Looking Good: What You Can Do Today

As well as rejuvenating your body from the inside with a clean diet and rehydration, there are a number of external strategies you can use to start improving your overall appearance. Even if you have excess weigh to lose or muscles to tone, there's no time like the present to start looking better.

Here are some simple steps you can take right away:

1. Hair

Starting from the top, the first thing you can do to upgrade your image is to get a good haircut. It may sound superficial but hair can make or break your overall 'look'. As a famous hairdresser says in one of our local commercials, “It's all about hair!”

So find a talented hairdresser. Whether you have to canvas your well-groomed friends or stop people in the street whose haircut impresses you, just do it. Then make an appointment and be specific about what you want. And remember, even if you don't get it right the first time, hair grows back. You can always wait a few months and try again.

Hair color is another way to change your look. How many nondescript actresses have you read about who hit the big time when they went blond? A change in hair color can totally transform how you feel about yourself so start experimenting.

2. Clothes

Even if you're on a weight loss program, you can afford to buy at least one stylish outfit at your current weight. Start dressing like the healthy, confident person you're in the process of becoming. It will help your motivation no end. Once you've lost the weight you can choose to have the outfit altered or give it away. But just know that you don't have to wait to start presenting a different image.

If you've become less interested in fashion over the past several years, now's the time to start getting reacquainted. If you haven't done so in the past, this would with a good time to have your colors done. By this we mean spurge on a professional assessment regarding what shades of colors best suit your skin tone. This can make the difference between looking 'nice' and looking spectacular.

Another way to ease back into the fashion scene is to enlist the aid of a younger friend or relative. You want someone who's up on the very latest trends to suggest some fashion tips – someone who has a talent for dressing well and is willing to share their expertise.

3. Makeup

Along with working on your body, you'll need to take better care of your face. Spend some time researching the best skin care products for your skin type. A good diet, clean water and exercise will improve the quality of your skin from the inside, but there's no harm in helping the process along with some healthy topical treatments.

Thanks to the baby boomers refusing to 'grow old gracefully' there's been an explosion of research in recent years into every aspect of the aging process. The cosmetics industry has been at the forefront of this research, resulting in new treatments being launched on a regular basis. This is great news for everyone whose skin is less than perfect.

As well as skin care products, you'll also need some quality makeup that will bring out your best features without wreaking havoc on your skin. The staff at the cosmetics counters of the top department stores can be a great resource here. Find some who are willing to demonstrate their products on your face. You don't have to buy the products but you'll get a good idea of what colors work and how the products feel on your skin.

4. Teeth

Your smile is a major factor in your overall 'attractiveness' so if you've neglected the health of your teeth, or you just need a cosmetic touch up like teeth whitening, you can do this at any stage of your health makeover.

Tooth decay has a negative affect on your overall health so should be addressed first. In addition, some people elect to have their old mercury fillings replaced, something you might want to research. There are arguments for and against this procedure so you'll need to consider them carefully before you make your decision.

On the cosmetics side, correcting crooked or crowded teeth can have a major effect on your appearance, but is often very costly. You can also reverse the aging affect of yellow teeth through teeth whitening, either through your dentist or by trying the various products available for home use. There are some horror stories out there about many of the teeth whitening procedures so be sure to source some unbiased feedback before you risk the health of your teeth.