Hair and Beauty in the Wizarding World

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 37285

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ritadear2" <ritadarling at i...> wrote:
> Uncmark wrote:
> 
> "If you hade magical powers, wouldn't you be as 
> beautiful as possible? Or in a world of Magic would the views of 
> beauty differ?"
> 
> This is something that I have given a considerable amount of 
> thought to, usually during my own beauty routine ;-).  In my 
> fantasies about the wizarding world, they are less inclined to the 
> anorexic body types and favor a more normal figure, lol.  

I've not started using make-up - all too uncomfortable for me. 
Besides, I think that using make-up is unhealthy. Just think of it-- 
eyelashes are supposed to keep all kinds of little impurities from 
getting into your eyes -- and you want to put makeup on them?

If I *could* do things easily, causing no harm with a wave of wand - 
why not?

> "Snape is content to leave his oily hair long and greasy. If there 
> was a potion that could fix hair, wouldn't the Hogwart's Potion 
> Master have it?"
> 
> Yes, I am sure he would.  There is no discussion/description of 
> him being otherwise unclean--no mention of offensive body odor 
> or unwashed clothing, so I had assumed that his "greasy" hair 
> was not of a dirty sort, but instead something he liked or just the 
> way his hair was in a normal hygienic state and he just didn't 
> care at all.  He's got bigger things on his mind than the state of 
> his hair!

Maybe he hasn't heard of Shampoo for Greasy Hair. Or thinks it's 'too 
Muggle'. Or... Maybe he had bad experience as a child, getting 
shampoo into his eyes?
 
> "So there is hair potion, Is it just that Hermione considers it too 
> much trouble or that she values books more than looks?"
> 
> I'd imagine this to be true, too.  She can't possibly be spending 
> three hours to get her hair under control on a daily basis.  
> Besides, Rita Skeeter described her as pretty or attractive or 
> something with her hair all wild anyway, and Krum found her 
> attractive enough to ask her out, and Ron is obviously smitten.  I 
> don't think Hermione needs to fuss with hair potion to be pretty.

None does, IMO.
 
> "It would be a good topic for discussion. Would you use a spell 
> instead of buying makeup? Would there be sufficient motivation 
> (profit) to get skilled wizards making instant beauty spells?"
> 
> Oh, gawd yes!  I'd also like to find a hair color I like and 
> somehow make it stay that way!  But, I also remember Prof. 
> McGonagall making a remark to one of the Patil sisters about a 
> decorative hair clip, telling her to get that ridiculous thing out 
of 
> her hair.  So, do the witches wear makeup?  Do they change 
> their hair color?  Is ornamentation, aside from dress robes, 
> considered frivolous and silly?

I prefer simple dressing. I can't think a witch would want makeup... 
Colour-changing spells etc.
 
> Another thing, on the same lines, I have been thinking about...do 
> wizards and witches exercise?  I know they laugh at muggles for 
> lifting heavy objects, but, as I dilligently go about my exercise 
> routines, I wonder, do they?  Do they need to?  Their physiology 
> is the same as ours, from what we know, except they live longer, 
> so it seems that keeping stong muscles and stamina would be 
> important as well.  And, with what I've read they eat there on a 
> regular basis, it seems they'd need something to get that 
> cholesterol under control.  Can you imagine McGonagal doing 
> pilates?  LOL, or Snape in a martial arts class?  Tee hee hee.
 
They're as different as Muggles, I think. Anyway, how can you tell 
with all those loosely hanging ropes? Arthur Weasley doesn't exercise 
much (and was in bad shape, not quite managing his breath after the 
walk)..

--Finwich