keep in mind that every woman (and man!) you see on TV has had makeup applied beforehand. Every. Single. One. So if you have ever seen anyone on TV and said, “wow, look at that natural beauty”, you’re really seeing them with extensive makeup. And why do they do that? Because (and get ready for a massive generalization here) most people look better to most other people most of the time with at least some makeup applied, with “better” in the above statement being more attractive, more distinguished, younger, older, or whatever other trait an actor/director is attempting to achieve.
There is literally no one that didn’t know that. There is also lighting and other effects to make them look better and the make up has to account for that.
I think a lot of women start going gray in their 30s, and color their haor until they retire. Its so ubiquitous that we now think of gray haor as something that happens in your 60s, so a 40 year old with lots of gray streaks looks mich older because of this false impression.
I’m also aware that many women who you think aren’t wearing any makeup actually have something on (nowadays it’s often what is referred to as “no makeup makeup” - stuff meant to cover blemishes like concealer, or meant to accentuate your features but not to be recognized as makeup). I even started a post here some time ago about what counts and does not count as makeup. There I mentioned that I have a female friend who once claimed to me that she does not wear any makeup, and once, when staying in her apartment, I got a chance to see her toiletries in her bathroom, and while there was indeed no eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, blush, powder, or lipstick, there was a pot of tinted moisturizer there.
As a guy, I’m also in the camp of preferring low maintenance (in fact, I’d rather be with someone who’s on the unkempt side than with someone high-maintenance - I myself am a very low maintenance guy). Disclaimer: what I write below is all just my opinion and preference, it is not meant to tell anyone what to do or shame anyone for their choices.
It don’t mind if a woman takes some care of her appearance, including moderate use of cosmetics, but I would prefer it not go over a certain amount. Light makeup is fine, but I’d prefer she not cover her whole face with thick layers of it. I consider makeup to be OK in and of itself, but also to be something completely optional, including the stuff that’s just meant to cover blemishes. I don’t think you need any makeup at all to be considered attractive (and yes, I know what a woman looks like with literally no makeup). Certainly no one should feel pressured to wear it at any occasion, be it at a job interview, her wedding, when going out, whatever.
Also - again, I’m speaking only about my own preferences here, not trying to put anyone down for their choices - I’m no fan of chemically processed hair (dyed, bleached or permed). It’s partly ideological - I appreciate a person who is comfortable with her natural hair - and partly I just find it gross to be putting those chemicals there. In fact my favorite hair color is light brown / ash brown or “mousy” hair - the one that probably gets dyed / bleached the most.
I myself have nothing against graying hair. I just had my second date with a woman who’s 39 and has curly light brown hair with visible grays in it. That said, I understand where the urge to cover grays comes from. My personal opinion though is that it’s just a natural part of aging, therefore, I welcome someone who would embrace it.
Non-snarkily, I’m curious about the sigh as well @sunacres.
I suppose it seems subtle, but to me the entire discussion is summarized by those two expressions from @TRC4941 : in the first “I feel better with my makeup on” is unpresumptuous and inarguable. “Looking nice” in the second seems to imply an external standard or judgment. That may not be what was intended of course, the poster may have meant to imply “I look nice to me,” but in my reading the construction made the distinction vivid.
I feel like most people probably get enough of an attitude lift from putting some effort into personal grooming and dressing, at least on occasion, to make the sentiment easy to grasp. Where we all run into difficulties is in that blurry area of our own expectations vs. other peoples’.
Lacking was any indication that they thought it was the only way to look nice or that people not wearing makeup had some sort of failing. Which can’t really be said in the reverse in this thread.
To me, it felt more like she was defending herself against the frequent attacks on women as being vain or frivolous. The tone in this thread overall is that women who take care wirh their appearnace need to justify it, more than the other way.
So. When I was in college, I dyed my blonde hair auburn. I did it at college because my mom loved my straight blonde hair, and I knew she would throw a fit if I dyed it.
I had it well timed. I did it 12 weeks before going home, and the dye was supposed to wash completely out in 8 weeks.
Supposed to. It washed out until my hair was an orange-pink unseen in nature, and stuck that way. And mom did freak.
Then she talked to her stylist and got the how-to on fixing it. For which I was glad because I really didn’t like the orange-pink.
(Mom’s color memory was so good, that the only people who could tell the dyed portion from the natural color were hairdressers, and then only because there was a strait line that was slightly visible)
Going from long light hair to long dark hair… I noticed it fairly often! Seeing a lock of hair on my shoulder or blow in front of my face was weird
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with feeling and looking nice. What the world needs to recognize is that there is more than one way to look and feel nice. You do you, I’ll do me, and we’ll all be good.
Thank you.
Exactly!
That’s perfectly fine with me. 
Perfect post to end this thread!