Debate on personal grooming on Singapore public transport

SINGAPORE – A poster displayed in an MRT train reminding commuters to refrain from personal grooming in public has sparked widespread discussion, with some questioning the need for the reminder.

In a Reddit post shared on April 10, a photo of the poster shows a sign that says “Don’t groom in public” and two characters – one seemingly curling its eyelashes and another appearing to cut its toenails. The post has since garnered more than 1,200 reactions and over 156 comments.

The poster, which is part of a series, has drawn mixed reactions, with some puzzled about its purpose and others saying it is necessary.

The series, which includes reminders to move to the centre of cabins and not sit on train floors, is part of an SMRT campaign to encourage passengers to be gracious while travelling on trains. It aligns with the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) broader objectives on inclusivity.

The initiative was launched in November 2025 and is slated to run until October 2026. Trains that are part of this campaign run on the North-South Line, East-West Line and Bukit Panjang LRT.

The Straits Times surveyed 25 commuters on their thoughts about personal grooming on public transport.

Most said applying make-up on the go was acceptable, but added that it should be done safely without inconveniencing other commuters.

Social media consultant Faziqah Husein does basic touch-ups, such as reapplying powder or lipstick on public transport, and has seen others do the same. She has also witnessed people clipping their nails or picking dead skin off their feet.

“Putting on make-up in public is fine as long as it’s not during peak hour and you’re being mindful of the people around you. Your elbows shouldn’t be in people’s faces, and your powder shouldn’t be flying everywhere,” the 28-year-old said.

But she, and the other respondents, drew the line at nail clipping while commuting. “It’s disgusting, especially when they leave the nail clippings or flick their dead skin everywhere,” she said.

Human resources manager Jo Koh, who applies light make-up on the train when she is pressed for time, said the actions must be safe. “No sharp objects like tweezers or shavers should be used,” the 29-year-old said.

Driver Patrick Chung, 62, has occasionally seen women applying make-up on the train, but not frequently enough to warrant a reminder. He added that he is not bothered by it as much as he is by “rude behaviour like talking on the phone loudly”.

But others disagreed, with some saying all personal grooming should be done at home.

One Reddit user commented: “Their attempt to remedy their failure to set aside personal time to conduct personal grooming should not be at the expense of the hygiene and health of others.”

Technical officer Hari Krishnan, 36, said: “People putting on make-up in the train causes inconvenience. Their powder might get on others and stain their clothes.”

Ms Teo Ser Lee, founder and director of Protocol Academy – a company that provides etiquette and protocol training – said it is not ideal to apply make-up anywhere in public, let alone on public transport.

“It is akin to dressing up, which you do only behind closed doors,” the 60-year-old said.

“Applying make-up in public places is not acceptable, not while seated at a dinner table, and definitely not while on public transport or in taxis,” she added.

“If you urgently need to reapply your make-up, pop into the nearest public washroom and do it there.”

Chemist Anna Chan, 29, understands the safety concerns of applying make-up on public transport, especially when the train is crowded.

“I’ve seen a friend try to put her make-up on while standing because there were no seats available. I was worried that she would fall because she was also carrying a lot of things,” she said.

Public relations specialist Rina Soo, 29, appreciated the message behind the poster but thought better examples could have been used.

“The clipping of nails is a good example, but for the other graphic, they could have shown someone brushing their hair with a comb instead,” she said.

A reminder not to engage in personal grooming on board public buses that may soil the buses or other passengers is also included in the LTA’s guidelines on conditions of carriage for public buses in Singapore.

The campaign driven by SMRT is “very helpful”, Ms Teo said, adding that the graphics can also help remind children how to behave while travelling.

“Everybody should try to be more gracious on our public transport lines,” she said.