Why Should We Refresh Our Look from Time to Time? The Connection Between External Change, Self-Confidence, and Inner Renewal
Nurit Rozenblat
Think of the last time you left the hairdresser with a new haircut, a different hair color, or even just a small change in hairstyle.
Suddenly you look in the mirror a little more. Maybe smile at yourselves, straighten up, feel fresher, and even feel like leaving the house and showing the change.
Nothing essential in your life changed at that moment, and yet something in the inner feeling changed.
I think this is one of the interesting things about the connection between external appearance and how we feel.
Sometimes a small change outside manages to awaken a feeling of renewal inside.
But why does this happen? Is there a psychological explanation for it? And can refreshing our look from time to time really affect self-confidence and the way we perceive ourselves?
Why do we get used to our look so quickly?
Our brain tends to get used to stimuli that repeat themselves.
This phenomenon is called Habituation.
When we are exposed again and again to the same stimulus, our response to it may weaken.
We know this phenomenon from many areas of life.
A perfume scent we stop feeling after a certain time, a picture hanging for years on the wall that we barely notice anymore, or a fixed route to work that we pass without noticing every detail.
In relation to our look a similar feeling of routine and familiarity can also occur.
The same hairstyle for years, the same clothing style, the same colors, and the same makeup routine.
We know our reflection so well that sometimes we no longer stop to ask whether it still reflects who we are today.
It is important for me to emphasize that getting used to our look is not necessarily a negative thing.
Familiarity with ourselves can grant a feeling of stability and comfort.
But sometimes a small change can reawaken curiosity and attention.
What happens when we change something in our external appearance?
Our brain responds to novelties and changes in the environment.
New things can attract our attention and arouse interest.
When we change our hairstyle, choose a color we have not worn before, or try a different makeup style, we meet in the mirror a slightly different picture of ourselves.
This novelty may arouse excitement, curiosity, and a feeling of freshness.
But it is important to be precise: there is no proof that every change in appearance necessarily causes dopamine release or an improvement in self-confidence.
The response depends on the person, on the meaning he attributes to the change, and on the degree to which he feels comfortable with the result.
In my eyes, the most interesting thing is not the change itself.
But the possibility of choosing anew how we want to present ourselves.
The connection between external appearance and self-image
Self-image is the way we perceive and evaluate ourselves.
It is composed of much more than external appearance.
It includes our personality, abilities, relationships, values, experience, and our feeling regarding the place we occupy in the world.
But external appearance also has a role in self-image.
When we feel our look matches our personality, taste, and the stage we are at in life, this may contribute to a feeling of comfort and confidence.
Conversely, when we feel our look no longer represents us, a desire for change sometimes arises.
This does not mean we need to change ourselves in order to be worthy or loved.
Not at all.
The goal of refreshing the look is not to fix something in us, but to allow the external appearance to develop together with who we are becoming.
How do the actions we do for ourselves affect how we feel?
In psychology there exists an approach called Self-Perception Theory.
According to this approach, in certain situations we also learn about our attitudes and feelings from observing our behavior.
This idea makes me think about our care routine.
When we dedicate time to ourselves, choose a garment we love, care for our hair, or invest a few minutes in skin care, we do an action expressing attention to ourselves.
In some women, these actions can contribute to a feeling of value, control, and personal well-being.
But I think it is important to separate our value from the amount of time or money we invest in appearance.
A woman who does not wear makeup, does not dye her hair, and is not interested in fashion does not value herself less.
Care is a possibility for personal expression, not a measure of self-worth.
Do the clothes we wear affect our behavior?
One of the interesting research fields on this subject is called Enclothed Cognition.
The term describes the possibility that the clothes we wear, and the meaning we attribute to them, affect certain psychological processes.
In certain studies it was found that wearing clothing items with symbolic meaning can affect attention or performance of certain tasks.
However, the research findings are not uniform, and some of the results were not consistently replicated.
Therefore it is not correct to determine that a certain garment will automatically make us more confident, smarter, or more successful.
But it is certainly possible that a garment we feel comfortable, beautiful, and suited to ourselves in will affect the way we conduct ourselves.
I think many of us know this feeling.
There are days when we wear something that feels exactly right to us.
We do not necessarily look dramatically different, but feel a little different.
Why do we want to change our look specifically during periods of change in life?
It is interesting to see how many times the desire to change a hairstyle or clothing style appears during transition periods.
After a breakup.
At the start of a new job.
After a significant birthday.
After a challenging period.
Or simply when we feel the time has come for something else.
External appearance can serve as a way to express an inner change.
Sometimes we already feel something inside us changed, but the environment still sees us as we were.
An external change can make this feeling more tangible.
It may mark for us a new beginning or a decision to move forward.
But there is no need for a dramatic event to refresh the look.
Sometimes it suffices that we simply want to try something new.
Can a change in appearance improve self-confidence?
The answer depends greatly on the reason for the change.
When we choose a change out of curiosity, enjoyment, and a desire for self-expression, it may contribute to a feeling of confidence.
But when the change stems from a feeling that we are not beautiful enough, not young enough, or not good enough, the emotional result can be different.
An external change is not an automatic solution to deep insecurity.
One can change hairstyle, wardrobe, and makeup and still not feel at peace with oneself.
Therefore I believe the important question is not only what we want to change.
But also why.
Are we changing something because we love ourselves and want to renew, or because we feel we must become someone else in order to be satisfied?
In my eyes, there is a big difference between the two approaches.
No dramatic change is needed to feel renewal
When we think of a change in appearance, we sometimes imagine an extreme haircut, a completely different hair color, or replacing the entire wardrobe.
But renewal does not have to be dramatic.
Sometimes precisely the small changes are the ones that feel most natural.
You can start with a few simple ideas.
Refresh the hairstyle
There is no need to shorten the hair or change its color.
Sometimes a change in the parting, adding gentle layers, or a different arrangement of the hair can create a new look.
Try a different makeup shade
Maybe you have been using the same lipstick shade for ten years.
There is no problem with that, but sometimes it is interesting to try another color and see how it integrates with the skin tone and the overall look.
Change the clothing style
You can add to the wardrobe a color you have not worn before, a new cut, or an accessory that changes the appearance.
There is no need to buy a lot to feel a change.
Refresh the eyebrows
The shape of the eyebrows affects the framing of the face.
Sometimes gentle tidying or a small change in their design can create a feeling of a fresher look.
It is worth being careful of extreme changes or excessive hair removal, especially if you want to maintain a natural look.
Update the care routine
Our skin changes over the years.
Products that suited us in the past do not necessarily suit us today.
Therefore it is worth examining the care routine from time to time and checking whether it still answers the current needs of the skin.
Why is it important to adapt the care routine to the skin we have today?
One of the things I repeat often is that the skin should not be cared for only according to chronological age.
Its current condition should be addressed.
Over the years changes may occur in skin moisture, sebum secretion, the protective barrier, and elasticity.
Hormonal changes, seasons, medications, and lifestyle habits can also affect its needs.
Therefore a care routine that was perfect for us ten years ago will not necessarily be the right choice today.
Maybe our skin became drier.
Maybe it is more sensitive to certain ingredients.
And maybe we simply want an easier, more pleasant routine.
Refreshing the care routine does not require replacing all the products.
Sometimes it suffices to add a more suitable moisturizer, change the cleansing preparation, or adapt the active ingredients to the skin's needs.
Must refreshing the look be connected to a desire to look younger?
I think this is one of the most important questions.
In the beauty industry there is sometimes a tendency to present every change in appearance as an attempt to look younger.
A rejuvenating haircut.
Makeup that takes off years.
A garment that hides the age.
But in my eyes, this is too narrow a view.
Not every woman wants to look younger.
Sometimes we simply want to look more interesting, more elegant, bolder, or more natural.
Sometimes we want to feel our look suits the personality and confidence we have accumulated over the years.
I even think there is something especially beautiful in a woman who allows herself to try new styles without feeling she needs to hide her age.
Renewal does not have to be an attempt to return to who we were. It can be a way to express who we are today.
How do we know the time has come to refresh the look?
There is no specific age and no fixed schedule.
There are women who love changing their hairstyle every few months.
Others stay loyal to the same style for years and feel excellent with it.
Both options are good.
But if you feel your look no longer reflects your taste, or simply feel like trying something new, this can be a nice opportunity to experiment.
Not out of obligation.
Not because the old style is no longer beautiful.
But because our preferences also change, and we are allowed to give them room.
And what if we love exactly our fixed look?
Then there is no reason to change it.
I think it is important to say this.
Refreshing the look is not an obligation, and routine is not necessarily a sign of neglect.
There are women who found the hairstyle, clothing style, and care routine suiting them, and they feel no need to change a thing.
This too is a choice expressing self-confidence.
The goal is not to chase novelties.
The goal is to feel comfortable with our choices.
And if we feel like renewing, to do so out of enjoyment and not out of pressure.
Our approach at OrOrgani
At OrOrgani we believe care is much more than using cosmetic products.
It is connected to the way we relate to ourselves and the time we choose to dedicate to our needs.
I love the idea of refreshing the look from time to time.
Not because I think we need to change ourselves in order to look good.
But because sometimes a small change can bring a pleasant feeling of renewal into the routine.
A new hairstyle, a lipstick color we have not tried, a garment in a different cut, or a care routine better suited to our skin today.
Each one can choose her own way.
I also believe real self-confidence allows us to experiment without fear.
If we loved the change, wonderful.
And if not, we can return to what was.
After all, our look is also a way of personal expression, and we are allowed to play with it.
In summary: Sometimes a small change outside reminds us how much we are developing inside
Refreshing the look can be an enjoyable, invigorating experience.
It may draw our attention anew, allow us to express a personal change, and contribute to a feeling of confidence when done out of free choice.
But it is not a condition for self-love.
We do not need a new haircut to be interesting, and we do not need to replace the wardrobe to feel valuable.
In my eyes, the beauty in renewal is precisely the freedom to choose.
To stay with the look we love, or to try something else.
To be loyal to ourselves, and at the same time allow ourselves to change.
I believe our look does not need to stay frozen in time, but it also does not need to chase time. It can simply develop together with us.
And sometimes, all that is needed to feel a little different is a small change reminding us we are still curious, creative, and open to renewal.
With love,
Nurit
OrOrgani
With love,
Nurit Rozenblat
OrOrgani
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