What Would We Do Without Makeup and Weave?

Sometimes I wonder what women would do if all the make-up and weave in the world disappeared. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with make-up or weave but the problem comes when we use them for the wrong reasons. Make-up and weave should never be used as a clutch or as an insecurity blanket. Every single day we should not have to walk outside with a full face of make-up on and perfectly placed hair and weave. It’s as if we sell people a false physical perception of ourselves and when we get home we take off our masks and show our true colors. I’m not saying we should look like bums or not be professional or put effort in our appearance but when did professional or beautiful have to incorporate make-up and weave? We can still be beautiful, look professional, and put together without an ounce of weave in our hair and without an ounce of makeup on our faces. This goes for everyone. I’m not just referring to the African American race but ALL RACES. Insecurity and false perceptions of beauty is something we all struggle with. Whether you’re White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, or African…it doesn’t matter. Your true beauty will NEVER be met or found in your physical appearance.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” –Proverbs 31:30

Internal Reflection

Ask yourself, “When is the last time I went to work or school with no make-up?” (That includes no foundation, no drawn on eyebrows, no mascara, no lipstick, no blush…just purely your God given face) Or “When is the last time I went to school or work without a full hair of weave?” Or “When is the last time people…even those closest to me have seen me in my natural physical state?” Or “When is the last time I went out on a date with no make-up or weave?” “Do I still feel as confident and as beautiful? Or do I feel inadequate, insecure, and ugly?”

Somehow we have equated “natural” with ugly and “make-up and weave” with beauty. But that’s SO not true! If we can’t step outside just as confidently and boldly in our natural state as we do in our “make- up” state, then there is an internal and spiritual disconnect. Our confidence is found in Christ NOT in our physical condition or appearance. When we learn to love ourselves for who we spiritually were created to be and for who we internally are, our physical appearance will not affect the manifestations of our internal confidence and beauty. You are the being inside of you NOT the body on the outside of you. There is nothing wrong with enhancing the beauty you already know you possess or using physical beauty products because you like them…but the problem comes when you become dependent upon them to feel and be beautiful. You are NOT your makeup! You are NOT your weave! You are NOT your body! YOU ARE your soul and the being inside of you! Strive to make the inside of you beautiful and it will naturally exude on the outside of you.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Sam 16:7

My Story

The Spirit placed this on my heart to write and if I’m honest with you…this is an area of my life that I used to REALLY struggle with. Believe me when I say, loving yourself in the midst of all your insecurities is not an easy task to take on. It takes effort, devotion to God and looking to Him for your comfort, strength, and beauty. God wants us to see that our beauty can ONLY truly be found in Him. God is not interested in our physical but is more interested in our spiritual being.

I used to feel so ugly without make-up on…or I would get an extra boost of confidence when I had my long weave in my hair and my foundation laid on my face. But with time, prayer, God and a consistent effort of pouring my heart out to The Lord…. He delivered me! He restored me and helped me find and see my true beauty…which was found in Him. It wasn’t an overnight process. There were many nights I cried, many days I looked at myself in the mirror and just hated what I would see. Many times it was hard for me to even take a compliment from someone because I just didn’t believe them when they would say things like, “You’re so pretty” or “Man you’re beautiful.” Through this process I realized, it doesn’t matter how much make-up is on your face, how fit your body is, how many compliments you get from people, how many guys try to “holla at you” or how many flashy and trendy clothes you have. If you don’t feel good about yourself on the inside nothing exterior can change that. True self love, confidence, and beauty is found internally through the love of God and your devotion to Him.

Through my process, God revealed the truth of what was in my heart to myself. He revealed to me a very important revelation. “Insecurity is telling God that what you physically look like is more important than loving Him.” In that moment, I realized that I was committing idolatry by idolizing my physical appearance and using beauty products as a means of making myself feel beautiful as opposed to seeking God to feel secure and beautiful. I felt ashamed. I felt bad that I was hurting God. I was using physical and tangible items to make me feel beautiful instead of seeking Him. I had to repent. So I told God in that very moment that I wanted to make a change and that I needed His help to focus on what was important and to love and see myself the way He sees me. Ever since then God has been working on me…molding me…and helping me develop beauty internally. It’s hasn’t been easy and I still have so much work to do but I’m thankful for God’s relentless love and patience towards me.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” – Psalms 139:13-14

 

Why I Wear Makeup and Weave Now

So now I don’t wear make-up or weave because I need to, or because I try to cover up an insecurity but I wear because I want to. And the days I choose not to wear it, I don’t feel inadequate or insecure. I wash my face with my soap, dry it, put on my moisturizer and put on a good coat of Vaseline on my lips and head out the door! (Everyone needs a good ol’ container of Vaseline lol)

There are STILL days when Satan tries to discourage my spirit and implant seeds and thoughts of insecurities but in those moments, God always reminds and renews me with His love. I want to encourage you to love God first and He will help you love yourself both spiritually and physically. When we realize our worth, value, and beauty is in Christ…we won’t have to use physical products to remind us of that. True beauty in God’s eyes has nothing to do with the tangible or the physical but it has everything to do with the intangible and spiritual. You are not what you physically look like but you are what you spiritually look like. Strive to make your spirit beautiful before The Lord and when you do this you will no longer let your physical exterior or physical beauty products determine your level of “beautiful.” Being a child of God makes you beautiful. Embrace the spiritual beauty inside of you!

“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” – 1 Peter 3:3-4

 

My Challenge to You

My challenge to you is to have a period of time where you fast from make-up, weave, or any other physical beauty products that you use as a means of making you feel “pretty” or “beautiful.” Whether it’s a day, a few days, a week, or a month, I challenge you to remove yourself from all those things that spiritually cripple you from embracing your God-given beauty. Use your time of fasting as a means of praying to God, crying out to Him, and seeking Him. Use your time to study God’s word and to read scriptures that speak to your heart and that can help you develop your godly character. In moments of weakness pray to God and ask Him for His strength to help you overcome and abstain from those things that cripple you spiritually. Ask God for clarity and to develop a heart that’s after to Him.  Strive to love yourself purely and to grow to the place where you are not dependent on physical beauty products or weaves to make you feel beautiful. I know you can do it and I believe in you! I will be joining in the challenge as well! So know that you are not alone. God is the healer of all. Be encouraged! <3

My Prayer for You

Dear Lord,
Whoever has read this page, I ask that you encourage and restore their hearts at this very moment. Please break the strong holds of insecurity. Help them to love You first and then to love and see themselves the way You see them. Help them to develop their spiritual character and to strive to make their spirit beautiful more and more each day. Lord comfort them and let them know that you are always available to those who are seeking You. Fill their hearts with Your love, comfort, and beauty. Let nothing come in between of Your love for them and their love for You. Help them to base their beauty not off of society but off of You and Your Word. Remind them that spiritual beauty will always be more important than the physical. Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer. In Jesus name I pray… AMEN.

With ♥

Ashley Moneet

Fearless.Faithful.Following.

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” –Romans 8:6