ONE NIGHT I had been turned away from Neighbourhood in Spinningfields - and yes, I was sober and well behaved at this point.
The bouncer, failing to look me in the eye, kept his outstretched arm solid like a barricade as three tarted up ladies waltzed inside.
"I don’t necessarily always fulfil the stereotype but still, even when I’m out in Manchester the Scouser in me always feels I’m not dressed up enough."
The difference between them and me was this: their false eyelashes were as long as spider legs, fake tans as deep as mahogany, teeth blinding white, smokey eyes to make Kim Kardashian reach for a face-wipe and dresses painted on to make all the bouncers wink and let them in without hassle.
Their full fat big hair was still steaming with hair spray. OK, I’m exaggerating now.
As long as you've got heels on you're allowed in.
It seemed in my haphazard haste I had forgotten some districts in Manchester require an off the scale measure of ‘glamming up’ at all times. The recent news that on Peter Street Club Liv had refused entry to a heavily pregnant lady because she was wearing flat shoes, didn't come as a surprise.
Apparently Club Liv don't believe bringing life into this world excuses a woman from having to hobble about clumsily in heels so high you could greet God. No sir.
Manchester actress Chelsee Healey is always done up
Yet we wouldn’t have this in the Northern Quarter; and thank heavens for the Northern Quarter. Thus Manchester only comes third in a list of the UK’s most pampered cities. Let's hear it for all the NQ’s hipster chicks partying in trainers.
Liverpool tops the most pampered city lists. So no surprise there. Edinburgh is second.
Researchers at Promotional Codes ranked the UK’s top ten most pampered cities based on the number of online vouchers and discounts used per head for each city. Somewhat interestingly the researchers were also able to break the results down to identify the areas where certain beauty treatments were the most popular.
There were the usual clichés:
Newcastle was the ‘top spot’ for fake tans. Chelmsford, Essex is big on teeth whitening, whilst Glasgow was ‘the number one place for tattoo removal’.
It would seem our neighbour’s in Liverpool are big on pampering from head to toe.
And most in Liverpool have come to witness the gaggle of girly-girls with their hair in rollers and expertly drawn-on faces as they pop to the shops. While it may not be true of every Liverpudlian lady, it would seem many take their night out preparation to another extreme in The Pool.
Getting ready for a night out starts early in Liverpool
“I don’t always like the stigma Liverpool girl’s get when it comes to style – it’s very outdated,” said Manchester based Liverpudlian, Rachael Fraser (my personal correspondent to everything in Liverpool), “but I understand where it comes from. I don’t necessarily always fulfil the stereotype but still, even when I’m out in Manchester the Scouser in me always feels I’m not dressed up enough.
“Most like to look glam even if we aren’t going to a club. But some take it to the extreme. Where I will spend money on my nails, eyebrows and I'm partial to high heels, there’s the girl who will spend around £100 - £150 monthly. Regardless, it’s not the worst thing to be known for wanting to look your best.”
Liverpool girl in rollers - a much loved cliché?
One male Liverpudlian explained to Promotional Codes: “It’s frightening to see how much some men are forking out on beauty treatments. Some of my mates are even spending as much as their girlfriends. Me, I’m just content with a trip down the barbers, a nice smelling aftershave and a good bar of soap.”
A good bar of soap most likely won’t be enough to achieve the look that has given the North West it’s 'most pampered' title.
Bury's Helen Flanagan has the pampered look down
Ashleigh Guthrie from Spinningfield’s beauty salon, City Spa Escapes explained that to prepare for a night out in high maintenance club venues, I must also be prepared to clear out my schedule and spend some cash.
“It takes a lot of effort to recreate the look these girls are sporting,” said Guthrie. “First of all you’ll need HD Brows – they’re all big on brows. You'll need fake eyelashes - anything from strip lashes to individual lashes.
She continued as I took note: "A full leg wax. A brazillian (just in case). Gel nail polishes – you’ll have to decided whether you want both fingers and toes done. There’s the spray tan. And don’t forget hair extensions will cost a pretty penny too...”
Yikes. We’re looking at forking out in the hundreds.
Maybe we should be proud of our beauty pampering habits in Manchester. After all we’re also the number one city for taking selfies.
Still, while I’m far from a roll out of bed and go shopping in my pyjamas woman, when it comes to getting dressed up, I can take or leave the falsies.
Take me as I am Manchester.
Top 10 in Full
1. Liverpool
2. Edinburgh
3. Manchester
4. London
5. Glasgow
6. Birmingham
7. Newcastle
8. Sheffield
9. Leeds
10 Leicester
Follow L'Oréal Blackett on Twitter
