BellaSugar

Have You Had a Stylist Answer the Phone During Your Service?

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:14 -0700

Last week, I had a quick manicure. A little filing, a small lecture about the state of my cuticles, some tea tree oil advice, and a clear coat of polish gave my haggard hands a lovely pick-me-up. But in between all of the beautifying, the manicurist took several nonurgent phone calls on her Bluetooth headset.

I understand we all need to step away from work to take calls now and then, but I thought her behavior was rude. I once even had a hairstylist - supposedly "the best" - chat on his phone throughout the entire cut. Have you had similar experiences, and if so, how did you handle them?

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Is Filing Your Nails in Public a Do or a Don't?

BellaSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:00:41 -0800

The other day on the bus, I noticed a lady focusing all (and I mean all) of her attention to her nails. She filed them for what seemed like the entire twenty-minute ride, and I have to admit - it kind of grossed me out as the nail dust floated all around. Last year I asked you what you thought about putting on makeup in public, and most of you thought that a little touchup is OK, but doing a full-blown routine is tacky. What about filing nails? Do you think it's uncouth to groom them in public, or is it acceptable?

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Is It Rude To Apply Lipstick at the Table?

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:00:57 -0700

Just as men aren't supposed to wear hats at the table, women aren't supposed to "powder their noses" or apply lipstick either. Most of you think that applying makeup in public isn't so cool, but I've consulted Emily Post's (queen of all etiquette) website for the official word on manners. As it turns out, there's no one right answer:

Why it's a yes - "In general, personal grooming should be done in private for the simple reason that it can be annoying and it’s tacky," Post explains. "Still, think first! When in doubt, don’t do it, such as when you’re at a business meal or with people you don’t know very well."
Why it's a no - According to Post, "It’s okay to quickly apply lipstick at the table if you’re with close friends or relatives in a non-business situation, and at a non-deluxe restaurant."
Why it's a maybe - "Put putting on lipstick without using a mirror and without fanfare is one grooming ritual that can sometimes be performed in front of others," Post says.

So, depending on where you are, you're just fine - no need to freak out if you need a little touch-up.

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Is There a Sweet Smell of Success?

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:00:13 -0700

With unemployment hitting a four-year high last month, there's a good chance some of you are in the market for a new job. You're probably already familiar with hair and makeup tips for job seekers, but have you ever thought your fragrance may sway the outcome of a big interview?

A friend who works in human resources at a very well-known independent film studio recently told me a story about a qualified male candidate coming in smelling as if he had bathed in Abercrombie cologne. "All of the parties who met him agreed that he was well equipped for the job, but we ended up having to pass on him," she told me. "None of us (including myself) were able to stay in the interview room with him long enough to get through a thorough questioning, let alone sit in a cubicle next to him."

Ouch! Turns out, many recruiters tell their job applicants that fragrance is an interview faux pas and possible dealbreaker. So stop spending your unemployment checks on the newest scents - they could end up costing more than you think!

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What Would You Do?

BellaSugar — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:00:33 -0700

Here's a situation for you. In this weekend's New York Times, a reader seeks advice:

My assistant doesn’t do anything for her appearance - no make-up, hair pulled back (and looking greasy) and dumpy clothes. I try to set a good example by being put together. Now that summer is here, she’s wearing open sandals and doesn’t paint her toenails. Her feet look rather unkempt, and I think painted nails pull a look together - especially in summer! How do I have a conversation with her? She wants to move out into the business world in the next year or so, after she completes her M.B.A.

The columnist suggests "keeping your beauty tips to yourself" and advises against crossing "the line of inappropriate topics." I agree, particularly because the advice-seeker doesn't mention anything about the job performance. Besides, this boss seems pretty high-maintenance.

On the other hand, the assistant's unkempt appearance isn't helping her career, and in strict business settings, looking polished is part of the gig. If her appearance began to distract people from focusing on her accomplishments, what would you do as her manager?

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Spa Etiquette: What to Wear for a Massage

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:00:11 -0700

Last week, I had the pleasure of being pounded and stoned. (Wait, that doesn't sound right.) I'm talking about a massage, and the one I had at San Francisco's Nob Hill Spa was as therapeutic as it was luxurious. But before the treatment, I watched a spa newbie try to figure out what, exactly, to do with her robe. So if you're unsure like she was, here are a few guidelines to make your massage treatment flow smoothly.

In the room: After you change from street clothes into a robe, your massage therapist will lead you to your treatment room. He or she will then give you a moment to slip out of the robe and into the sheets on the massage table.

What to wear: Most people like to be completely nude underneath the sheets, but others prefer to leave their underpants on. Either way is fine; your massage therapist won't mind one way or the other.

Ditch the bra, though: Again, it won't be weird if you wear your bra during the massage, but it will severely hinder the therapist's abilities - which means that your massage won't be as good as it should be. You'll be on your stomach for the most part, so your chest will be concealed. When it's time for you to flip over, the therapist will block your body by holding up the sheet, with no risk of booby display.

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How Do You Use Testers?

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:00:31 -0700

Every beauty boutique worth its salt has product testers that you can dip into. Some people touch the containers of lip gloss and blush with their fingers, others use Q-tips to apply products to their faces, and others refuse to touch them at all. Even though I've never heard of anyone getting sick from a less-than-hygienic tester, I use Q-tips to apply samples only on the backs of my hand. Which way do you use testers? (Your secret's safe with me, I promise.)

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Are You a Good Tipper?

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:00:50 -0700

Paying for a beauty treatment is only part of the expense you'll incur at a spa or salon. Along with paying for the service, you'll have to add gratuity. But when it comes to tipping, are you overly generous or are you tight-fisted? To find out, take the quiz.

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How Often Do You Touch Up Your Makeup Throughout the Day?

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:00:16 -0800

The other night I went out for dinner and a movie with some friends. To my surprise, one of the girls whipped out her powder compact twice during the meal to touch up her T-zone, and she reapplied her lip gloss at least a half dozen times throughout the evening. She paid no mind to her display of applying makeup in public, considering that she put on gloss while standing on a crowded line to buy popcorn!

It got me thinking that this gal probably reapplies all day long. I put on my face in the morning and then clean up any eyeliner that inevitably finds its way into my little eye wrinkles by the end of the day. Besides that I'll put on gloss before I go out, but that's about it. How often do you touch up your makeup throughout the course of a day?

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The Skinny on Spa Upgrades

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:00:22 -0800

There's nothing quite as relaxing as settling in for a spa treatment. That is, until your esthetician introduces the upsell. "Your facial would be so much more effective if you added on this mud mask," she might say. "It's just 25 dollars." And so you're lying naked under a sheet, worried that without the mud mask you'll be left with less-than-perfect skin, and you don't want to be awkward...

I truly dread the upsell. Even though some add-ons are worthwhile, others are just so-so, and they can easily make your total bill skyrocket. That's why I was excited to run across these opinions on whether certain spa add-ons are worth the expense. Microdermabrasion and paraffin wax treatments are generally considered worth the extra cost, whereas aromatherapy is deemed a waste of money. I agree, especially on aromatherapy; most spa products have a pleasing scent of their own, and dropping extra cash to sniff happily seems unnecessary.

So, how do you politely turn down add-ons that you're not interested in? For a few suggestions, read more.

If you're not interested in upgrading your experience, here are a few ways to turn it down politely:

Keep it simple: "Thank you, but I'm happy with the treatment I've scheduled."

Give yourself time: "I think I'll pass for now, but I'll keep it in mind for my next appointment."

Go the direct route: "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested today."

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