LADIES CORNER: How to sustain your glow amid Nigeria’s biting economy
By Genevieve Aningo
Women and beauty are best friends. When the word beauty is mentioned, it’s natural to tilt to the female gender. Women had always been preoccupied with beauty regimes to modify or alter their physical beauty.
Historically, seeking to beautify oneself has always been a need from the beginning of human existence. This is evident in why clothing is a basic need.
It is tenable to argue that beauty is within but beauty is also physical. After all, appearance is a first impression before character.
With modernisation, it’s almost safe to say that it is compulsory for every woman to embrace a beauty regimen. Today’s standard of beauty among women is different from decades ago.
Beauty practices could be basic, medium and hybrid enhancements requiring technology like liposuction and other forms of beauty surgery. For lack of a better expression, a woman has no excuse to be ugly. There is a lot to keep up with from fashion apparels, cosmetics, makeup kits, jewelries, bags, footwear, fragrances and other accessories.
Some women could be fanatics of makeup products while others could be guilty of filling their closet with every clothing that hits the market.
It is tenable to argue that beauty is within but beauty is also physical. After all, appearance is a first impression before character.
In the midst of caring for one’s beauty there are also other needs and all of them demand finances. To take care of oneself implies that money is spent.
Globally, there is an increase in cost of living and the African continent is mostly adversely affected as a developing entity. In Nigeria, the Naira depreciates daily while it has been ranked number 3rd in Africa and 11th in the world as the worst performing currencies in 2022.
The country’s inflation rate is also alarming. In July for instance, Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 19.64%. The foregoing has made things difficult for several homes, and forced many to adjust their lifestyles.
In this piece, CRISPNG spoke with Jennifer Onubah, a fashion expert, who provides some tips how women can still maintain beauty needs amid biting economy
For Jennifer, the nation’s economic woes is not an excuse to look unkempt. The fashionista also said the importance of self grooming may not necessarily earn you good people but it’s a secret of having a circle of attractive individuals who invest money in self maintenance.
‘’You may attract better attractive people but not necessarily good people,” she said.
She said for ladies to keep their heads above the ocean amid the biting hardship, they should seek affordable yet quality beauty products, items and clothing.
She said: “Beauty items are a must, the key is to scale down while having quality in mind. It also demands a change in lifestyle and knowing some ‘do it yourself’ beauty skills like polishing your nails, makeup skills, revamping old clothes, opting for low cut, dreads or other low maintenance hair.
“For me any lady that spends up to five hundred thousand Naira over a wig in these hard times may be a ritualist. I am cutting down, everybody should cut down, I am not shopping as I used to, I am not buying those quality clothes as I used’’.
Jennifer added that cutting down means experimenting with thrift clothing, shoes and bags as well as knowing that it’s a hassle to spend costly sums on random items such as eye pencils, hair bonnets, not to mention sleeping wears.
I am cutting down, everybody should cut down, I am not shopping as I used to, I am not buying those quality clothes as I used.
The fashion expert also said natural and organic cosmetics are better than overpriced synthetic creams and soaps.
“For makeup, foundation and powder is basic and you should be sentimental about it; you can buy other items at an affordable price”.
Jennifer also highlighted that this season of harsh economy means arming a wardrobe with clothes in basic colours as black, white and brown.
“Make sure you have black in everything! Black gown, black trouser, black singlet, black skirt; it would save you and enable to create different outfits,” she added.
She also spoke on how to spot quality thrift clothes and shoes since the cost of quality brand new fashion items is enough to dig a hole in a pocket of an average Nigerian.
Jennifer advised that the rule is to consider the material in both shoes and bags while considering the location and place of purchase
She said: “I buy thrift wears in all fabrics except cotton and wool because they wear out easily having discolouration, holes and expands. Buy the items when there is a new bale by the seller not when the items are leftovers. I can buy anything thrift except for hair and it’s my own tip to you, it’s not worth it !“
