The first face I saw “painted” was probably my mama’s, but then there were all the others that followed, such as my junior high girl friends. Some were more talented than others with the makeup.
I can still remember Chrissy’s love of Billy Idol, hoop earrings and jet-black eyeliner. It was absolutely cool then, but frightening now to think of the tubes of mascara that a 13-year-old went through in a week’s time.
Then there was Kelly, a rodeo beauty queen all through high school who blended purple, blue and pink eye shadows onto her eyelids with absolute artistry; even my friend watercolorist Wyatt Waters would have marveled.
Friday nights were always entertaining before a football game in the bathroom of one of my many girl friends, only because that was where the big mirror was located, of course.
It’s shocking how many hours were spent in the small confines of an ’80s half-bath in rural Mississippi just laughing and putting on makeup. Sonya, Kim, Carrie, Tracy, Misty, Kelly … I’m still counting … oh, and Dottie — all attended by a very observant me, of course, taking turns near a sink, seated on a closed toilet facing a vanity mirror with good lighting. Sometimes, I actually miss those years.
Rewind to my mama in our blue bathroom with her “rouge” and lipstick, while Daddy blew the horn from the Oldsmobile. Even then I got the best seat in the house near the Charmin, intrigued by a 40-year-old woman making faces at herself in the mirror of my childhood. Perhaps that is the precise moment in life when I fell in love with makeup.
Some nights I would get lucky enough to tag along with my daddy to the fried chicken café downtown, where I would sit beside him on a bar stool. Miss Bonnie made the best cheeseburger with only mayo and ketchup, but it was her bright red lipstick that kept the men, and me, coming back for more. I loved makeup from an early age and all through my adolescence. I dressed up as Boy George, with a full face of everything in my best friend Renee’s makeup bag for my 15th birthday party, although I’m second-guessing the shiny red patent trench coat and dreadlocks now, as I look at the old photographs from 25 years ago. It was a cool party.
Fast forward to the present. Mama still loves makeup, even though I do most of the painting while she watches, and every makeup counter in town knows us by first names. Mama always did love a gift with purchase, and her favorite young man at the nail shop of her choice has taken to calling her “Mama” because he sees her so often! She is the ultimate “girly girl.”
I am privileged to do a monthly makeover on Fox40 television painting faces and poofing hair, and I get to write this fun column about lipstick, mascara and all things pretty. I visit daily in my salon with lovely ladies who let me do their hair and makeup, and I’ve been able to work as an artist for a fantastic makeup line. Yep, I’m a lucky man indeed. But best of all are memories that are stored in my scrapbook and the pages yet to be filled with color — lots and lots of color.
Former Columbus resident David Creel owns Beautiful With David Salon in Jackson. Contact him at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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