I really missed an opportunity to say that if you DID throw a party and the theme was "unapproachable," it would be a silent party because nobody would approach anybody else!!! also, the comments on this video are GOLD
This is a whole vibe and I'm here for it. Speaking of conversation starters.. I have a student (I'm a history professor) who leans goth adjacent.. one morning she drew little skulls and crossbones around her eyes and cheek bones. I asked her to tell me about her makeup and she said she was trying to be unapproachable. Then she said, though I may need to rethink this because it's clearly so interesting that you asked about it. I've never laughed so hard internally. ☠️
One of those situations where ya don't nigh butt-in, and just let them say the obvious follow-up lol. Or they might just leave it be silent, both knowing that each other are already aware, so it doesn't need to be literally said out loud. Alternatively, some people can't help but blurt out the obvious as soon as they possibly can.
If anyone is interested in a fun, hardier take on unapproachable makeup, may I suggest Alex Anele's "How to look more intimidating." Bonus points, she's also fair olive!
My interpretation is along the lines of “I’m pissed off, don’t approach me” I’ve never seen this trend that may not be a trend, but I am always down for people to leave me alone lmao
I can confirm that unapproachable makeup is a trend, but it’s really interesting to hear your take. I don’t think of unapproachable makeup as being so glamorously made up that you’re intimidating to others, but rather as conveying a brooding vibe via color tones that deters people from thinking you’re ‘fresh’ and ‘bright’ (buzz words we do often hear associated with the goals of makeup application) enough to be so open to friendly banter. Unapproachable makeup looks I’ve seen posted often emphasize contour, cool tones, the natural shadows and bruise-y tones of the eyelids, and hard angles. It’s almost ‘boy beat’ makeup, but with visible, obvious intention. The goal, in my eyes, is to escape softness, and to embrace shadow. It’s aesthetically giving very The Fallen Angel painting by Alexandre Cabanel.
Well said, I agree! Also, I think your statement "The goal, in my eyes, is to escape softness, and to embrace shadow." can be about more than a makeup vibe, those are words to live by. Haha! 😊
Thanks Hannah- That was some light and enjoyable but by no means mindless entertainment. You are truly a pioneer out there in the genre of "intellectual beauty content". I am a fan.
I got a short edgy/masculine haircut a while ago and I can really vouch for it if you want to avoid street harassment lol. And it looks awesome with heavy eye make up.
To me, the red lip is the ultimate unapproachable lip. I always wear it on first dates because I feel like guys are less likely to try for a kiss when you’re wearing red lipstick 😂
I think unapproachable makeup usually means to look intimidating. Unlike clean girl makeup that conforms to beauty standards and looks very natural and sweet and whatnot.
I've been approached much less since I stopped putting real effort into my appearance... I used to get ppl coming up to me to tell me I seem intimidating not infrequently, lol. Like, am I really intimidating if you were comfortable approaching me? 😩 Truly unapproachable makeup might be, like... unkempt bog witch makeup
Same, and still whenever I venture out of the house to any kind of "social" event. "Look, I left the house, I'm being social -- also don't talk to me."
me too!! i was an angry, angsty teen, but it wasn't until much later that i realized how i was probably using that look to protect myself from real and imagined threats.
The unusual lip color is the way to go. when I was around 20, I wore a grey-ish liquid lipstick to a club. a dude in his 30s visibly mustered up his courage to come up to me and say "don't get me wrong, you're an attractive woman, but I think no-one is approaching you because of your lipstick." I still have to chuckle at the audacity lol
You're lucky - the complete opposite happens to me! For context, I'm usually barefaced (or very minimal makeup) - I wore a dark gothic lipstick for Halloween & had people constantly either compliment me or ask me where I got it lol!
On a serious note, choosing to style oneself in an “unapproachable” or “c*nty” manner is feminist to me. It feels particularly feminist with the context that you were a pregnant woman and are now a new mother, which is an extremely vulnerable era in a woman’s life and an era which invites a lot of attention, wanted and unwanted. It’s such a mood, simultaneously hilarious and powerful.
I love doing unapproachable make up once in a while precisely because of that reason. It feels like some sort of rebellion. But of course I interpreted unapproachable differently, more like severe eyes, dark lips, rock chick kind of way.
Gosh, such a dumb comment. That's exactly why people think that feminists are hostile, aggressive and inadequate. Women who need psychotherapy and who feel threatened claim to be feminists while in reality they just neeed to treat their anxiety, fears and covert aggression. This sort of attitude and laziness does huge disservice to all women because this neurotic lazy behaviour creates really sh!tty reputation to feminism.
Yes 😂 newborn motherhood summed up in once sentence 😅😅 I used to say it felt like being underwater or in a dream that you can't fully open your eyes in 😅
I think Alexandra Anele first started this? I like to think of it as a "I want to look like the hottest person at the drugstore". I want to do a full beat, go out in public, be admired by the public, and then come home unbothered.
I think unapproachability is undeniably connected to attractiveness for me, I want someone to be so attracted they're scared :) I know when I am attracted to someone I can BARELY glance upon them. loved this, one of those videos where I especially appreciate your casual poetic tendencies and feel inspired, generally but also to get out of bed literally lmao
I love this! I agree that it's a little silly to think of "unapproachable" makeup as a trend. However, I totally use makeup as armor when I don't want to be bothered.
Having a 15 year old sister means I occasionally get updated on the trends, and "unapproachable" vs "approachable" make up is, in fact, a trend. This video was a lot of fun. Also, I kind of want those sunglasses. You were right; they are fashion.
What I thought of for “unapproachable” was basically “I’m too cool for you, don’t even try” I have seen “unapproachable makeup” in some content recently too!
My original read of this trend was that it served the cosmetic equivalent of “man repeller” fashion a la Leandra Cohen, where the point was explicitly to prioritize your own amusement over the pleasure of the male gaze. However, I don’t think that’s quite it (I imagine that translation as being a series of surrealist makeup looks. Painted eyes on eye lids anyone?). Instead, I’ve come to understand this trend as being about presenting oneself as unmistakably confident and polished. I’m taking some leaps here, but it feels worth a coffee chat to ponder whether, why, and when communicating confidence can render one unapproachable, particularly to men.
10 out of 10. It always surprises people when I wear Unapproachable makeup. Although mine tends to be in the goth alternative style. Because I'm a genuinely friendly person who enjoys the company of others. The end result is pleased bafflement
I mean, same. I've been told my whole life I look stuck up and mean when I'm not smiling, so now as a 39 year old I just lean into it. No new friends. Ain't got the time.
Please, goddesses above, let this become a thing... unapproachable sophisticated, confident, above it all, sad, angry, unwell, everything in-between. Yesyesyes
I watched this whilst getting ready to go out for dinner with some dear friends and you best believe I am looking as unapproachable as I could muster 😂
I find the idea of this hilarious because I used to do my makeup to look "unapproachable" when I worked at deli. I hated my job and I didn't want people to talk to me. I made myself look mean so I didn't have as many customers. 😂 No one dared ask me for a cheese sample. I loved it.
How can I even comment, I'm too intimidated... But really this look is so "cool girl", and I really enjoyed how much fun you clearly had pondering over what visuals make somebody "unapproachable". I think the only times I've truly looked unapproachable to strangers were during exhaustion-induced public breakdowns during college 😓
this "unapproachable" or "c*nty" plays a part in any aspect of our presentation. i'm wildly introverted (when not at work) & i use it as a tool! it may seem shallow, but when i first started working out i wanted to be unapproachable, untouchable. i wanted to be quietly intimidating: not in the way i that i looked stronger, but to be "high-caliber". i must say, only "high-caliber" men dare to interact. and now that i'm not single (😉) i still maintain myself because i *am* untouchable! i may even dress this way. i may even wear my earbuds in the grocery store. i love having "don't talk to me energy" it's like a social force-field. and, as an introvert, i am out & about in peace.
@@rikkansi i wear all black regardless, same in the gym. i love the idea of "pump covers", which are just T-shirts. my T-shirts are heavy metal band Ts & one that has a "illuminati" symbol. horror movie Ts & things of the like work just as well. i don't always wear the Ts, especially when i'm sweating. music: if i wasn't the first to connect my music (yes, heavy metal because it's my favorite, but it's also unapproachable) to the bluetooth speakers (small gym) then i have earbuds/headphones, classic "don't talk to me" signal. behavior also adds to the "look". i only look at the equipment i'm about to use, or myself in the mirror (which is also good for watching form). bonus: i go with my s/o sometimes. side note: if someone walks into my music scape & doesn't have earbuds/headphones, i offer to turn mine off. i'm still polite, but only as needed ;)
It's Makeup and Philosophy time with HLP, How To Look Intimidating Part Deux 😍 (Alexandra Anele has an excellent video of this topic) I think that we are currently interested in making ourselves look tougher (less "approachable") because we are living in an extremely vulnerable time. AI scams and threats to our jobs, a contentious war creating the strangest alliances, and an ongoing pandemic that is still disabling thousands of people a month, with no income insurance or real government aid incoming... Yeah, I do want to look less approachable. The world can f*ck right off.
this reminds me of a quote by Alexander McQueen: "I design clothes because I don't want women to look all innocent and naive. I want women to look stronger. I don't like women to be taken advantage of. I don't like men whistling at women in the street. I think they deserve more respect. I like men to keep their distance from women, I like men to be stunned by an entrance. ... I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.”
I feel like there is also a female vs male gaze thing going on with the “unapproachable” makeup. If, as a woman, you see someone walking down the street looking like that, I feel like a lot of us will be thinking “oh she looks like a bad b*itch”, whereas I suspect many men will not like it.
It's giving assertive baddie who gets called mean by people who are themselves mean but in a passive-aggressive way. But she is not mean, she is just correct. But they can't take her.
For the ultimate unapproachable look we should bring back hoop skirts. Truly physically unapproachable and men loathed them while they were a revolution in comfort for women.
Semiotics! Using symbols and appearances to communicate a message. Eg makeup and clothing. Ice queens of the 50’s and 60’s - Grace Kelly or Tippi Hedren. Goth girls today. Power messaging.
I wear Unapproachable makeup when I have to meet with “Karens” at work. Can’t go goth in corporate job, so non-goth unapproachable makeup is my go-to paired with oxblood deep brown red lippie, wear all black like I’m going to her funeral. Karen crawled right back to her cubicle. Magic!
I love hearing the range of interpretations in the word “unapproachable”. I’ve been called intimidating/hard to read/difficult to approach in all types of looks in the last 10 years (and by both women and men), so I feel confident in saying “unapproachable” can exist as a modifier to every aesthetic. 😂 I think a lot of it is down to appearing unpredictable, which definitely can go in the direction of not trying to look hot at all (the truest idgaf vibe) or trying to look “too hot” (like I’m not in your league, don’t even try) as well as looking like you don’t belong to any specific “type” (no examples, but you’re basically fking with how people try to put you in a box in advance-no box = hard to gauge = scary) or like you’re too busy to care about what you look like (think big headphones and sunglasses) . In my head it’s about how much contrast you can cultivate between yourself and your environment/onlookers.
I've often been called it too - when I asked a friend what she meant by it, she said that I 'seemed' cool so she wanted to talk to me, but was scared to come strike up a conversation with me. And this was with a bare face (in school) lol!
When you said that looking gothy is an easy out, really hit home the unapproachable you were aiming for and achieved 👏🏼. Btw, there are a million quotes that would be excellent from this video 😊
I remember that video and I had comment something like “omg did I miss your review of the I need a nude palette?!” And then suddenly I got loads of weird replies and it turned out RU-vid had glitched and but my comment on some gym bro’s recipe video 😂
If you want to be left alone at the bar/pub order a drink and read a book while you sip. If anyone even dares to speak to you, tap the book, and keep reading. And wear a comfortable face of favorites.
sort of like the iconic Man Repeller. i love this type of look both sartorially and makeup-wise. side note: it is far from so stupid when one is a person navigating a world where to have (unwanted) attention on one is, well, unwelcome, but one also loves makeup.
Idk if it’s a trend but it has always been a makeup mood for me. I definitely use make up and key styling to say things without words all the time and ‘stay the f* away’ is absolutely one of them. You nailed the idea so well and so hilariously!!!
An unapproachable person doesn't say, thank you for watching. But this audience member says, thank you for a hilarious video! Those sunglasses are purrrrfect, BTW.
🤣😂🤣 Hannah you are the most approachable of approachables, for you to even try to look or be decidedly unfriendly and then have the laugh in your voice rise up...well it was a thing of beauty. 😎
You are hilarious. “Would you not dare approach me?!” “Nothing says approach me like redness.” “I would not approach myself.” “Trying hard makes you approachable.” “I’ll lose all my unapproachability- we can’t have that!” “I’m becoming less approachable by the minute.” “My lip color is effortless and also don’t talk to me.” “It’s too much of a conversation starter to be unapproachable.” “Is this the most I can do to repel approaches?” Literally- when is your unapproachable merch line dropping? Also- nothing says unapproachable like “I’m the author of a poetry book” Maybe you could wear this look to your book release party 🎉
YES to everything you said in this video!!! I've been thinking about these concepts a lot ever since having my son 3 years ago - ie not getting dressed or wearing makeup to look cute/hot for others, AND not feeling bad about myself when I don't look cute/hot (which felt near impossible postpartum...). Instead I've been trying this incredibly novel thing of wearing something that fits how I'm feeling / the vibe I want to project. Maybe that's unapproachable, or messy, or confident in comfy clothes. This is like sooo basic - I didn't realize how much I got dressed for other people until I suddenly couldn't fit into my clothes anymore and had to rebuild my entire wardrobe! It's been one daily way for me to f the patriarchy + reclaim my body/sense of self after becoming a parent. Work in progress for sure. Love this idea and vibe.
Growing up in Philly going to college in Seattle, my 20’s/ 30’s were spent navigating the dating scene in a big city (as well as walking city streets alone). My take on “unapproachable” was a minimal “hard”, “don’t mess with me”, makeup look, I.e., black cat eyeliner and mascara, no eyeshadow, no blush, blood red lip, non-nonsense city girl attitude, the ability to completely and very loudly lose my shit if anyone non-consensually touched anything on my person- i experienced some scary situations, but ultimately It worked 🤷🏼♀️
I've been told on so, so many occasions by folks (who've later become good friends, funnily enough) that when they first saw me, they thought that I looked intimidating and/or unapproachable and what's always struck me as hilarious is that there's no forethought or intention of "Oh, I must look a certain way that makes people not want to engage with me", it's just my sort of go-to look. Green hair, black eyeliner, pointy eyebrows, a few tattoos and piercings and a black outfit, usually jeans, boots and a cosy jumper. Next time I'm getting ready to go out, I'm going to be giggling the whole time, maybe I should wear "approachable" makeup, whatever that might be, and see what happens?! 😂 Also, that Merit stick foundation though. Ooff, so good. Edit: this reminded me of a meme that a few people were posting a while ago that said something like "I don't want to look pretty, I want to look otherworldy and vaguely threatening". Is that the unapproachable idea?!
I also think longer darker angled brows And maybe heavy messy eye look, no lipstick , no smiling back would give the same vibe ! ( don't talk to me , i don't care & i don't want to care ) !!!!! I feel when I see woman like that i get the feeling that shes had enough & she don't care anymore about anything & don't you DARE approach her to "comfort her" because she'd tear you into shreds by " a couple of words" 😂😂😂 If no one smiled back at me I won't approach in any shape or form 😂😂😂 i do the same & also i go grungy & "un-elegent " makeup & fashion wise too
The delightful irony of Hannah Louise Poston being her most giggly, warm and welcoming, intelligent, and humorous self while trying to carve out the definition of "unapproachable" makes this one of my all-time favorite videos on this channel. Her energy is infectious 😂
I think I really give off a fuck-off vibe whenever I walk anywhere so I've never been bothered on the streets, even living in Manhattan. All makeup is apparently unnaproachable on me, but I'm loving this video.
I also thought differently when I heard the phrase, I thought about the makeup itself being unapproachable. Like intimidating makeup to use… is what I thought of??
I love how the reel/TikTok was probably not that deep at all, but we are going into the depths here. I love how thoughtful you are with this look and I can’t wait to emulate it for my trip to Trader Joe’s.
I want to say that your regular look is more unapproachable to me, because you look like a woman who knows whats going down and you might see through me. Like, the level of refinement is less approachable. This more dramatic look, looks a little more needy, and so I wouldn't have any hesitation about approaching. I think it's kind of a throw back look. I think cunty is a little more smudged, esp under the eye and on the lip, like, blurry. Maybe I'm just thinking of drunk. Love all your videos
I wear a full face of makeup nearly everyday and no one ever approaches me (the dream tbh). One day I ran errands with a bare face and was hit on multiple times--terrible. So I've learned my lesson there! Makeup makes me unapproachable! ❤😂
" I would not approach myself, please believe me, I'll put through hell, just know me yeah yeah 🎵 🎶. Lol. I thought that was what you were about to say once and it came to mind, that song.
I wear makeup when I feel like it and never for anyone else, as a 53 yr old woman, I am super lucky with bone structure/eye colour etc but my lips now have besome somewhat downturned. I looked at various tutorials about how to correct it but I have since come to love the look when I wear lipstick - kind of a disgusted/who the F are are you/how dare you exist in my vicinity look. It"s so nice to finally not get harrassed on the street after decades of whistles and cat calls, I am leaning hard into my age, grey hair and resting-disgusted-face, age > youth xx
can cunty makeup (no, iphone, i didn’t mean country although we can revisit that later) be the next micro trend? it’s kinda a sub genre of un’approvazione makeup and i want to see everyone’s version.
I loved this video lol! This might be strange but I find that I don't mind being approached by strangers because those interactions are usually positive for me. However, I dislike being approached by work mates and acquaintances. It probably comes from having a heavy workload where I am often struggling to barely meet deadlines and having colleagues who are overly talkative and can't take social ques to go away. Does anyone else have this problem? Lol! Your earring dilemma about not wearing it backwards because it is too unique was cracking me up because I have basically cut anything out of my work attire that might be a conversation starter to avoid any additional opportunities for people to try to talk to me. I used to wear colorful eyeshadow nearly everyday to work and now I have changed to a much more editorial vibe for the same reason. The overall take is that I don't want to be mean and hurt any ones feeling by actually saying "go away, don't talk to me" so I try to do it with my make up and attire instead. Lol! I am not a mean person, I just feel like I don't have time for small talk, especially at work, I feel like its a "get to the point or get out" kind of situation. Please tell me I am not alone haha 😅
Omg this is such a mood. If you don't mind me proffering stranger's thoughts on the internet, if you're dimming your shine just to try to get your job done, it might be time to get your boss to actually hire new people, unionize, or get out of there!
@@kagitsune Thank you for saying that! I have been thinking a similar thing for a long time. As time goes by I dislike my job more and more and wish that I would have taken the risk and gone into a career in a field that truly interests me (science/conservation or writing) instead of doing something that I thought was a responsible choice for steady income (accounting, boring i know). I just haven't gotten up the courage to try to make the change because it feels like I would be completely starting over since I would likely need to get a different degree. It is a bit overwhelming, but I agree with you, it does sound like I need to figure something out because I don't think I want to do what I am doing for another 30-40 years lol! :)
@@natashadavies9569 Yes, and I have actually switched from ear buds to full over the ear headphones that are more obviously noticeable. It has helped some, but not as much as i though it would haha! Shockingly I can still hear my very loud coworkers thru my headphones even when noise cancelling is turned on. 😦🙄😂
@@mrsamcnizzle You can do it! I am currently changing my career to engineering (for the opposite reason as you, I picked a "passion" career at first and then I got tired of being poor 😅). There are still lots of scholarships for women in STEM, even for us older or returning students. :)
This is delightfully goofy and silly, and part of what makes it is that you Are In Fact also feeling yourself by the end of the look, when all the sillliness has come together
Would love to see you do the alternate "super approachable, warm fem, almost girly" look. (Maybe that equates to tomboy so no one is jealous or intimidated or it's familiar? Guess it depends on who you ask.) Also, your take on "dark" make-up for everyday.
I think you nailed it. You simultaneously would intimidate me in the grocery store but at the same time I’d want to compliment the look. I’d just be too afraid to 😆
