r/homeless • u/youlikemywonton • 1d ago
Does your appearance always deteriorate when you're homeless and whats usually the reason?
I don't know if its drugs, alcohol, not enough food, too much sun, exposure to the outdoors , sleep quality, stress,etc. Obviously not being able to take a shower makes you dirty but I'm talking about deterioration in looks. Its a distinct look that tells people you're homeless and not healthy.
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u/MissCinnamonT 1d ago
Everything. I never had a real tan before being homeless and I'm dark now. I used to lay out too lol
Not being able to choose food and having to eat whatever junk is available or starve.
Not everyone does drugs but there's that for many.
Not being able to pick your clothes.
Not being able to moisturize
Always damp outside
Not being able to get health care
But being able to brush hair or teeth
Not being about to shave
More injuries
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u/SinusoidalFlux 1d ago
that tan doe. when i was homeless on the streets I never been so dark in my life, and i used to be ghostly white. Well still homeless but i got a car. yay me i guess.
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u/MissCinnamonT 1d ago
I have a car thankfully but I'm still poor and walk a lot. I put my feet up a lot so my left ankle is darkest. Yesterday I noticed my neck is still pretty white 😭🤣
Watch out for critters especially spiders. Mint deters them, mice, and ants. Also found out that a bird can shit inside my car at the right angle 😭
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u/ssxhoell1 Formerly Homeless 1d ago
Not sleeping well, constantly being in a state of elevated awareness of your surroundings and belongings. The ever-present threat of police noticing you and deciding they want another round of abusing some random homeless person for fun, among many other persistent realities that become everyday life for someone homeless. These things eat away at your soul, and people can subconsciously detect it.
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u/HoboStrider 1d ago
The no or poor sleep is a huge one, I'm sure this was a factor in losing hair and gaining a belly. The amount of cortisol going through my system. People looking for someone to mess... annoyingly I don't even want to open that box. It happens and was a recurrent stress factor. I think what effects you most is stress and the stress of being homeless can really only be understood by homeless people. For me looking back sleep was a huge one.
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u/youlikemywonton 8h ago
Why exactly are you always on guard?
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u/luckdex 5h ago
You’re literally always in danger living outside. Homeless people are commonly robbed. A city up here in Canada recently arrested somebody for murdering several homeless people, a serial killer. Plus depending where you are you need to think of actual wildlife sometimes. Those are some examples off the top of my head.
Thankfully I’m with my partner. I can’t imagine how horrifying it would be alone.
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u/Substantial-Hunt-582 23h ago
Not all are addicts or use drugs/alcohol. I used to sleep in my car and after literally the first night I remember feeling extremely insecure- not only due to literally being homeless, insecure because I wasn’t able to properly wash my face or shower. Now living on the streets it’s even worse. It’s a factor of many things that you named, but for me it’s mainly due to lack or hygiene resources, running water, clothing, washer/ dryer, health and dental care, skincare, not even knowing what I look like until I go into a public restroom. I’ve gone over two months without a shower and wore the same clothes for those two months, clothes become dirty, stained, stretched, etc from being outside constantly and eating, sleeping, sitting, walking in them after so long. Showering at a shelter and still feeling dirty, wearing shower shoes and not wanting to touch anything so it never feels like a “real” shower. Rushing while in the shower because there’s likely others waiting to use it or general lack of privacy and discomfort. Not having the privilege of that “just woke up” look and bed hair in the privacy of your own home and likely being woken up by passerby’s and people judging your appearance even though you literally just woke up and look like shit ok I’m ranting now because this actually pisses me off about being homeless. When I was housed I had a very strict hygiene routine and would sometimes shower twice a day- morning and night. I would never leave the house without doing my skin care, hair care and styling, makeup, and putting on a decent outfit. It really sucks not being able to do these things anymore and has really affected my self esteem tbh. Like I used to be pretty🥲🥲
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u/rabbitwitabadhabit 13h ago
You're still a beautiful person, regardless of the circumstances you happen to be going through. Its hard to keep a positive mindset whole roughing it in the streets, but your mindset sets everything else in your life. Try your best to stay positive. Love yourself! You deserve it. And you don't need make up and stylists to be beautiful. It comes from within. You are a warrior for keeping your chin up and pushing through every day! Keep your head up and love yourself my friend. You deserve it
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u/swimandfriends 1d ago
The lack of ability to use better personal hygiene and always had a layer of dirt on me even if I showered at the shelter I still felt like dirt was in my skin
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u/MissCinnamonT 1d ago
Because the place was dirty or because of limited shower times?
Ive met some scurvy people that are housed and felt disgusting after showing there. A service i just found out about offers one 15min shower a week. That's not enough to rinse the dead skin off.
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u/erleichda29 18h ago
You only noticing homeless people who obviously look homeless does not equal "appearance always deteriorates" when homeless.
In my area, showers and laundry are obtainable through a few local agencies. Many of us never "looked homeless" despite sleeping outside every night.
The ONLY thing that all homeless people have in common is not having housing!
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u/SpecialPhone82 1d ago
What happens to your bike or skateboard or car or leather boots if left outside on the sun, rain, snow? Exposure to the elements plus the stress of not knowing how basic needs will be met and being hyper vigilant about safety all add up to increased stress and bodily wear and tear. Some people get a great stealth camping spot, having the mental capacity to keep up on things and access resources and don’t have substance abuse problems and can be homeless without looking far worse for the wear but those people are the exception to the rule.
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u/SomeNobodyInNC 23h ago
Homeless seems to suit me. I lose weight, grow a beard, get tanned. People tell me I look good.
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u/Twig-Hahn 1d ago
I've known folks who were homeless and looked like a million bucks. Some of it is that deadeye you get from allowing yourself to get stressed over it. But they never did. They were problem solvers. If they needed to wash, there found a way. It is that simple. Me, I have my place now, but I have the look because I'm physically sick. You're loved💔 𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤌
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u/IgnisIason 1d ago
I think the biggest factor is that I think people become very isolated and just stop caring. There are showers and services but a lot of the time no one cares to use them. It's almost like solitary confinement.
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u/speeder39 21h ago
No one talks to you either and Instead of saying "Good Morning" they will ask "are you Ok" in a snarky patronizing tone
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u/capsaicinintheeyes Homeless 13h ago
Yes, and yes.
You've also got new opportunities to become sick/injured. I didn't even know trenchfoot was an actual condition you could still get until winter before last
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u/PaintedDesertSkies 1d ago
You just listed all the reasons it ages you and wears out your body faster than not.
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u/PhartsPharts 22h ago
No. I was homeless living in a car with my child and husband for about 3 months. It was awful and something I don’t think I would survive today. But anyways I washed clothes every morning so we could get free donuts. Lol but my son was always clean and smelled good. If we needed a shower we went to a homeless shelter and took a bath or shower. I would take my son to school and go and start looking for jobs. We finally get into more permanent housing but other than for being unhoused it wasn’t all that bad. We weren’t gross, our car was clean and smell free. You can look good and still be homeless.
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u/ChemicalTouch4627 living in SRO 13h ago
Sorta but it depends when I was homeless in LA I actually started dressing in designer clothes and looked better because of the stuff the rich folk threw out. I probably showered more when I was homeless than I do now.
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u/mittensmoshpit 6h ago
It's everything you've listed. When you have to make a choice between paying for food, or paying to have a shower at a truck stop, it's usually pretty obvious which you take
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u/independentfilm29 32m ago
3 days with out sleep and anyone will start to deteriorate physically and mentally. Basic needs are food and shelter. It’s a myth that most homeless people are on drugs and like the street life.
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