Make up on the train: get up ten mins earlier

[Trainarmrestfairy]

Just get up ten minutes earlier!! It’s not hard.

You’re taking up two seats. Your elbows are jabbing the person next to you. Your setting spray just hit me in the bloody face. And, even worse, you’ve painted your eyebrows on wonky because you’re on a moving bloody train!!!!

Why do people not get up earlier?!

I don't see much difference between applying makeup in a public place and having a wash, cutting nails, brushing hair, shaving, brushing teeth, applying medicinal creams. All stuff that should be done in private. That's before we even start on why so many women feel they are not properly equipped for the working day without applying make-up, and would expect to be judged and found wanting if they didn't use it. It's all so sexist. Hardly any men wear make-up and no one is affronted.

This comment is just so bonkers!

If you've never experienced this behaviour, or haven't ability to imagine how it might impact others, pps are telling you just how it actually does on this thread.

Yes, I've been caught in the spray of substances scent, hairspray - which you can actually taste - ugh) in the past, nudged in the ribs on a crowded tube, and not known where to look while someone co-opts the tube carriage as their private bathroom.

I am always in awe of women who do their make up on the tube - they do it brilliantly, no smudges or smears. They always look fantastic at the end of the process. It's like it's their super power.

I agree with another poster - it’s an efficient use of time. Personally, I wouldn’t love being sprayed with setting spray, but other than that, I wouldn’t have an issue with it.
Much better than some of the things men get up to, like flossing or cutting their toenails on public transport. I've witnessed one delightful chap cutting his toenails on the central line and a toenail clipping actually landed in the book of the person sitting next to him. Grim!

Sorry. My point was probably too subtle. What I am saying is that considering the extremely anti-social behaviour you regularly get on public transport, make-up application is a surprising thing to get annoyed about. If that is is still too subtle. I’m saying OP sounds like a bit of a snob who holds women to a higher standard than the rest of the population.

Are you really that affronted by someone putting on some blush or powder? It’s not the 1940’s!!!

If you had got up a bit earlier and taken an earlier train, youd probably have been less cramped or bothered by other people in a rush.

You don't believe there are inconsiderate people around?

I find it very believable and understandable why someone would start a thread moaning about make up after being jabbed by another passenger's elbows and hit with setting spray. Whether you think the OP is reasonable or not to generalise from this experience about ALL make up applications on public transport is a different thing.

But I don't automatically disbelieve there are people out there using public transport who give no thought to those around them. Happens all the time.

This
And fixing the hair 😱! We had a needlework teacher at school who always maintained that “smart girls don’t brush their hair in public” ! To which my best friend, a bit of a rebel I must say, responded with “ oh yes Miss, but smart girls don’t have to”!

I find it irritating too, and very ‘look at me’. Not a chance i’d do it. Spraying a setting spray on a train is ridiculous.

It doesn’t bother me at all, to be honest.

I always finish off my make-up on the train. It doesn't affect anyone at all.

If someone's taking two seats and you can't sit down, just say "Can I sit there?"

If someone's jabbing you with their elbows, spread out, do it back or just say "Can you be careful and stop jabbing me?"

If someone's sprayed you with setting spray, fake an attack of breathlessness, have a coughing fit all over them, or just say "Don't spray in my face".

I don't like it as someone constantly moving and rustling is beyond irritating but I accept that's probably my problem, not theirs.

I don't really care about the concept though.

It doesn’t exactly bother me, but I do think it’s very undignified.

Next time, say something. Get spray in my face, etc would have pissed me off.

I once shared a train table with a drag artist who did their make up on the move. They went from plain Jane to an absolute vision while being jostled around. It was very impressive. I nearly asked them to do my make up once they were done.

So why not do it in the loos at work?

Well if it took her an hour, why are you saying she could have got up ten minutes earlier?

Clearly not.

I don’t do this myself as am dyspraxic, but I enjoy watching other women apply makeup.

I don't think you're too 'subtle'. I just don't think it's remotely 'surprising' to get annoyed about make up application on public transport when you've just been elbowed throughout a journey and hit in the face with setting spray - irrespective of whatever other anti-social behaviour may occur on trains.

If OP had been hit with the detritus of a passenger sitting next to her cutting his toenails <shudders>, she'd probably have started a thread about that (I know I would). But on this case it was elbows and setting spray, so that's why there's a thread on the subject.

i agree! I once got off the train with someone’s face powder all down the arm of my coat where she’d been applying it.
i watched someone straighten their hair a few months ago: plugged them in and straightened her long hair right at the train table. I was genuinely shocked and disgusted ( I do mine daily so I know it’s a pain but it’s done before leaving home!)

I’m just jealous of all of you who have trains with enough space to spread out makeup, and apparently some of you even have a choice of seats!

Nobody is putting makeup on on my train, because we are packed in like sardines.

Agreed, OP! It is so rude. If you must put make up on/spray stuff on a train, go into the toilet to do it.

I am slightly in awe of the hair straighteners! What next, making your breakfast smoothie from scratch on the little airline table?

I was on a train once when someone decided to paint their bloody nails. The smell made me feel ill. YANBU. Another time I got a gob full of perfume that they liberally sprayed all over themselves.

I agree.

I had to do it once but I did it in the toilet. I takes me 5 mins and it was a quiet train with other toilets so I wasnt hogging it.

Someone was painting their nails on the last train I went on.

I dunno, I dont get why everyone needs to see you putting concealer on your spots. Have some dignity and discretion.