40+ People Who “Peaked” in High School Share Their “Glow-Down” Pics, & They’re Hilarious

As we get older, we generally stop caring so much about dressing up. Maybe it’s because we’re more secure in ourselves than we were as teenagers, or maybe we just can’t be bothered anymore.

What we see here is someone who embraced being comfy over being dressed up. She’s got her glasses, her comfy t-shirt, and a smirk that says “come at me, life.” Now, all she needs is to see this as embracing comfort instead of as a glow-down.

Young people tend to love going out. The thrill of getting dressed up to go out and meet people is something many can’t pass up. If it involves a few bad decisions, all the better!

It’s hard to tell what she’s doing in her glow-down photo. Maybe she’s fishing, or maybe she’s just enjoying a day on the lake. Whatever it is, it looks like she’s traded dressed-up nights out for days out in nature.

Women aren’t the only ones who look at themselves and see a glow-down instead of a glow-up. Some guys get in on the trend as well, comparing their now photos to their younger selves.

This guy went from suave with his v-neck shirt and chic glasses to long, flowy hippie hair and a scruffy face. He may see it as a glow-down, but anyone who’s into that look sees it as simply a different version of himself.

One thing many girls are obsessed with when in high school or college is changing their hair color. For some, it means dying it crazy, unnatural colors — and for others, it means busting out the bleach to go blonde.

She looks like a completely different version of herself, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The younger version looks like someone who tried hard to be trendy with her bleached hair and layered tops. Older her simply looks happy and comfortable in her own skin.

One thing that women tend to wear less of with age is makeup. Some simply tone down the amount they use, but others decide to stop wearing it completely — or at least less frequently.

The only glow-down we see here is that she looks a bit sad. It’s unfair to herself to compare a photo of her with no makeup and her natural hair to a photo where she’s clearly taken time to do her makeup and hair.

Our sense of style tends to change many times throughout our lifetime. Things that were trendy when we were younger aren’t as we age, and often we realize we were following trends rather than wearing what we wanted.

You can tell that her style changed a lot between these photos. She’s still wearing a comfy t-shirt — but she cut her hair, grew out her eyebrows a bit, and cut down on the makeup. We’d be interested to see what her fashion sense is nowadays.

There are more ways to change your sense of style than changing your clothes, and girls aren’t the only ones that go through this phase. Many guys also give in to new fashion trends as well, like bleaching their hair and/or eyebrows.

He definitely got a bit edgier since the first photo was taken. He bleached his hair, grew out a little bit of facial hair, and got a double-nose piercing — which we’ve got to admit we’re totally digging. He says glow-down, we say grungy.

As a human, it’s completely natural to have your weight fluctuate throughout your life. Bodies, especially women’s, go through a lot of changes at different stages, so putting on or losing weight are both very common.

She may not fit into those overalls anymore, but we say it’s simply an opportunity to try a new style and focus on body positivity! She’s still beautiful, overalls or not. Women should never be made to feel guilty for their bodies changing.

For girls, prom, homecoming, or any other event that gives them an excuse to dress up more than usual can be very exciting. Fancy hairdos, extravagant clothes, and expensive makeup are just a few things they do.

She’s clearly dressed up for prom or something in the first photo, based on the hair and the detailed makeup — perhaps even a competition of some sort. She doesn’t look any worse in the second picture, she just looks natural! We wonder how much time even passed between these photos.

Two hair colors that are really hard to pull off are black and blonde. Black hair makes many people look washed out, and blonde needs to be a very specific shade for that person’s skin tone in order to work.

Her hairstyle in her glow-down photo is actually super cute and natural. The color suits her better than the before photo. We bet if she was as dressed up as she is on the left, she would look just as good.

Modeling is something that a lot of people give a go when they’re in their teens. Most never actually make it anywhere as a model, as it’s one of those industries that’s all about who you know.

Based on the look on this guy’s face, it’s safe to assume modeling didn’t work out for him in the end. The sleek hair and black tank top make for a pretty cringy photo, but his facial expression now is even cringier. We’re not sure it qualifies as a glow-down, though.

The early teen years are a source of pride for some, but they’re surely a source of embarrassment for others. The acne shows up with a vengeance, as do the hormonal changes that make teenagers moody messes.

No one should be comparing themselves in their 20s to their 13-year-old self! Our bodies change so much between the ages of 13 and 21. It’s natural to look completely different. And once again, a girl is comparing a natural photo to a dolled-up photo.

Candid photos have become more and more popular in a world drowned in photographs, but due to their nature, they’re often very unflattering. People capture others making weird faces or in the middle of an action.

Putting on some weight is completely normal, and she chose a photo of her posing versus one that she clearly didn’t know was being taken. She’s comparing apples to oranges here and being very hard on herself.

One thing that changes a lot as we grow older is the shape of our face. Part of it is because of changes in our muscle and bone structure, and part is putting on or losing a little weight.

It’s hard to tell that this is the same person. The shape of his face completely changed. But, that’s part of growing up, isn’t it? Our faces fill out and we start to look more mature. At least he ditched the chain.

Another thing that’s super trendy as a teenager — but not so trendy as an adult — is fake tans. Young people obsess over not looking too “pasty,” embracing the bronzed look instead.

Here’s some more evidence of the way our faces change as we age. We can get these weird chin dimples and it’s impossible to make them go away. But, they’re just part of what makes our faces unique to us. At least she dropped the fake tan!

There’s nothing quite like the fashion of the early 2000s. The ultra-low rise shorts, chunky belts, graphic t-shirts, and deep side parts all made it an iconic, if not a cringy era for fashion. And this girl embraced it all.

You can see that the modern version of herself has finally moved on, choosing to grow her hair out, don some heels, and embrace her love of llamas (or is it an alpaca?).

While things are getting better, guys generally have very limited fashion options. So, when it comes to dressing up, they always go for the timeless suit. Paired with a button-down shirt and no tie, it’s a great look on anyone.

It’s pretty fair to consider a missing tooth and out-of-control beard a glow-down. It’s also very hard to pull off a turtleneck sweater. But, with how advanced modern dentistry is, they could have this guy back in tip-top shape in no time.

Blue eyes are so beautiful and unique. The cool thing about them is that based on things like hair color, clothing, and makeup, they can appear to change color, so they’re almost like having another accessory.

Her hair color now gives us serious mermaid vibes, and it really brings out the color of her eyes. She also pulls off the bangs very well, so we think the only person who sees a glow-down here is her.

Some people see negative changes where there are none. It’s not surprising, since both men and women are constantly bombarded with ads telling us to fix our hair, our skin, or our fashion sense.

She looks exactly the same. The only difference here is that she isn’t wearing makeup and she hasn’t straightened the little bit of wave out of her hair. She’s just as beautiful, so if this glow-down were receiving a grade, we’d give it an F.

Sometimes, we find ourselves missing the bodies we had when we were younger. Maybe we were in better shape, way tanner, and had clearer skin. Whatever it is, it’s not healthy to lust after something that doesn’t exist anymore.

The main glow-down here is in his expression. Younger him looks confident and calm, whereas older him looks like he’s seen some things and he’s not happy about it. We bet if he smiled, he’d still look great.

Teenagers love taking bikini pics at the beach. We aren’t sure if it’s because they’re rolling in confidence, or because they want to convince people they are by posing in cute bathing suits. Whatever it is, this girl pulled it off.

The main difference we notice here is that she’s much paler than she is in the first photo. Maybe it’s just bad lighting, but she simply needs to spend some time out in the sun! That can be hard when you’re busy adulting, though.

One big thing that changes for many women when they become adults is having children. It changes their lifestyles, their bodies, and their tolerance for frustrating or gross situations — like dirty diapers and grumpy toddlers.

The glow-down here isn’t mom’s appearance, but rather mom’s lifestyle. Between the laundry, the two crying children, and the TV blasting, it’s no wonder her face wears an expression saying, “What the heck happened?” We feel your pain, Momma. Hang in there!

One of the benefits of clubbing in college is that both girls and guys have an excuse to get dressed up, and a lot of the clothes worn for clubbing are the kind that make girls feel sensual and beautiful.

This glow-down went from sensual in the club to sweaty in the kitchen. That’s the reality of growing up; sometimes chores are more important than fun. Hopefully, she still gets a chance to dress up and go out once in a while.

Apparently, shirt-off-in-the-water photos are a thing for men, since this is the second time we’ve seen it on this list. Maybe it’s men’s versions of the bikini-on-the-beach photos girls take, and these types of photos are what make them feel good.

Anyone would look bad from this angle and this close! You always take pictures from above, like was clearly done in the first photo — not below, as shown in the second picture. He looks happy though, which is the most important thing.

One eternal debate among men is facial hair or no facial hair. It can completely change their look, and they need to work to take care of it, just like the hair on their heads.

This could be a glow-down or a glow-up, depending on how you look at it. He clearly likes the unkempt look, and if you do too, then it’s definitely a glow-down. But, those who prefer tidy hair and a tidy beard will see this as a glow-up!

Blondes supposedly have more fun, and that’s probably why so many young girls feel the need to bleach their hair. The problem is it often comes out very yellow, which doesn’t look like natural blonde.

She stopped wearing makeup and stopped bleaching her hair, but her smile seems so much more genuine in the glow-down picture. Brown hair also suits her skin tone better than the blonde did, so is this really a glow-down, after all?

We’re often our own worst critics. Where we see unwanted curves or bad hair or strange whatever it may be, others see a normal human body. But, it’s hard to be nice to ourselves in a world that tries to convince us that we need to change things.

She looks like a completely different person, but she really pulls off that coppery blonde hair color. Her body shape did change, but that’s just part of getting older.

If there’s one thing Americans love, it’s the 4th of July. Nothing says America like dressing up in all manner of flag apparel and spending the day grilling meat and shooting off fireworks.

The only change we see here is that she might be less patriotic and enjoys spending time in bed. Her face looks the same, and we can’t see enough to see how the rest has changed. We’re not sure we see a glow-down here.

Women’s taste in jewelry shifts throughout their life. In 2010, when the first photo was taken, big chunky earrings and necklaces were super in style. Those earrings were super heavy and sometimes uncomfortable.

It’s sad that she’s focused on her fluctuating weight when she has really beautiful eyes and nice, clear skin. We can’t see much beyond that (which was probably intentional), but weight changes do not a glow-down make. Her current hair color also looks better than the blonde.

Facial expressions play a really big part in how others perceive your appearance. Someone attempting a sultry smolder is going to have a very different impact than someone making a silly face.

Girls like this can’t be serious! She looks like a model, even in her supposed glow-down picture. As we’ve said before, it’s not fair to compare a casual photo to one where it appears she’s literally modeling. Do better, girls.

For some reason, the collar pop or collar grab is a very common trend in photographs of men. Perhaps it’s to draw attention to their expensive watches, or perhaps it’s just one of those weird things that they do.

Popped collar, neatly kept facial hair, and a good hairstyle is all things he’s definitely lacking in his glow-down photograph. He cut off his cool waves and let his beard grow out a little too much. Those are easy fixes, though.

Hair is one of a girl’s best accessories. It can greatly change the way they look and whether they look dressed up or dressed down. Combine it with makeup and their whole appearance can change.

If you consider a normal ponytail and a lack of makeup a glow-down, then sure, this girl has had a glow-down. But as we have said before, people should at least compare similar photos. Prom and a t-shirt at home are not similar.

Leggings are a modern-day blessing to the female wardrobe. They’re comfortable, they show off their curves, and yet they cover everything women need covered. It’s no surprise that women love wearing them above all other forms of legwear.

Her glow-down body is still a healthy body and still beautiful. We also love her longer hair and lush eyebrows. She needs to embrace her new curves and bring those cute leggings back! Everybody looks good in leggings.

Every woman has rocked or will rock a bob at some point in their life. It’s just a phase all women have to go through, and if it’s an angled bob, even better.

The best part of this glow-down is the look on her face, because she clearly has a sense of humor. It’s pretty clear that a lot of time has passed between these two photos, and the main thing that has changed is her poor dark circles.

Why are tiny things so adorable? Baby animals are clearly the best animals, baby humans are much cuter than their adult counterparts, and baby objects, like tiny jars of Nutella, make us all crazy.

So we’re comparing ourselves to how cute we were as children now?! That hardly seems reasonable! Almost all of us would have been way more adorable when we were little versus now as adults. He’s still got a nice smile, though.

Teenagers are so awkward. They are in a weird in-between body growth stage, and they also make a lot of bad decisions, both in their day-to-day lives and in choosing the clothes they wear and how they do their hair.

She may see that younger photo as her ideal self, but we’re here to let her know that that bleach-blonde hair was not a great look for her. It isn’t really a great look for anyone, to be honest.

Sunshine is good for everyone. Aside from the obvious benefits of vitamin D, like mood boosts and strong bones, there’s just something calming and essential about spending some time outside in the sun.

Who wouldn’t look bad slumped over on the couch with a miserable look on their face and unflattering indoor lighting? Fluorescent bulbs are cruel to everyone, this guy included. Get him some sun and a smile ASAP and we bet he would look a lot better.

Graduations are extremely proud moments in our lives. They are an acknowledgment of our work to learn new things and better ourselves, and they’re also an excuse to wear ridiculous-looking caps and gowns.

A lot seems to have changed — she bleached her hair, is less tan, and isn’t wearing any makeup. But, the first is also a professional graduation photo, and those are always taken in flattering lighting and edited, so this may not be a true glow-down.

Some people really embrace alternative fashion trends when they’re younger. That’s generally a good thing, since it means they’re confident enough in themselves to not feel the need to follow trends. This girl’s grunge goth style is a good example.

We have to wonder how much time has passed between these two photos since she’s wearing the exact same black choker necklace. Does she consider it a glow-down because she doesn’t like her new haircut?

Just like the bob, most girls have tried to pull off long, side-swept bangs at one point or another in their lives. While they work for some people, for others they just cover their beautiful eyes.

This is actually a glow-up, in our opinion. Both her new haircut and hair color are much more flattering for her face, and her skin looks radiant as well. Maybe she sees it as a glow-down due to nostalgia for a former lifestyle.

Being a frequent gym goer and then stopping for whatever reason is always hard to deal with. You see your muscle definition disappear, along with your strength and your energy levels dropping.

This just looks like a guy who’s gone a little too long without shaving or getting a haircut. Maybe he doesn’t go to the gym anymore, and that’s why he feels it’s a glow-down. We love to be hard on ourselves.

There are some people that just look good no matter what kind of haircut they have — and this gal is definitely one of them. Whether she’s rocking long hair or short, there’s no denying her natural beauty.

With that being said, we can’t say this makes for a glow-down. After all, angles and lighting make a huge difference in how a photo will turn out.

Let’s be real here, people — we’ve got to stop comparing ourselves to what we used to look like as a teenager. For some of us, that was 10+ years ago! We go through many changes and phases throughout life, especially women, what with our hormones and all.

This lady was beautiful then and she’s beautiful now. The only difference between these two photos is the fact that she was a girl and now she’s a woman! Embrace yourself, sis!

Ladies! Just because you stopped wearing makeup every day and you like your hair in a bun doesn’t mean you’ve “glowed down.” You’re a grown adult with responsibilities — perhaps it’s a full-time job, maybe you’re busy raising a family, possibly both?

You could be spending all your time studying to be a doctor or a lawyer. Who knows?! Whatever the case may be, you don’t have the time you had as a teenager to constantly get dolled up. Now, you save it for the moments that count!