Fun & Famous

WHY WE NEED TO STOP CALLING A MAKEOVER A MAKEOVER

My friends sister in law was celebrating her birthday and she had to have one. Not because she wanted one herself, but apparently her surroundings felt like it was a brilliant idea. Four women who have all experienced something ‘awful’, talk about it on TV, and they too get one. Same story here; not because they wanted one but hey, who cares, they’re going to get them anyway.

The makeover. The key ingredient in numerous TV shows to create that ‘oh’, ‘ah’ and ‘wow’ moment when the leading person stands in front of the mirror. Awkwardly might I add, twirling around in front of the mirror, most likely thinking: ‘yikes, my hair is short. Just as I was trying to grow it out…’

The makeover. Undoubtedly well intended, but a mark well missed. First of all, you’re telling the person in question that they weren’t looking great. And that’s not really a message a woman who was in the middle of a nasty resignation situation when she found out her husband was cheating on her with her next door neighbor wants to hear. It states: your hair cut is lame, you’re fat and your clothes are so boring that we all feel like you wear the same thing every single day. Here. Take it.

Anytime you hear the term makeover you feel like heavy artillery will be used. Long hair gets cut short. Blonde goes dark. A sneaker girl gets suited up in over the knee boots and so on. Everything needs to be changed. It seems as though no one really even bothers to see if the person themselves really are content. It’s all about the effect. Preferably with a ‘Noooo, not my hair’ and ‘I hate high boots’ in the montage.

Therefore my plea to change the term makeover to a ’touch up’. Sounds a lot more appealing for the person in question (because you were already great, but a few tweaks never hurt nobody). If we stick to this name change, then my sweet colleagues can sign me up too. Like I said, a few tweaks never hurt nobody.