Touch-up tips for women on the go - makeup and other beauty tips

Ebony, August, 1997

That's easily accomplished when a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss are all a pelt of your daytime touch-up beauty regimen, says Dr. Rochelle Burdette, a dentist in Los Angeles.

Brushing twice a day is actually sufficient, Dr. Burdette says, to maintain healthy teeth and gums. But professional women can fend off bad breath and an unsightly smile by brushing their teeth and tongue after lunch, she says. "Any kind of mouth rinse or mint will mask the odor. But a clean mouth gets lid of it," Dr. Burdette adds. "Food hides in little crevices of the tongue, so make sure to brush it midday."

After-meal flossing--especially with a dental floss tape, a wider; stronger floss than the standard dental string--the dentist explains, will also help with the overall look, feel and health of your pearly whites.

Avoid Hair Horror

Whether you prefer a free-flowing, slicked back, curled, braided or a barely there style, your hair plays a major role in polishing your appearance.

But if your strands are frizzy and out of place, it may be hard for colleagues, supervisors and clients to believe that you're serious and about business when such an important aspect of your personal image is not intact.

Hair maintenance begins at home. But there are a number of surefire ways conscientious career women can maintain well-coiffed while at the office.

Simplicity is the key. To begin, Dure of New York suggests that women in the Workforce stay away from hard, terse styles. "Keep your hair conditioned and shiny, not oily. People do notice hair," he says. "Don't concentrate on elaborate styles. You want a style that is soft, feminine, pretty."

Hair care for some may consist of picking up a small mirror and smoothing down a strand or two with the palm of a hand. For others it may require light, quick bumping with a portable curling iron. Those who style their hair close to the nape of the neck may only need to add a little mousse to their crown to get it glowing again.

Dure and other hair specialists suggest that women carry "a little bit" of everything to manage their manes, including a small silk scarf, natural bristle brush, comb, curling iron, holding spray, oil sheen, decorative bobby pins, and possibly mousse.

Hair that is healthy, well-shaped and conditioned will require the least amount of attention during the workday. "If the shaping is there, there's not a lot of work that needs to be done," says haircare consultant Taquilla Hamilton of New Orleans.

Hands That Can Handle It

Attractive hands come with tender loving care that begins at home. But once you get to work, there are various ways to keep them soft, supple and presentable throughout the day.

Hand-care professional Joycie Lewis of Ladue, Mo., says keeping a good hand or cuticle cream in your purse and office desk drawer is a a start. "Considering this day and time we live in, we're washing hands often, which can be drying. It's very important to keep a cream on the hands," she says.

A three-way nail buffer can also be a hand-saver, particularly is you chip a nail right before an important meeting. "Lightly buff the nail down," Lewis advises. "That will get you through the day instead of your having to rip the whole tip off." Be careful when choosing fingernail polish colors to wear to the office, Lewis warns. Some hues require more maintenance than others. "I really suggest that you keep a nice neutral color on," she says, "because it shows less wear."