The Red Lipstick Revolution

Studying the outline of my lips in the mirror, I lean in, and with an extended tube of bright scarlet lipstick in one hand, I apply a coat of glossy red. Instantly, I feel the effects and I smile broadly at my reflection, and she smiles back, her newly rouged lips shimmering brilliantly against the pale ivory of her skin.

I’ve tried various shades of lipsticks over the years. Barely-there nudes, frosted pinks, dramatic plums, striking cerises and warm corals, but not one of them makes me feel as alive like a gorgeous shade of red. It feels luscious, decadent… almost indulgent. It’s my luxurious statement of self-worth.

Because, I can see a really strong correlation between my desire to wear red lippy with my willingness to be seen, to be heard. I’m drawing attention to what I have to say, because I now acknowledge that it’s important. That it needs to be said. And that I’m the one that needs to say it.  I’m not going to mutter or mumble, whisper or quietly stutter. You see, I’ve found my voice, found my words, and I’m ready to share that with the world.

Because red is a colour not easily ignored. It’s the shade of passion, of danger, of appetite, of heat.  It stands out bravely against the sea of greys and neutrals that so often colour our winter palate. Red calls for your attention – a loud signification of presence.

Over the last few months, I’ve made a commitment to myself to wear red lipstick on an everyday basis. I wanted to see how it would feel (amazing, powerful, strong, present). I wanted to see how would affect the way I interacted with the world (I became braver, bolder, brighter). I wanted to see if it would change the way I thought of myself (it did – oh boy, did it).

You see, I think it has something to do with the chakra system. Red is the colour of the base chakra, muladhara, which is related to survival, security, community and self-esteem.  When we choose to connect with red, we’re choosing to ground our ideas about selfhood, about how we choose to relate to those around us.

When I wear red, I feel earthed, connected, empowered.  I feel like I have chosen to tap into an energy source deep within the earth that makes me feel alive, radiant, and…. here.

So what I want to invite you to do is to try it for yourself.  It’s difficult to express in words the effect that it is having, so I want you to experience it – see if it works for you.  Try it for a week, just a week.  No need to commit to it for longer.

Start tomorrow, and then on Wednesday you can come back and let me know how it’s working out for you.

Lipsticks at the ready!