Promoting participation and involvement in appearance research

This article considers participation in appearance research on a continuum, from the beginning of a research idea, through to the dissemination of results. It considers the opportunities and challenges in participation and public involvement in appearance research, and offers strategies for involving the public throughout the research process. It describes the author's personal experiences of participation and involvement in appearance research. As a starting point, it considers how to encourage public engagement and interest in appearance research at a general level, which may in turn foster participation and involvement in specific research initiatives.