How can I make myself look younger?

loinburger · March 1, 2003, 01:11

I've always looked older than I really am, but it's never really bothered me -- it's always been more advantageous than disadvantageous (e.g. I was less likely to get my ID checked when making underage beer/tobacco purchases), at least up until now.

The thing is, tonight I went out with a girl I'd met in one of my classes (dinner and a movie, no big deal), and everything went well -- the movie was good, she laughed at my jokes, yada yada. But, when I was driving her home after the movie, she said to me (more or less out of the blue) "How old are you, by the way? If you don't mind my asking..." I knew what was coming, but I managed to suppress my groan. And, since I'm a glutton for punishment, I replied "Nah, I don't mind you asking, but you've got to guess first."

She guessed that I was twenty-nine.

And it occurred to me that it no longer behooves me to look seven years older than my real age, if for no other reason than that it makes it more difficult for me to meet women my own age (who, I assume, would be reticent to date a guy who is seven-odd years their senior, or who would be disappointed to learn my real age if they are after an older man).

So, how do I make myself look younger? It shouldn't be that difficult -- I'm a 22-year-old who wants to look like a 22-year-old, not a 50-year-old who wants to look 29, so it's not as though I've got to bust out the liposuction and wrinkle cream and all that jazz. I've considered regrowing my afro (since I've yet to meet a thirtysomething caucasian sporting an afro) or wearing more loud hawaiian shirts, but I don't want to invest the time/money in an afro/new shirts only to discover the technique(s) don't work (or have the opposite effect). Any suggestions?

Asher · March 1, 2003, 01:15

Always shave...umm...I don't know what else.

I'm usually told I look younger than I really am.

monkspider · March 1, 2003, 01:16

Being cleanly shaven helps. I have had the advantage of always looking a few years younger than I actually am (I'm 21). And I was even carded for buying an R rated movie the other day, that made me feel good.

Sorry to share my gloating Loin-B, but i say a cleanly shaven face, somewhat slim (or at least not significantly overweight), youthful looking clothes, and perhaps the afro may help as well.

KrazyHorse · March 1, 2003, 01:16

If we could swap genes then that'd be a solution. I'm constantly told I look 17, at the age of 23.

KrazyHorse · March 1, 2003, 01:17

Have we ever seen a picture of you, BTW?

Boris Godunov · March 1, 2003, 01:18

Clean-shaven is a must, yes.

Find a "young" haircut. Haircuts can make a lot of difference.

Dress young.

Uh...that's really it. You can't do much about your appearance without surgical alteration. I'd recommend frequent exercise, though, as that seems to keep people looking young.

Edan · March 1, 2003, 01:18

Stand next to a lot of really old people, and look young by comparison?

Asher · March 1, 2003, 01:18

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
If we could swap genes then that'd be a solution. I'm constantly told I look 17, at the age of 23.

I was IDed for the 2nd LOTR film.

I assumed he was joking, but he wasn't.

Maybe he was just an ass.

Boris Godunov · March 1, 2003, 01:19

BTW, I'm 26 and still get carded regularly.

Ted Striker · March 1, 2003, 01:20

Good tips, also make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep a night, and also make sure you are getting exercise. Don't drink too much cola.

Do the opposite of all these things and before too long you will look like a Linux geek.

monkspider · March 1, 2003, 01:22

Not getting enough sleep makes you age?

Ted Striker · March 1, 2003, 01:23

It's like the #1 thing that will make you age.

Asher · March 1, 2003, 01:23

Bags under the eyes can do that.

Nubclear · March 1, 2003, 01:24

Give the woman booze. You'll look 22.

Boris Godunov · March 1, 2003, 01:25

Sleep loss can also make you fat. They've linked lack of sleep to obesity. Of course, they've linked reading Dickens to obesity at some point, I'm sure.

KrazyHorse · March 1, 2003, 01:25

So far, Tass has given the best advice.

AnnC · March 1, 2003, 01:50

I was carded fairly often until I was in my mid-thirties. Whenever it happened I would say "oh I'm so flattered" and hand the barkeep my driver's license. Some of the looks I got were just priceless.

I was 39 the last time somebody questioned my age (three years ago when I bought beer at a baseball game), so maybe I'm finally beginning to look my age.

Don't complain, loinburger. In your professional life, you'll discover that there are advantages to looking older than your years.

loinburger · March 1, 2003, 02:18

I've been pretty lax in the shaving department. I'll have to get on the ball with that...

Quote:

Originally posted by Frogger
Have we ever seen a picture of you, BTW?

Yeah, I sent one to Orange for the yearbook. I think I might have also posted a real one on the picture thread, but I don't remember if any of those were real (aside from the picture of Taco the cat).

Edit: I checked, and it turns out that the guy with spaghetti on his trousers is actually me. I wouldn't have had that problem if they hadn't made the spaghetti so damned delicious.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar
Give the woman booze. You'll look 22.

I'm still trying to figure out whether or not she's a booze drinker -- she's a muslim who obviously isn't very conservative, but that doesn't really answer the question. If she's a booze drinker than that makes my life a whole lot easier, since that means that I can stop worrying about the potential for a religious schizm, because when it comes down to religious conflict it's only the booze that matters.

Quote:

Originally posted by AnnC
Don't complain, loinburger. In your professional life, you'll discover that there are advantages to looking older than your years.

Oh sure, there's no denying that -- people often seem to take me more seriously than they ought to, which really helps out professionally. It's my unprofessional life that I'm concerned about.

tandeetaylor · March 1, 2003, 02:33

Maybe you could stop being a condescending ***** and that would help.

monkspider · March 1, 2003, 02:33

Quote:

Originally posted by tandeetaylor
Maybe you could stop being a condescending ***** and that would help.

loinburger · March 1, 2003, 02:36

I think that she's still upset over a little misunderstanding we had. She accused me of being a lazy good-for-nothing when I confessed that I was self-employed (which, I suppose, is the very definition of laziness), and I called her an inferior human being for being such a presumptuous, judgmental halfwit. Such is life.

tandeetaylor · March 1, 2003, 02:40

No. You said that you were unemployed. Then LATER you described your employment situation. I agreed that you were working, but you never noticed that. I just think you're an *******, that's all. Not lazy. I have no basis to make that assertion.

korn469 · March 1, 2003, 02:44

i agree with shaving, haircuts, dressing young, exercise, and sleep

a few other things you could do...

after you get all clean shaven start using a facial moisturizer (not wrinkle creme just lotion)

eat a well balanced diet and take a multivitamin

if you do smoke pot stop

i had a friend who at 23 looked (and acted) like the big leboski(sp?) check out that movie it's kinda funny

loinburger · March 1, 2003, 02:51

Quote:

Originally posted by tandeetaylor
No. You said that you were unemployed. Then LATER you described your employment situation.

Apparently, in addition to being a presumptuous judgmental halfwit, you are also a liar...:

Quote:

Originally posted by loinburger
I've technically been unemployed since May due to the crappy job market, but I make ends meet by patching lawns and building retaining walls. Fortunately, there's a decent market for retaining walls since everybody around here lives on a hill.

I've added the bolding for the benefit of those who apparently require remedial reading lessons.

Now would you kindly **** off? If you want to go back to calling me immoral for disagreeing with your opinions, then start a new thread for it. There's no need for you to bring up your past idiocies in a completely unrelated thread.

Quote:

Originally posted by korn469
i had a friend who at 23 looked (and acted) like the big leboski(sp?) check out that movie it's kinda funny

I've got a friend who's the same way, but I'm pretty sure that it's entirely due to his pot consumption.

korn469 · March 1, 2003, 02:56

Quote:

but I'm pretty sure that it's entirely due to his pot consumption

yeap, that's what caused it in him too

tandeetaylor · March 1, 2003, 02:59

OK, you're right. My mistake. Can you please quote where I said you were lazy?

And more on-topic, if she doesn't care about how ****ing ugly you are, I'm sure your age will not matter.

JohnT · March 1, 2003, 03:06

Here, Loin, this might help:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/02/28...ers/index.html

JohnT · March 1, 2003, 03:08

Oh, and btw, Tandee isn't worth it. Life is too short.

loinburger · March 1, 2003, 03:13

Quote:

Originally posted by korn469
yeap, that's what caused it in him too

I've never heard of pot making you look older, though. Actually, my two pot-smoking friends look far younger than their real ages.

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnT
Here, Loin, this might help

I haven't got any wrinkles, though! Honest! I've got a couple of gray hairs, but that's about it, and those are easy enough to take care of if I ever have a mind to...

tandee: What part of "**** off" did you fail to understand? Does "eat **** and die" do a better job of filtering into that neanderthal brain of yours? Please, I'm trying to help you, but if you can't even understand simple english then I'm afraid that you leave me at a loss for words...

KrazyHorse · March 1, 2003, 03:34

I love it when loin gets pissed off.

He's one of the better flamers here.