Todd’s hair salon, with what seems like 76 foils in my hair, I think about my girly ways through the years.

I am one of those girls that sees a cool haircut and brings photos into my stylist of the hairstyle I’d like to have.  It hardly matters if it isn’t right for my face shape or that I want to cut off 6 inches.  When I commit myself to an idea, I won’t falter.

It is typically celebrities that I copy, because I’m usually looking at movie/TV articles or see it on the screen.  I have requested Mary Stuart Masterson’s stark highlight short cut from “Some Kind of Wonderful,” Bananarama’s Siobhan Fahey shaved side cut on their self-titled album, Robin Wright’s full bob circa 1992, Monica Potter’s flippy layers in “Head Over Heels,” and, of course, back in 3^rd grade, the Dorothy Hamill cut, because I still hadn’t decided on actress or ice skater.  But, the old standard will always be the various cuts Heather Locklear had in “Melrose Place.”  She is my go to color and cut.  Luckily, I have numerous photos that I have used as templates for the cut of the season – whether she had long layers or was going more rocker chic, they all looked pretty good to me; and, to me, she was 100% beautiful girl.  There are three celebrity women that, in my opinion, have been nothing short of stunning.  Again, this is only my taste.  I’m not trying to sway you to my idea of beauty.  I mean, seriously, I know my taste is not all encompassing.  After all, I am the girl who doesn’t really like any princesses that aren’t blonde (sorry Snow White), so I know I’m not right…it’s just my view.

Michelle Pfeiffer.  Heather Locklear.  Kelly Preston (John Travolta’s wife).

If I had to look like anyone but myself, I would go with one of the above.  And, they all at one time or another, had beautiful blonde hairstyles.  I’m well aware of the connection.

I love curlers and hot rollers and bows and barrettes and stand alone hair dryers (the ones you sit under at the salon).  I probably have more hair accessory items than I could ever possibly use, but they are so fun.

In my 20s, I would try to re-create a variety of hair styles that I would see in retro photos, just for the fun of it.  Maybe that is another reason I loved being in theater.  Along with immersing yourself into another life for an hour or so (which I’ve already addressed), you get to go all out for the character and time period in costume (again, already addressed), including a suitable hair style.  It’s definitely part of the look.

I remember studying “The Russia House,” before an audition for a play set in Eastern Europe.  It wasn’t just to get some of the accent, it was also to check out Michelle Pfeiffer’s hair, so I could copy it for my audition.  I got cast.  When I took my cousin to the “Austin Powers” premiere, I did up my 60s ‘do to match my go-go boots and polka-dot retro dress.  I got to introduce my cousin to Mike Myers.  And, to this day, my favorite Halloween photos are from when I took almost two hours to set and do my hair in a fancy princess style.  It was the best Halloween party ever.

Give your all to every part!  All you need are the tools.

I have had a make-up table since high school.  When I see friends of mine dry their hair or put on make-up in their bathroom, I can’t comprehend how I would exist doing that.  First of all, I wouldn’t have room for my various sets of curling accessories (large hot roller set, mid hot roller set, travel hot roller set, back-up hot roller set w/ a row of very small rollers for up dos, flat iron, standard curling iron, thin curling iron, thick curling iron, twist curlers, old fashion plastic rollers, metal/Velcro rollers…okay, that’s enough to make my point).

Then, there is the make-up.  Though most will attest that I don’t wear a lot of lipstick these days, I have a variety of shades, when I choose to.  There is the bright red that I use to wear everyday back in 1989-1991.  The company that made it went out of business, so I keep the one tube until I am able to successfully match it (no luck so far).  There is the frosted tangerine that I discovered in a drawer at my grandmother’s house – it is in a lime green tube with orange & yellow print, so I have no doubt it was one of my aunt’s from the late 60s/early 70s.  Haven’t been able to match that one yet either.  And, the hot pink gloss that is the perfect sparkly poppy pink color that also no longer is available in the make-up aisle.  But, I keeping trying to find them, so I have plenty of “similar” colors; totally unique colors that I purchase on a whim; and, then the ones that match specific outfits.  I like to keep my options open.

I have no issues spending hours at my make-up table trying to design a fun or glamorous look for a special occasion.  Though most people probably would never know the difference.  But I do.  I revel in even the subtle change in eye liner – and that makes me happy.  I wish there was more time in each day because I’d come up with a new look much more often.

The people that see me every day are probably scratching their heads wondering where all the makeup and fancy hairstyles are. They see me pretty much “simple” every day at work.  Hello?  Remember my personality – all out or all in.  If I can’t spend two hours dolling myself up for something fun, you’re probably just going to get the simple 18 minute version.  Fully commit or let it go.  I already have too few hours in the day as it is, so if I’m just going to work where I will sit on the floor going through promo items, I’ll use that time more wisely.

And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the spa.  Hair, nails, body…I can spend hours primping and pampering.  I don’t think I can imagine a more perfect day then spending it relaxing and beautifying at the spa.  Well, maybe a spa that showed CSI episodes between services.

Yes, I’m proud to be a girl.  I’ll buy the nail polish, and the fancy lotion, and the teeth whitener, and the easy bun maker (okay, I didn’t buy that yet, but it’s in my “Saved for Later” Amazon cart).  And, I will sit at my grandmother’s make-up table with rollers in my hair, pedicure dividers between my toes, and a palate of eye shadow to peruse, just in case I want to pull out my pair of green or grey or blue contacts and change things up for the day.  And, I’ll search through my boxes of shoes just to find those silver slides or scour the jewelry box for that shamrock bracelet.  And, you know what?  No matter how long it takes me to get ready, I’ll enjoy every single girly minute.