Dolly Parton, the legendary country music singer, has recently revealed the reason behind her unique nighttime beauty regimen. Since the 1980s, Parton has been sleeping with her makeup on, a practice she adopted for emergency preparedness. This intriguing tidbit was shared in her latest book, “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” which hit the shelves on October 17th.
In an excerpt from the book shared by Insider, Parton explains that her move to Los Angeles in the 1980s sparked this unusual routine. The city’s frequent earthquakes made her realize the need to be ready for anything, including being camera-ready at a moment’s notice. “I thought, ‘I’m not heading out on the streets without makeup in case there are cameras out there! I’m going to be ready to go!’” she wrote.
While this might raise eyebrows among skincare enthusiasts who emphasize the importance of thoroughly cleansing one’s face before bed, Parton assures her readers that she doesn’t neglect her skincare routine. She wakes up every morning and indulges in a thorough cleansing ritual before reapplying her makeup for the day. She believes it doesn’t matter when you clean your face, as long as it’s done once a day.
The “9 to 5” singer isn’t just concerned about being camera-ready; she also wants to look her best for her husband of five decades, Carl Dean, whether she’s at home in Tennessee or working in Los Angeles. She quipped, “This is also true back home in Tennessee. I don’t want to go to bed looking like a hag with Carl.”
Parton’s nighttime makeup routine isn’t a new revelation. In a 2021 interview with WSJ Magazine, she confirmed her decision to sleep in makeup, citing potential natural disasters as a reason. “I do all my beauty work and cleaning my face in the morning because I usually try to keep my makeup on at night,” she said. “Because I never know if there’s going to be an earthquake or a tornado or a storm and I’m going to have to go out in the middle of the night.”
In a recent conversation with People magazine, the “Jolene” singer humorously stated that the only time fans might see her without makeup would be posthumously. However, she admitted that in the event of an emergency or if her husband was sick, she would venture out without her signature look.
Parton’s love for makeup dates back to her childhood, a time when she didn’t have the means to buy beauty products. In “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” she shares how she used household items and natural resources as makeup substitutes. She used pokeberries as lip stain and burnt matchsticks to color her eyebrows and beauty mark.
While not everyone might agree with Parton’s approach to beauty and emergency preparedness, it’s hard not to admire her dedication to looking her best at all times. Whether it’s eyelash extensions, eyebrow threading, or a full face of makeup, Dolly Parton’s beauty routine is as unique as the singer herself. And while we might not all be ready to adopt her nighttime makeup routine, there’s something to be said for always wanting to present your best face to the world, whether you’re in Scottsdale, Arizona, or on the streets of Los Angeles.