Even movie characters have to get ready in the morning. Though our daily grooming routine is one of the most mundane activities we can think of, somehow other people’s adventures (and misadventures) in beautifying themselves are still kind of fascinating. Case in point: we recently came across this hilarious list of film’s 25 Greatest Male Grooming Moments over at Details , and we loved it so much that we decided the ladies needed some love too. While there aren’t as many blatantly ridiculous moments as in the guys’ list (apparently, movie beauty is not for the faint of heart), there are some great ones in the mix. Click through to see our list of great ladies’ grooming moments in film, and let us know which of your favorites we’ve missed in the comments!
15. Mia Wallace “powders her nose,” Pulp Fiction
Only Mia Wallace has the audacity to snort cocaine in a crowded bathroom, surrounded by women doing their hair, checking their teeth and, you know, actually powdering their noses. Not that it leads to anything good. Don’t do drugs, kids.
14. Cameron Diaz’s infamously tacky accident, There’s Something About Mary
“Is that… is that hair gel?” No, it is not, Mary. It is not.
13. Bridget Jones agonizes over her knickers, Bridget Jones’ Diary
Finally, someone has verbalized an issue that plagues women everywhere: “Major dilemma. If actually do, by some terrible chance, end up in flagrante surely these would be most attractive at crucial moment. However, chances of reaching crucial moment greatly increased by wearing these scary stomach-holding-in pants very popular with grannies the world over.” Hooray for granny panties!
12. Every single thing that happens in Neptune’s Beauty Nook, Legally Blonde
Not only does The Bend and Snap work every time, but so do the deep, deep relationships women form at the beauty salon.
11. The girls get ready in How to Marry a Millionaire
“You know what they say about girls who wear glasses,” but we think this is Marilyn’s best look, and a valuable lesson. Try to hide who you are, and you’re going to bump into a lot of stuff.
10. Ear piercing and blonde mockery, Grease
The resultant ear-piercing-with-potato scene in this film probably led to bloody bathroom sinks in the houses of good girls everywhere. But what else are sleepovers for?
9. Tai’s makeover, Clueless
All it takes to be popular is a little shampoo and jazzercise. Oh, and mini skirts. Lots of mini skirts.
8. Nina’s battle for perfection, Black Swan
As Nina applies her makeup for the final acts of Swan Lake, she slips into a hallucination that ends with her literally killing herself with the mirror. Ah, perfection.
7. Maria feels pretty, West Side Story
Fall in love! Your friends will think you’re insane, but at least you’ll be inspired to try new fashions.
6. Molly Ringwald’s special talent, The Breakfast Club
Though Ally Sheedy’s makeover is also a great grooming moment from this movie, let’s face it. She mostly just slaps on a Blair Waldorf-worthy headband and washes her face. Ta-da! Much more impressive is popular girl Claire’s PG-13 talent – using her cleavage to apply lipstick. Or is that more impressive? Seriously, is this what people did in high school?
5. Deb shaves her head, Empire Records
Sometimes I walk into work and feel like shaving my head to The Martinis, too. Especially when Deb makes it look so cool. Maybe Britney Spears was having a 90’s moment and watched this the night before her massive self-shaving meltdown? Just a thought…
4. Margot Tenenbaum lives in the bathtub, The Royal Tenenbaums
Margot Tenenbaum makes me want to become a closet smoker who lives in the bathroom for six hours a day. At least she ties the TV to the radiator.
3. Shosanna’s war paint, Inglourious Basterds
Shosanna uses her makeup as war paint and her sexuality as a tool to bring down the entire Nazi empire. Hands down the most badass moment of 2009.
2. Vivian singing Prince in the bathtub, Pretty Woman
This is another epic makeover film, and another case of a lady using electronics near a body of water, but we’ll forgive it — nothing really compares with Vivian’s bliss in that gigantic tub.
1. Marion Crane’s murder in the shower, Psycho
How could we not include the most famous shower scene of all time? This scene is even more horrifying – puncture wounds or no – for catching a lady during one of her most vulnerable times. This author at least insisted on a clear shower curtain for years afterwards.