Things I haven't bought in forever...

[newmummy]

Alright ladies, I have a question.

I have not bought makeup or pantyhose in forever. If I am going job-hunting, I know I'll need these things. Any recommendations? My mum also tells me I need a haircut to look more professional, how much do they even run now?

[CarolinaKat]

There was a post about this over on YM last month or so, let me see if i can find if for you, it had a lot of good info

[CarolinaKat]

notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=finance&action=display&thread=4007

Found it. HTH

[Wisconsin Beth]

I don't wear makeup. Unless Chapstick counts as makeup.

You can probably find a Super Cuts or something similar to cut your hair for about $10 or so. The quality is debatable. I've heard of people getting terrific cuts and others getting bad cuts. So you pay your money and take your chances with them.

As for nylons, I'd start going over the flyers for Walgreens/CSV/Target/etc. and figure out what's a good price and stock up when sales hit. Personally, I prefer tights or thigh high nylons (but keeping them matched was a pain.) I work in pants most of the time now.

[sarcasticgirl]

Do people still wear pantyhose?

I wear tights during the winter, but when it's warm, I have bare legs. My office is a business casual law firm and bare legs seem rather common.

I generally pay about $40 for my cut. I go to a regular salon, not a chain discount salon. The quality is worth it for me.

For makeup, you can get by pretty inexpensively. I drop money on my foundation at lancome and eye shadow at MAC... everything else is drugstore/target. But I'm very "into" makeup and dramatic eyeshadows. If you just need something to help you look polished, you can do that easily with cosmetics from walgreens/cvs/target on the cheap!

[rmtvbrooks]

If you don't want to invest a lot in makeup and aren't fond of heavy makeup, try Signature Minerals (their website is signatureminerals.com). They are similar to the Sheer Cover and Bare Minerals you see on TV (I can't use those because they have bismuth oxychloride, which irritates my skin--the Signature Minerals do NOT have it). It's easy to apply and very light; it's also cheaper than the Sheer Cover and Bare Minerals. You only order what you need, too, without having to join a "club" where they send you more every month. You can also order samples from them for just shipping cost (for me, to Georgia, was only $5.55). The samples will last a LONG time themselves. Then, when you actually get a job, you can order the real stuff.

If you wear dress slacks for your interviews, just go with some trouser socks or knee-highs. I despise pantyhose, so I avoid them whenever possible. If you must wear a skirt, look for hose or tights at Walmart. To me, pantyhose are pantyhose! I rip them so easily that I buy the cheap ones because I never found that the expensive ones lasted any better. The suggestion someone made about thigh highs is good, too. If you rip one, just save it in case you rip another!

Haircuts depend a lot on the style you have. If your hair is long or is cut in a bob style, a simple cut to shape it up and clean it up would probably not be much. If it's a high maintenance style, it will cost a bit more. I'd ask around in your area for someone who is good but reasonable. I've had some good stylists who only charge me about $15 to do a trim-and-shape cut every few weeks.

Good luck with your job hunt! It's tough out there right now, so a little bit of investment in your appearance is worth it--it can give you a leg up on the competition.

[chicg]

haha, I still wear pantyhose! My legs are so pale and need all the help they can get. Unless it's really hot or I have on open toe shoes, I usually deal with nylons or tights, I just feel better in them (that's only at work, I'm always in casual skirts at home in the summer, no nylons then, yuck!). For the most part, the CVS and Walgreens generic brands are worthless, I've run them just putting them on.You can get a decent mid-grade pair there for $3-5 like L'eggs. I spend a little more at Macy's or Nordstrom, I pay about $12-15 for a pair and they last a lot longer but if you don't regularly wear them, cheaper is fine.

Good advice so far on hair and makeup, good luck!

[Martivir]

For the makeup I'd say get a good foundation and get the rest at the drugstore. Pantyhose just grab when they are on sale at the drugstore. I have no advice for haircuts because I see it as just hair and half the time I only get it cut when DH reminds me it's a been a year or two. It doesn't hurt to call around though because I found a place with Salon in the name but it's far from a fancy place. More of a place where the little old ladies go to get their hair styled for the week. But mine charged $14 for a trim. I don't know if you want a whole new look or just something to neaten up. Good luck with the job hunting.

[newmummy]

Well, I haven't had my hair cut since Aeryn died, when I donated it to Locks of Love. There's a cosmetology school here and I've heard from someone local that they charge $25 for a makeover including teaching you how to put on makeup, thinking about it. $55 for a haircut sounds a little scary...but so did the $30 pair of shoes. I had been shopping only at Goodwill for so long that I guess I hadn't actually looked at real prices for a while. Thanks for the sample idea, that sounds good. I basically need to start looking like a possible job hire instead of a refugee, now that things have settled down and I saw some pictures of myself I realize why I haven't been able to find work - I looked far more polished in my nursing school uniform than in anything else I owned. I now have 2 pairs of black pants, 1 black skirt, and have lost enough weight that I have a pair of khaki pants that now fit. I have one blue shirt, one off-white camisole, one brown shirt, and one green shirt that are really "good" shirts. I have one pair of good black shoes.

[Sam_2.0]

I would go with the black pants & shoes, and either the blue or green shirt. Depending on what kind of interview you are going for, that should be just fine. Do you have any jewelry to wear, or can you borrow some from your mom? Small, plain earrings, a simple necklace, and a bracelet would look nice.

My sister went through cosmetology school. You can find some great students there. I would ask for the students that have the highest number of "requests" - they are usually closer to graduating, and they get return customers because they are good. The makeover sounds like fun too For makeup, if you just need something occasionally, I like the Maybelline minerals makeup. It is powder, so you don't have to worry about it drying out between infrequent uses. It covers well, and is easy to use (crazy easy). A tinted lip gloss, and some mascara, and you should be good for a nice, clean fresh look. If you have a CVS nearby, the makeup should be on sale this week or next to help get you started.

[mpd402]

I am very plain an low maintenance. I usually grab the 2nd cheapest nylons at Walmart when I need some. For makeup I pretty much stick to Maybeline mascara, chapstick, and some powder so I look a little polished. I stick with a basic hair cut and get them at Great Clips or Fantastic Sams for under $20, including tip. I do like shoes, since I wear boots to work. I go to Payless alot so I can get something interesting or attention getting without spending much or feeling guilty later. I think what ever you wear, you will look good if you have carry in a positive attitude. You can do it. Good luck on the interviewing and welcome back.

[sheilaincali]

If you do go to a Great Clips or something like that be very specific with what you want them to do to your hair. I have found with my regular lady I can say "do whatever" and she is familiar with my style so it's not a problem. With someone new be very specific with what you want. If you are vague they don't seem to do as good of job.

[dragon2008]

Good luck with the job hunt!

For the interviews you may want to wear pantyhose - I admit I use them to help suck me in a bit and that helps if your standing up/sitting down a lot. I also have to wear pantyhose because I wear almost exclusively dresses and the thigh-highs I've tried end up around my knees by lunch and ankles by 5:00. Maybe I need to wear them with a garter belt? Anyway, your outfits sound professional and serious - just what you want to portray, right?

I hate foundation, so I just use some eye powder and eyebrow pencil to darken up the grays. That way I don't fuss too much.

Finally, self-confidence is the sparkle that will get you noticed. Believe in yourself because you CAN DO IT!

[kgb18]

I don't wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis. I am a dedicated Bare Minerals user. It's not cheap, but it does last a long time, and it's a million times better than any other foundation I've tried. Besides that I wear a little blush, mascara and a lip balm on most days. I curl my eyelashes. I like the Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara, and I usually use Neutrogena blush.

I never wear panty hose. Like some of the other ladies, I wear tights in the winter and bare legs when it's warm outside. I get a haircut every month and a color every other month. My cut, with tip, is $30, and on the months with the color it's more like $70.

[mizbear]

If you like mineral makeup but can't afford the more expensive brands, I like the Avon Smooth Minerals. I also wear Cover Girl and Clinique. I don't wear a lot of makeup, but I am picky about what I do wear.
For pantyhose, I like the Silken Mist type- although I usually go bare legged in the summer and wear tights in the winter. Thigh Highs can be gotten with the stuff that supposedly makes them stay up (if you have very large or small legs, it doesn't always work that way) or you can still find garter belts if you look around- real functional garter belts.
My haircuts vary in cost between whether I go to my fave salon or Hair Cuttery- but I never pay more than $35 right now. Unless I want color or something.
When going on an interview I never wear thigh highs without garters- always garters or hose or shoes and socks- I had a stocking get a bad run because I got it caught going into an interview one day and it took out the blasted seam to the top where it holds the stocking up....

I never wear heavy makeup- but especially not on job interviews- this practice has only ever cost me one job. And I really didn't want that job anyway.

[newmummy]

Ladies, thanks so much for the advice. I went in to the cosmetology school and actually only paid $7 to have them teach me how to apply the makeup and style my hair, it was great. The $25 was including nails but I figure just keep them trimmed with a neutral polish and should be fine. They also told me that they do facial waxing for $5 so I think next week I'll schedule that. I actually had an interview this morning and it looks good, I did some marketing work for them several years ago and they apparently are needing some more surveys, flyers & brochures, etcetera. I walked in and saw they were still using my old ones and my graphic design has gotten better since then. Keep your fingers crossed for me, ladies.

[mizbear]

All paws crossed.

Good call on the neutral nails- not only does it last longer, a neutral nail is still generally appreciated in the business world.

[Anne_in_VA]

Good luck with the job newmummy! Sending good thoughts your way. Let us know how it turns out.

[kgb18]

I rarely paint my nails. I usually just keep them filed, and I have one of those files with a buffer side. It makes your natural nails really shiny, and you don't have to worry about chipped polish, etc. In the summer I do my own French pedicures.

Good luck newmummy!

[mizbear]

kgb- I love those buffer files!

[MittenKitten]

Good luck Newmummy. I live in my "mommy uniform" no sense having nice clothes the kids will destroy. When my family gets sick of seeing me in the same nice clothes they give me their hand me downs.

Try thrift stores for any clothing gaps you may have or maybe even send out an e-mail seeing if people have any clothes they were thinking of donating in your size. My family always sends around the clothes they are done with and then the last one donates the rest.

[suziq38]

Apr 7, 2011 6:59:02 GMT -5 newmummy said:

Alright ladies, I have a question.

I have not bought makeup or pantyhose in forever. If I am going job-hunting, I know I'll need these things. Any recommendations? My mum also tells me I need a haircut to look more professional, how much do they even run now?

CVS always has a lot of sales and markdowns for makeup.
Start saving makeup coupons, then use then on sale and markdown makeup items.
I wait until the makeup is 75% off, then use a $2.00 or $3.00 coupon.

Physicians Formula usually have $3.00, $4.00 and $5.00 (internet for the $5.00 MQ) coupons, so I wait until the item goes on sale or markdown and use them.
Many times, they have a "Try Me Free" sticker on eyeliner and mascara, so this means that you can buy it for $9.99, then use a $5.00 coupon, pay only $4.99, then get a rebate for the full $9.99.
Not a bad deal.

I bought 2 tubes of Almay blush the other day.
It was marked down to 99 cents, so I paid with a manufacturer's coupon of $1.00 each. They were free. I didn't need 2, so I gave one to the cashier, LOL.

I bought Mineral makeup (very expensive) recently for $1.69 (90% off).
I paid with my EB's (Extra Bucks) from CVS.

I usually pay only the tax, as these are not needed by me anymore (I have so much free makeup), they are gifts for friends and relatives.

I even gave several to the nurses that took care of me for the two days that I was in the hospital.