To be an unkept woman also known as unkempt woman means to be a female or woman who's outer appearance, grooming, or hygiene appears messy, untidy and neglected.
An unkempt woman is frequently and mistakenly called an "unkept" woman.
The word "unkept" literally means "not kept" and is normally used for things that are abstract like broken promises or neglected property such as an overgrown yard.
The word "unkempt" comes from an old word that means "not combed."
Unkempt describes a messy, disheveled appearance, like having dirty clothes, untidy hair, or a lack of basic personal care.
When someone uses the word and label "unkempt" for a persons physical presentation, they are often pointing out specific visual cues, which include:
Hygiene, such as signs of skipped showers or general bodily neglect.
Grooming, such as chipped nail polish, smudged makeup, overgrown nails, or ignored dental hygiene.
Clothing, such as excessively wrinkled, stained, torn, or worn down garments.
And hair, such as tangled, unbrushed, visibly greasy, or showing extreme, unmaintained root growth.
The perceptions of being unkempt can vary widely.
Simple, casual choices such as wearing comfortable sweatpants or a quick "messy bun" for example to run errands are not truly unkempt.
Although the term "unkempt" carries a social judgement that somebody has stopped caring for their basic physical maintenance.