OK, admittedly this post alienates the boys. Sorry boys.
But this is really important stuff to us bikers that want to look good after a long ride. Granted, we are somewhat limited with just how good we can look with a helmet ruining our ‘dos, dirt and exhaust caking our face and let’s not get into the bug-thing…
I know a lot of women bikers probably don’t even bother with worrying about hair and make-up and are probably laughing at me (and my vanity) right now. What can I say? I still try to be a girly-girl even when I know I’m going to get dirty from the road.
Now, hair in many cases can be a lost cause when doing long rides. I usually wear my hair in braids to avoid those scalp-wrenching tangles and that attractive sweaty, plastered down look. Bandannas, ‘do-rags and hats all help disguise the dreaded helmet-hair, of course. For shorter rides you might have a fighting chance and still be able to salvage your coif without too much damage.
I couldn’t believe how dirty I got during my first season of riding. My face, already slathered with high SPF sunblock, would get covered with dirt, exhaust and pollen (notice I didn’t mention that thing about the bugs?). And my complexion suffered from it. So, I started carrying those facial cleansing cloths in my saddlebags. They are incredibly useful to keep on hand and don’t take up too much room. I also make sure that I adhere to a consistent cleansing regiment.
Wearing make-up requires some skill and good products. I typically don’t wear a lot of make-up while riding. It usually wears off or smudges from your eyes tearing up due to the wind. And, I almost always have to touch it up once I reach my destination. My essential arsenal consists of: waterproof mascara & eyeliner, concealer and lipstick. With those things I am good to go.
Lipstick is tricky. If I’m wearing a darker color I usually matte it with powder from my compact so that things don’t stick to my lips. But sometimes that gets gross. I like to use Revlon Colorstay lip color (in sheer colors) because that stays on pretty well and when I arrive at my destination I just add the glossy topcoat and I’m instantly gorgeous. OK, well maybe not gorgeous but at least I don’t look like a dumpster rat!
Recently I discovered two companies marketing to the biker community. Biker Skin Care products offer skin, foot and tattoo care for motorcycle enthusiasts. There’s also a company called Bika Chic that features a whole line of cosmetics for the “hardcore ladies”.
I’ve not tried products from either company so I cannot vouch for the quality of the products, nor can I say if these biker-specific items are any better than any cosmetics and skincare that you can buy at drugstores. I’d be curious to find out if anyone else has tried them. If you have, feel free to contact me and let me know about your experience.