By Kathy Moore

Aloha!

There are many ways to put your look together but here are some of the things I think matter the very most.

HAIR: I have found that selecting the right wig for your facial characteristics is a key factor in looking your best. For someone with a round face, short styles will look very nice; however, if you have a rather long face like I do, longer styles with bangs and a high crown will frame your face more effectively. It is best if you can find a proper hair stylist to help you select the proper style for your facial characteristics. Most wig shops these days are used to males buying ladies hair, so do not feel embarrassed to tell the sales person that it is for you. Most will also permit you try on wigs in the store if there are no other customers present.

If you travel like I do, it is very difficult to find good hair that can be packed away for the trip yet quickly styled for an evening on the town after you arrive at your destination. I find that The Wig Company and Paula Young are two mail order catalogs who offer some very nice styles at reasonable prices.

My favorite from The Wig Company was a number called Heartthrob and I bought 6 of them when they went out of style. You also need to learn how to use a comb and a hair pick in styling your wigs when you first unpack the. It is fairly easy to learn to tease them into a nice shape such as the one you see in my photograph. Wigs that are permanently styled can be shaken out and combed into their styling, provided that you have taken proper care of them to begin with. Always comb your wigs out and store them in a sturdy box when you are not wearing them so they do not become crushed, or you may end up with hair that looks like a dead rat!

MAKEUP: I have a fair complexion and a light beard, so I am more fortunate than some of my sisters. I have always used Merle Normanís foundations as they provide excellent cover and do not dry or flake. They are more expensive than the drug store products, but your foundation is the key to every other aspect of your makeup. Try to find a Merle Norman store in a shopping center and go there when they first open in the morning, you will usually find just one sales person on duty. Take along your best photograph en femme and tell her you enjoy making up theatrically and wish to purchase some foundation for yourself.

Show her your photo and tell her that if she would prefer not waiting on you that you will come back when some other sales person is available. She will almost certainly be happy to wait on you because it means a sale and she works on commissions. In a few minutes she can recommend the color and composition of the makeup best suited for your skin tone, skin texture and hair color. She will even show you how to apply the makeup and other items such as eye shadows by using a sketch of a face on paper. Be sure to ask for her business card so that you may ask for her when you return for your next purchase.

One item to remember is that you should learn to apply make up based on the time of day and the setting where you will be. For daytime wear a very light foundation with very little eye shadow and a pale lipstick. I think we all start out wanting to look very theatrical, but you quickly learn that makeup is supposed to ìenhanceî your normal complexion, rather than conceal it.

Kathy Moore

GENERAL TIPS: Most of what I have learned about makeup I discovered by watching my wife and daughter apply theirs. Here are some general tips that I have learned from them over the years:

1. Always apply a moisturizer before applying your foundation. This prevents the pores from getting clogged with makeup and makes it easier to remove later on.

2. Use an eye shadow base to prevent your eye shadow from flaking.

3. Select an eye brow color that suits your hair color. As a blonde, I use a very light brown eye brow pencil and I keep my eyebrows plucked so they have a nice shape.

4. Select a dark shadow to go on the lids and a lighter shadow to apply between the lids and the brow bone.

5. Apply eye liner very sparingly. Cleopatra eyes are great on the stage, but they are not worn by ordinary women on a daily basis. Select a colored eye liner that matches your eyes, I use Maybellineís sapphire blue as it brings out the blue in my eyes very strongly.

6. Tired of false eye lashes? I started having problems with my eyes from lash adhesive. As a result I started having to put an eye lubricant on them each night when I go to bed. Guess what I discovered? The lubricant resulted in my lashes growing longer and fuller, so now I have long natural lashes that you cannot see without makeup, but they come alive when I apply my mascara.

7. When applying mascara, use an eye lash comb to comb them after each application. This prevents the mascara from building up and lumping. I apply three or four coats of mascara and comb each application before it sets so that the mascara is evenly distributed on the lashes.

8. When applying lipstick, try to keep it within your natural lip line on the upper lip, but paint the lower lip much fuller. It gives you a cute pouting look. I have tried using lip pencils but I have not had much success with them. It is easy to practice with chap stick until you get the hang of it. Again, select a shade that goes with your hair and skin coloring.

9. Last, but not least, always remove your makeup with cold cream or other cream cleanser. Do not use soap and water, because it removes the natural oil from your skin.