Keeping up appearances is must for many
Keeping up appearances is must for many
JAKARTA (JP): Beauty is only skin deep. Yet, it cannot be
denied that many people judge others by their looks, especially
at the first meeting. Therefore, it is not surprising that many
people spend a lot of time and money to enhance their appearance.
Regular visits to beauty parlors are a must for the seriously
vain, not only to get one's hair trimmed, but also for other
services, including cream baths, pedicures and manicures.
The Jakarta Post talked to several people about going to
beauty salons and body pampaering to boost their looks.
Gladys Suwandi, a 26-year-old film star and owner of a
contractor company: I always clean my face before going to bed
and spend sufficient time asleep. I also put day cream and night
cream on my face. I eat a lot of vegetables, take vitamins and
drink a lot of water. But what's more important is that I have a
husband who loves me. Being loved is good for your health and
beauty.
I go to a beauty salon, Alfon's, only once a week, or maybe
less, depending on the time. It's true that you can gossip in a
beauty salon. I used to do that when I was younger, as I went
there with my friends. But not now, I don't have so much time.
In the salon, I have my hair done, I have a cream bath, a
pedicure and a manicure. I never have any facial treatment at the
salon. I always do it at home. There is an ibu-ibu (a middle-aged
woman) who comes to my place once a week to take care of my face
and my body. I have my body scrubbed and also have a milk bath,
with sheep's milk ... I have my own equipment for the body scrub.
It was made in America.
Either a trip to a beauty salon or body treatment at home
takes about three hours.
My budget for all of that is about ... let's say between Rp
500,000 and Rp 750,000 a month.
Camelia Malik, famous dangdut singer and jaipong (traditional
Javanese dance) dancer: I go to a beauty parlor only when I need
to. I visit a salon twice a month for a cream bath, a manicure
and a pedicure. I spends around Rp 60,000 (US$18) on each visit
to the salon. I don't have facial treatment very often, maybe
only once every three to four months. I regularly have luluran, a
traditional body scrub, at home. Cosmetics budget? I don't
remember the sum, but of course I spare a special budget. I use
part of the budget to buy food supplements, including vitamins.
I'm a person who doesn't like to use too much makeup. That's why
my cosmetics last longer.
Anton Indracahya, a television talkshow presenter: I
frequently go to beauty salons because I have to always look good
on the show. I usually go to Johnny's or Rudy's salon to have my
hair cut or for a cream bath.
What I want to look better is my upper body. You know,
television usually just shoots the upper body.
Lelyana Santosa, a partner at Lubis, Santosa and Maulana law
firm: As a lawyer, I have to care about the way I dress and look.
I go to a beauty salon in Kebayoran, South Jakarta, once every
two weeks to have a cream bath. Once a month, I have my hair cut
and have facial treatment. I take special care of my hair and
skin.
In the morning, I don't spend much time in front of the
mirror, only 15 to 30 minutes.
At night, I always clean my face but I don't use any night
cream or day cream. I take vitamin B, C and E.
I spend less than Rp 500,000 on my beauty treatment, cosmetics
and vitamins a month. I allocate the money because I need to keep
myself fit and neat. I have to dress neatly and look healthy and
energetic in front of my clients.
Safwan Natanagara, vice president of PT Indosat: I rarely go
to a beauty salon, just once a month to have my hair cut. I
started going to the salon after I got married, previously I went
to a barbershop. I did not have any idea that men also went to
salons.
Now most of the time I go to the salon with my wife. I find
that the beauty salon gives better service than the barbershop.
The hairstylist cares more and the result is neater. But once I
had a bitter experience in a salon which has now closed. The
hairstylist was very careless and forgot to finish cutting my
hair. When I got home I found that my hair was messy.
(icn/cst/sim)