- Title: Moscow taxi offers clients manicures and makeovers on the go
- Date: 23rd December 2019
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT - DECEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VIEW FROM BEAUTY TAXI WINDOW / BEAUTY TAXI CUSTOMER, NATALYA KONONENKO, GETTING HAIR DONE BY STYLIST STYLIST WORKING ON KONONENKO'S HAIR KONONENKO THROUGH REFLECTION IN WINDOW TRAFFIC SEEN THROUGH BEAUTY TAXI WINDOW MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT - DECEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOSCOW TRAFFIC MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT - DECEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) TIME LAPSE OF KONONENKO GETTING HAIR MADE UP (MUTE) MAKEUP PALETTE KONONENKO GETTING MANICURE / BEAUTY TAXI OWNER NATALIA MEZENTSEVA PUTTING ON MAKEUP IN FRONT OF MIRROR (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BEAUTY TAXI OWNER, NATALIA MEZENTSEVA, SAYING: "The Beauty Taxi is like the Cinderella fairytale, this is a fairytale of a woman, who is sometimes tired of household chores, who gets into a carriage, it is the Beauty Taxi." TIME LAPSE OF STYLIST PUTTING MAKE-UP ON KONONENKO (MUTE) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BEAUTY TAXI OWNER, NATALIA MEZENTSEVA, SAYING: "There is a lot of pressure on the fragile shoulders of the modern woman. In addition to all of her obligations, she always has to look great and rested." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BEAUTY TAXI OWNER, NATALIA MEZENTSEVA, SAYING: "Based on this need, we came up with this idea, which is especially relevant for Russia because we have very high standards for women's beauty." KONONENKO GETTING MAKE-UP DONE, LOOKING IN MIRROR COSMETICS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BEAUTY TAXI CUSTOMER, NATALYA KONONENKO, SAYING: "First of all, Beauty Taxi saves my time, actually I'm quite a busy person, I'm a mother of three and I've got my own business, and, of course, I don't have much time to attend many specialists. I cannot go to hairdresser, then to make a manicure, and I prefer to do it all at once." VARIOUS OF KONONENKO GETTING MANICURE VARIOUS OF KONONENKO, MEZENTSEVA LEAVING BEAUTY TAXI MINIBUS KONONENKO, MEZENTSEVA SHAKING HANDS, SAYING GOODBYE TO EACH OTHER MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOSCOW TRAFFIC / CHRISTMAS TREE AND DECORATION IN SHAPE OF "2020" WOMAN DRESSED IN FESTIVE CLOTHES NEAR BOLSHOI THEATRE PURSE HELD IN HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, ANASTASIA (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "This service is very relevant, especially right now, it's the time of company parties, Christmas parties, trips to the theatre, it is the magical Christmas time. Of course, lots of women want to look very good, but because of work, study we do not always have enough time for preparation. And mobile beauty salons are quite convenient, you can make yourself make look good very quickly." TOP OF BOLSHOI THEATRE / PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE WOMEN NEAR BOLSHOI (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OWNER OF BAG RETAIL CHAIN, OLGA (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "Speaking of Moscow, the main problem here is the traffic, getting from one destination to another it is very time-consuming. People try to save this time, some of them listen to audiobooks, others put exercise equipment in their cars, to use this time for themselves as an investment into their health or beauty, like in this case." VARIOUS OF YOUNG WOMEN TAKING PHOTOS CARS IN TRAFFIC WOMAN TAKING PHOTO WITH CHILD WOMAN IN TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) STUDENT, KRISTINA (SURNAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "Saving time is always convenient when someone is doing something instead of me because I do not really like doing this (make-up) myself. It is convenient, so I would probably use this service." MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT - DECEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) BEAUTY TAXI MINIBUS DRIVING THROUGH STREET VARIOUS OF KONONENKO GETTING INTO TAXI TAXI DRIVING OFF
- Embargoed: 6th January 2020 10:14
- Keywords: Moscow taxi Moscow traffic Russia beauty Russia beauty industry Russia beauty taxi beauty industry beauty service beauty taxi
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001BB74SHL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: With the arrival of the busy Christmas season, women in Moscow are opting to save time when they get ready for festive events with a ride in a mobile salon, or 'Beauty Taxi'.
Customers can get a manicure, a new hairstyle, and have their make-up done on their way to their destination in the vehicle, which owner Natalia Mezentseva compares to Cinderella's carriage.
Having started in Moscow this summer, the service is designed to make looking good simpler for Russian women, who are under great pressure to conform to beauty standards according to Mezentseva.
Businesswoman and mother of three Natalya Kononenko takes the Beauty Taxi on a regular basis. She said she does not have much time to make individual beauty appointments, and prefers to have everything done at once.
A new hairstyle and a make-up session each cost 2,500 roubles ($40 approx.) while a manicure costs 2,000 roubles ($32 approx.). Customers also have to pay the standard taxi fare based on the distance they have travelled.
On Friday (December 20) women standing outside Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theatre said they thought the service was useful and convenient.
"The service is very relevant, especially right now" said Anastasia, a manager at a construction company, adding that work parties and Christmas celebrations pile on more pressure to look good than at other times of year.
Although the Beauty Taxi's customers might arrive at their destination with a brand new look, they may not get there very quickly.
Last year, automatic analysis company INRIX released a study naming Moscow as the city with the busiest roads in the world. According to the study, on average Moscow drivers spend 210 hours in traffic per year.
Olga, the owner of a retail chain, said many Muscovites use this time for other purposes - such as listening to audiobooks, exercising in their cars, or beautifying themselves.
(Production: Anastasia Adasheva, Alexander Reshetnikov) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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