Turning 60 is a big milestone. For some people, it’s a chance to look back at everything they’ve accomplished over the years. For others, reaching 60 can inspire them to try something completely new.
After all, a milestone birthday can feel like the beginning of a new chapter.
Some people might celebrate by taking a dream vacation, learning a new hobby, going skydiving or finally doing something they’ve been putting off for years. Others may decide it’s time to make a change to their appearance.
For one woman named Debbie, turning 60 meant it was finally time for a makeover.
Debbie Was Ready for a Change
Debbie had apparently been thinking about getting a professional makeover for quite some time.
“I’ve always wanted to have a makeover,” she explained.
As her 60th birthday approached, she decided there was no better time to finally do it.
One of the biggest decisions involved her hair. Debbie had dark brown, naturally curly hair, but her white and gray roots had started growing in.
She could embrace the gray and allow it to grow out completely, or she could take a chance and try something very different.
“This is a time I’m either gonna let my hair go completely grey or get the courage to set up the appointment and follow through with it,” Debbie said.
She chose the second option.
Instead of simply visiting her usual salon for a trim or another round of dark hair color, Debbie decided to make the experience something special.
She booked a trip to Minneapolis to visit Christopher Hopkins, better known as “The Makeover Guy.”
Who Is the Makeover Guy?
Christopher Hopkins is a professional hairstylist, makeup artist and makeover expert who became known for his dramatic transformations.
Hopkins has worked with women who want to update their appearance and find a look that better complements their individual features. Many of his clients are middle-aged or older women who are going through a transition in their lives and are ready to try something different.
His transformations aren’t simply about covering gray hair or putting on more makeup.
The idea is to consider the entire look, including a person’s hair color, haircut, skin tone, face shape, eyebrows, makeup and even the colors they wear.
Sometimes the best makeover isn’t the look someone originally imagined for themselves.
That’s where trusting the stylist comes in.
And Debbie was willing to do exactly that.
She Gave Her Stylist Complete Control
When Debbie arrived for her makeover, she wasn’t someone who spent a lot of time experimenting with cosmetics.
She didn’t normally wear much makeup, and her gray and white roots were showing against the darker brown color on the ends of her curly hair.
Instead of arriving with a photograph and asking Hopkins to copy a particular hairstyle, Debbie gave him the freedom to decide what would work best.
“Debbie came in with white regrowth and brown ends on very curly hair,” Hopkins explained.
Then she gave him the words many stylists probably dream of hearing.
“She said the magic words, ‘Do whatever you want,’ and so I did,” he said.
That meant Debbie was about to get a much bigger transformation than a simple haircut.
Her Hair Gets a Dramatic Transformation
One of the first things Hopkins noticed was that Debbie could benefit from warmer colors.
Instead of keeping her hair dark brown or allowing it to become completely gray, he chose a lighter, warmer shade.
He transformed her hair into a strawberry-blonde and auburn color with highlights.
Hopkins also cut Debbie’s hair shorter, giving her curls a completely different shape.
Her eyebrows were changed to a similar shade so that they worked better with her new hair color.
Hopkins explained that Debbie hadn’t realized warmer shades might complement her better than some of the darker and cooler colors she had been wearing.
“She didn’t know her ideal colors were not gray and black, but warm and spring like colors,” he said.
Changing the color wasn’t necessarily easy because Hopkins was working with white regrowth and previously colored brown hair.
But he believed the final strawberry-blonde shade was exactly what Debbie needed.
Makeup Completed Her New Look
Hair was only part of Debbie’s makeover.
Hopkins also wanted to use makeup to bring attention to her eyes and highlight her features.
Although the finished makeup might appear natural, quite a bit of work went into creating it.
He used contouring, color and defined eyebrows to reshape and highlight different areas of Debbie’s face.
The goal wasn’t to hide Debbie behind heavy makeup. Instead, the products were used to emphasize her features and work with her new hair.
Even small changes to eyebrows can make a noticeable difference. Brows help frame the face and draw attention toward the eyes, which is why shaping or changing their color can be an important part of a makeover.
Once Debbie’s hair and makeup were finished, she finally got to see the complete transformation.
Her reaction said just about everything.
Debbie Barely Recognized Herself
When Debbie looked at herself after the makeover, she was stunned.
“I don’t recognize myself,” she said.
The transformation was so dramatic that she immediately wondered how her family would react.
“My family’s not going to recognize me, either!” she added.
Her husband might have been especially surprised.
Before Debbie left for her makeover, he apparently didn’t understand why she wanted to change her appearance.
He already liked the way she looked and didn’t think she needed to change.
That was certainly a sweet compliment, but Debbie wasn’t necessarily making the change because she disliked herself.
Sometimes a makeover is simply about having fun, experimenting with something new and gaining a little extra confidence.
And you don’t have to wait until your 60th birthday to try one.
A Makeover Doesn’t Have to Be Drastic
Debbie went for a major transformation, but not everyone needs to completely change their appearance.
A makeover can be as big or as small as you want.
One of the easiest places to begin is with your hair. A different haircut can change the shape of your face and make your hair easier to manage. Adding layers, trying bangs or simply changing where you part your hair can make a surprising difference.
Hair color is another option. Some people choose to cover their gray hair, while others decide to stop coloring it and embrace their natural silver or white. Highlights, lowlights or a slightly warmer or cooler shade can also create a noticeable change without being too dramatic.
Try New Colors
Another easy makeover idea is to pay attention to the colors you wear.
We often get into the habit of buying the same colors over and over again. But the shades that look best on us can depend on our hair color, eye color and skin tone.
Trying on clothing in colors you normally avoid can be an easy way to experiment.
You don’t necessarily need an entirely new wardrobe, either. A colorful scarf, jacket, necklace or pair of earrings can add something different to an outfit you already own.
Update Your Makeup
Makeup routines can also become habits.
Someone might continue using the same lipstick, eyeliner or foundation for years simply because it’s familiar.
Trying a different lipstick shade, using a lighter foundation or changing the way you apply eye makeup can freshen up your appearance.
People who don’t normally wear makeup can start small. A little mascara, lip color or eyebrow definition may be enough to create a different look without feeling uncomfortable.
And if you’re unsure where to start, a professional makeup artist can help recommend products and techniques that work for your features.
Don’t Forget the Small Details
A makeover can also involve things that have nothing to do with hair or makeup.
New glasses can dramatically change someone’s appearance. Updating jewelry, trying a different clothing style or getting a professional manicure can also make you feel refreshed.
Even taking better care of your skin can become part of a makeover. A simple routine involving cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection can help skin look and feel healthier.
The important thing is that the changes make you feel comfortable and confident.
A New Look for a New Chapter
For Debbie, the makeover was about more than getting a new hairstyle.
She had reached a milestone birthday and decided it was finally time to do something she’d wanted to do for years.
Instead of playing it safe, she traveled to Minneapolis, put herself in the hands of an experienced makeover artist and told him to do whatever he thought would look best.
The result included shorter curly hair, a warm strawberry-blonde shade, new brows and a completely different makeup look.
When everything was finished, even Debbie had trouble recognizing herself.
Her transformation is also a reminder that there’s no age limit on experimenting with your appearance.
Whether you’re turning 30, 40, 60 or 80, sometimes changing your hair, trying a new color or updating your style can be a fun way to mark a new stage of life.
You certainly don’t have to change the way you look just because you’re getting older. But if you’ve been thinking about trying something new for years, a milestone birthday might be the perfect excuse.
For Debbie, turning 60 gave her the courage to finally take the leap.
And judging by her shocked reaction when she saw the finished result, this was one birthday transformation she won’t soon forget.
