Grooming | LaKesha Womack

Archive for the tag “Grooming”

12 Jun 2010

Are you young, fabulous and fresh for summer?

It is so hard to believe that summer is right around the corner. In fact, it will officially be summer on Monday, June 21. In southern Alabama, it is already around 95 degrees in the afternoon so it feels like summer is in full swing. I remember when it was bone chilling cold and we couldn’t wait for it warm up. I guess this is another case of being careful what you wish for. In the back of my mind, I knew this day was coming. Nevertheless, I prefer scorching hot temperatures over the cold weather so I am determined not to complain (check back with me in July and August to see how I am doing).

Part of living the fabulous life is keeping your cool and staying fresh without stripping down and standing bare in front of a fan… tempting but not the best idea. Check out my five tips for getting fresh for summer…

Exfoliate. This is great for men and women and is something that you can do at home. You can buy an exfoliation sponge or a pair of the gloves, grab your favorite soap and get to scrubbing. I swear, nothing feels better than removing all of the dead skin from your body. I’m a little particular so I use a different sponge for my face but I like a fresh start at least once a week. I promise, your skin will thank you for removing the dead layers of winter and letting your natural glow bask in the sunshine. Don’t forget to follow up with some sunscreen before you head out each day.
Shave. Women… we can get away with so much during the winter but once you start sporting those cute rompers and sundresses, shaving should be added back to the grooming list. Men… some of you think the beard is sexy but I can image that it adds about 15 degrees of heat to your face. I shudder to think of kissing a man with hair on his face when it feels like 110 degrees… that may just be me…
Get your feet right. This is another area that men and women get a little relaxed with during the colder months but it is officially time to get some professional help for your toe jammies. I’m not saying that you have to get a pedicure every two weeks but at least a polish change and file down once per month.
Assess your wardrobe. Stop filtering through your winter clothes to get to the stuff that you actually want to wear. Invest in some storage bins, pack up the winter clothes and bring out the summer gear. It will free your mind to be able to clearly see your daily wardrobe selections and save you time when getting dressed.
Buy new sheets. I know you are probably like, “where did that come from?” I love to have a big, warm comforter, blanket and sheets that squeeze me tight during the winter nights but once summer time rolls around, I am ready to shed the sheets and feel the cool air breezing over my body. Trust me, a fresh set of sheets will change your daily outlook.

I hope these tips help to get you ready for summer… it’s right around the corner and you have an obligation as a young and fabulous person to get fresh for summer.

Posted in Living Young and Fabulous and tagged Bedding, Exfoliate, Fabulous, Grooming, Pedicure, Shaving, Summer, Young

02 Jun 2010

2 Comments

Presentation Tip #3: Image is Everything

I think this lesson matters in other areas of life but it is especially true for presenters.

Image is everything!

From the time you announce yourself as the presenter before a group, they are making decisions about who you are and what you are about. You haven’t even opened your mouth and they are deciding how credible you are and how much attention they are about to pay to what you have to say. Some people negate their appearance because they feel as though people should listen to them since they are “expert” in their field. Not true. You have to establish your visual credibility as well as your intellectual.

Before preparing to present to a group, these are some of the factors that I consider.

Will I be sitting or standing? There are some outfits that are great for sitting and others that look better when you are standing. Test out your outfit to ensure it will present the best image for your brand.
Who is in the crowd? When I speak at a bank, I dress more conservatively than if I were speaking at a performing arts school. You want to maintain your style, which is the core of your look, but you want to be able to adjust so that when your audience sees you they instantly feel connected. If you look too theatrical, it may be hard for them to take you seriously.
Don’t over accessorize. People are easily distracted. Although you want to look memorable, you don’t want to do so at the risk of your outfit overshadowing your message.
Grooming matters. As a professional speaker, people look to you as a leader in your field or industry and oddly they also expect you to carry yourself as such. Having a polished image is another way that you can build trust with your audience.
Be consistent. Make sure your marketing materials are good representatives of the person your audience will meet. If you are humorous and light hearted then your website, business cards, brochures and everything else should reflect that.

Being a professional speaker is fun and rewarding but it is also a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Leave a comment with some of your struggles as a professional speaker or your secrets to success.

Posted in Now Presenting... and tagged Brand Management, Communication, Grooming, Marketing, Presenting, Professional Speaker, Tips