Watching The Block makes me quickly realise two things:
1. My home is in urgent need of renovation;
2. You can look good on little sleep wearing no makeup.
No, stop laughing, you can! And the show proves it, night after night after night. However, the rules differ radically for men and women. It might just be me but all the boys on the show look really amazingly cute all ruffled and dishevelled and sleepy. I just want to…run my fingers through their hair.
For girls, it takes a little extra effort for the cute while ruffled/dishevelled/sleep look to be achieved. These tips and tricks can be used at home on days you can’t be bothered dressing up or are planning to spend a few hours sorting through your clothes. They’re equally as useful for the school run or grocery shopping. They are life savers for those days when you JUST CAN’T BE BOTHERED, but still want to look presentable.
Add these to your arsenal. Let unkempt cuteness commence:
1. Makeup is optional.
You don’t have to wear much makeup on The Block. In fact, as Dee shows, you don’t have to wear any at all. Even if you plan to wear some – maybe a little gloss or some powder on your nose – you will become too tired to apply it and eventually due to severe stress and fatigue you won’t care how you look. And that’s the real gift of The Block…not caring how you look and just getting on with the job.
We could all do with caring a little less about how we look after all.
Minimal Makeup
2. Dramatic hair.
You might find a bit of time to wash your hair. On a good day you may even get to dry it. The rest of the time, try any of these dramatic updos such as the high pony, the low pony, the messy bun, the neat bun, the messy knot and the up knot.
But, don’t be afraid to leave your hair out. Just because you are on a construction site, doesn’t mean your hair has to be safely tucked away. Plus, I’ve always found manically twisting strands of loose hair around my finger while stressed quite soothing.
Dramatic Updo
3. Makeup disguises.
If you do at some stage regret your lack of makeup, all you need to do is wear a brightly coloured scarf to take the attention off your face, in the nicest possible way.
You’ll see a lot of this on nights when scores are being read out. Because most contestants have been up all night and most struggle to crack a smile.
4. Hair disguises
If you do at some stage regret your unwashed hair, all you need to do is wear a beanie to take the attention off your locks. And forget those stylish little beanies designed to be positioned on clean and shiny hair. When it comes to hiding unwashed hair, the uglier the beanie, the better. Consider borrowing one from your son. Or take a leaf out of Maxine’s book and just go for a tight, coiled pony. Wet or unwashed? Who can tell?
Hair disguises
5. Hair straighteners save all
Who knew Maxine had naturally curly hair? Dee has a bit of a messy wave in her hair too and Carelene, well, she just has a lot of hair. So if you do have 30 seconds up your sleeve, consider running a hair straightener through your hair. Hair straighteners also come in handy to iron curtains and sheets just before reveal.
6. Champagne is better than any beauty product
Amongst all the coffee and water being consumed on The Block is a couple of precious champagne moments that are more soothing than the deepest sleep, the longest massage and the best relaxation techniques out there. On The Block champagne isn’t used to celebrate as much as it is used to sooth frayed nerves.