Time to be Frugal

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Actors - Hollywood...I love my actor friends. They are so special to me. Creative artists, dancers, actors, poets, writers, directors, camera men and women. I talk to so many others in the business. What I am finding is that we are all going through difficult times. Gone are the days when we could spend away and not worry about tomorrow. But how can a girl still look during a financial crisis? Read on...

I have been thinking of ways to be creative, save money and still do what we need to do. One of the things I love to do is get a manicure/pedicure. However, it will cost at least $25 and then add a tip. Or, you can watch how they do it, buy the essentials and save yourself some money by doing it yourself at home. I buy those little spongy toe separators. I buy a pumice stone to take away rough patches around the heels of your feet. You can then easily clip away toe nails, scrub the heels with a brush and then use your pumice stone. Wipe and pat dry. Use moisturizing lotion. Grab an emery board and shape your nails. Use the tools to take away any cuticles. Use the base coat, then your nail color. Let dry and then use your top coat to set your color. It normally takes 20 minutes to 30 minutes but then you save tons of $$$ and have fabulous looking nails.

Dollar stores are a great place to buy some of the above items. I also like to buy make-up sponges, round cotton type make-up remover, bath sponges, shower gel and cotton swabs. I also found eye shadow collections, black eyeliner pencils and lipsticks. Then I was surprised to find black demi false eyelashes. Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe my eyes. I grabbed 3 packs and really I should have put all of them in my little cart. When I went back to buy the rest of them, they were all gone. You can also buy tissues, paper towels and pot holders for $1 each. Why pay more?

One thing I won't skimp on is good shampoo and conditioner. I go to a professional hair stylist once per month to keep my color looking fabulous and to keep my hair neatly trimmed. As an actor, my product is me and I owe it to myself to stay in top form. My head shots are current and it is up to me to make sure I look like my head shot. If I have a fabulous head shot and I come in looking all scruffy and unkempt then what are casting directors going to think? I buy Paul Mitchell products and use only the best for my hair.

Visit your dentist at least twice per year. My dentist and the assistants love me. They always ask me when my next film is, commercial or print ad. They know I rely on them to keep my teeth looking fab. My insurance covers two visits per year. With teeth whitening, veneers and regular brushing and flossing, my teeth always look great.

Get your sleep! There is nothing like a good night's sleep to keep your skin looking good, your hair and eyes sparkly. Don't exercise right before bed time. Get a regular schedule so you can get some good sleep. If you are a worrier and have something huge coming up, you know you need your sleep. Once in awhile it is okay to take a sleep aide like Tylenol PM. It has helped me when I need an extra amount of sleep. But never take alcohol with sleep aids. A big no no!

Never fall asleep with your make-up on. Always moisturize before you go to bed and after washing your face first thing in the morning. Use a sunblock of 30 or higher.

I ran into an actor friend once at an audition. Her hair color had faded and her hair was all frizzy. She had no make-up on. Her overall appearance was tired and unkempt. I, on the other hand, was relaxed and refreshed. My hair looked good, my clothes were clean and pressed. I arrived 15 minutes early and was ready to go. I had directions, extra head shots with me and was eager to audition. I could tell that she knew I looked great and she was a mess. I felt badly for her but just for a moment.

This is a very competitive business. We owe it to ourselves to be our best and give our best at every audition. You can save money and still look good. You can be the professional that you know you are. You owe it to yourself to be your very best and to shine. It's never to late to begin. These principles are the same if you are an actor, a banker, a salesperson, or a nurse. Until the economy turns around we can still look great and be frugal too.