In the years I’ve spent in Central Asia, I’ve noticed that women invest huge amounts of time and money in personal grooming.
Waxing, manicures, pedicures, eyebrow and eyelash dying are all part of the regular routine of grooming in Central Asia, along with professional hair styling and makeup for big events.
I’m talking about normal middle class women who aren’t models / reality stars / WAGs. Even if they’re on a low income, they find the money somehow.
Failure to keep up to these standards is noticed and commented on without mercy. I’ve been told off by a Kazakh friend for having “old hair” when I failed to touch up my roots. Another friend then laid into her for putting on weight — at which she took the second friend to task for her less than perfectly plucked eyebrows.
And everyone’s in agreement: the only place hair should be found is on your head.
Since moving to Almaty — without doubt the richest, glitziest city in Central Asia — I’ve really had to raise my game.
Here’s a head to toe guide to what I’ve learned about grooming in Central Asia.
Grooming from head to toe
HAIR should flow luxuriantly from the head. No grey bits allowed. Usually Kazakh women blow dry theirs straight, while Russians and other Europeans may wear it more voluminous. Curled into elaborate ringlets at the hairdresser for special occasions.
FACE to be made up whenever leaving the house even when just popping to the nearest Azyk-Tulik for milk or cigarettes. Eyebrows must be plucked, and facial hair removed. Many women have semi-permanent eyebrow and eyeliner tattoos.
UNDERARMS. If they’re hairy, wax them. Or shave — really often.
ARMS. If they’re hairy, wax them.
HANDS. Regular manicures are essential. Long fake talons are popular, it doesn’t matter if you need to use a computer or not.
PUBIC AREA. It’s hairy. Wax it.
LEGS. If they’re hairy, wax them. You will want to show them off in mini skirts from May to September at least, so invest in a good moisturiser.
FEET. Get pedicures (and not just in the summer months when people can see them). Chipped varnish and crusty heels with your strappy designer sandals is not alluring so keep on top of maintenance between pedicures.
But you do you…
Author’s note: I want to stress this is a guide to how the young women in the major cities of north Central Asia — Almaty, Bishkek, regional Kazakh cities — approach personal grooming. I’m not ordering people to get waxed or spend money they don’t have on mani-pedis or blow drys. Personally, I feel more comfortable fitting in by following their example. But I respect anyone who decides to opt out and stay beautiful in their own way.
More posts about style, beauty and travel packing
How to guides:
How I went from terrible packer to travel capsule wardrobe expert
I cut my closet in half after an international move: here’s how I did it
How I rescued my boring travel capsule wardrobe for Tirana
I learned to sew my own clothes in Kazakhstan
Some examples of tiny travel capsule wardrobes:
My 12 item capsule wardrobe for Corfu and Saranda
My 14-item travel capsule wardrobe for Slovenia
Spring travel capsule for 10 days on the Adriatic riviera
Shopping:
My massive Bucharest thrift haul
Hanging out at the malls in Astana
Beauty tips:
4 painful and humiliating things that happened to me in Central Asian beauty salons
Steppe in Style 
Leave a comment