Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: I have a friend in her mid-40s who has naturally dark hair she keeps cut short. It looked fine.
A few months ago, she bleached her hair platinum blond. She said she was going for a look that will include dark roots, but she has kept the roots platinum, so now her hair just looks white – especially in pictures. She posted photos of herself with her boyfriend on Facebook, and while I was scrolling down, my initial reaction was, “Who is that elderly woman he’s sitting with?”
A mutual friend commented to me how bad my friend’s hair looks and how aging it is. Should I mention to her that her hair color makes her look 20 years older? Telling someone her hair doesn’t look good can be hurtful, but if it were me, I’d want to know. – HELPFUL IN HAWAII
DEAR HELPFUL: Be diplomatic, but tell her. A tactful way to lead in would be to say you saw the pictures she posted on Facebook and the platinum hair makes her look “older.” However, unless she asks how much older, don’t volunteer, because if you say it’s two decades, she may take offense.
DEAR ABBY: What is the rule for tipping in drive-thrus? I never thought a tip was necessary in places like that. If the service is good, a tip is warranted. Now many drive-thrus have a tip jar out on the ledge of the window.