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A Reddit post on April 10 showing the poster that reads “Don’t groom in public” drew more than 1,200 reactions and over 156 comments, according to the Straits Times.

It features two characters, one curling its eyelashes and another cutting its toenails.

The poster is part of a series called Kindness Express launched by public transport operator SMRT in Nov. 2025 and set to run until Oct. 2026. It aims to encourage considerate behavior among commuters.

The series includes reminders for passengers to move to the center of train cabins and avoid sitting on the floor.

Public response has been divided. While some commuters support the campaign, others question its relevance. A small survey of 25 people found that most consider light makeup application acceptable on public transport, as long as it does not inconvenience others.

Social media consultant Faziqah Husein said she occasionally does simple touch-ups like applying powder or lipstick while commuting and has seen others do the same. However, she drew the line at more disruptive habits such as nail clipping or removing dead skin.

“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,” Husein said.

She and other respondents agreed that nail clipping while commuting is unacceptable. “It’s disgusting, especially when they leave the nail clippings or flick their dead skin everywhere,” she said.

The poster discouraging public grooming on an MRT train in Singapore. Photo from Reddit

Driver Patrick Chung, 62, said he has occasionally seen women applying make-up on trains but not often enough to require a reminder, adding that he is more bothered by “rude behaviour like talking on the phone loudly.”

Other commuters said all personal grooming should be done at home.

Teo Ser Lee, founder and director of Protocol Academy, an etiquette and protocol training company, said applying make-up in public is inappropriate.

“It is akin to dressing up, which you do only behind closed doors. 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 said.

Public relations specialist Rina Soo, 29, said the posters, while helpful, could use more appropriate examples. “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.

Singapore’s public bus guidelines also discourage personal grooming that may dirty buses or inconvenience passengers.

Teo said the campaign is “very helpful” and can help teach children proper behavior on public transport. “Everybody should try to be more gracious on our public transport lines,” she said.