Cost of living - Cutting back on hair/beauty

[BeachTree]

I'm considering cutting back on my 8 weekly hair cut and colour and trying to stretch it out a bit ( or a big bit ,yikes). Beauty treatments might need to go all together :( Is anyone else stripping back on these things too with the current shambles? I am useless at doing things myself ie nails etc... so I don't think that's an option sadly :(

@KimmySchmitt thank you! 😂

🙄

I have monthly pedicures without which my feet are awful! I don't want to stop but will stretch for a few more weeks.

I bought an led light for gel / shellaq varnish and the base, top coat and couple of colours for not much more than it cost to have them done once at a salon. I was only having them done before holidays or special event anyway but I've been getting better the more I've done them so I'd definitely recommend that. I use the mylee ones from amazon.

I've always tinted my own brows and I'm planning to train my partner to tint my lashes.

I have a hair cut every 8 weeks and will keep that as I swim so I need it but I do know that my hairdresser charges less if you go with wet hair and don't get a proper blow dry and style at the end so maybe a way to keep your cuts up but not having the extras.

I second people saying look at college beauty training salons, I've had some great treatments there. Like people say takes longer but, because they are being very careful to do things right it's very thorough, and so cheap!

I haven't had facials for a few years as I spend the money instead on half decent products and try to really look after my skin at home instead.

I think if you can afford it, have what you want because sometimes it's the bigger picture of doing something for yourself feeling taken care of 🙂

This is where I go and it's great. Cut and blow dry for under a tenner depending on their level.
I can get a hour's massage for around £13 also. I don't have nails done.

I've got rid of my biab gel nails. Have a home gel nail kit. Highlights are gone for box dye instead. No more monthly sports massages.

Please can you tell us herbal colour do you use? Would it really cover all the greys in dark brown hair?

changed how I have my hair dyed much more low maintenance so every 6 months. Reduced how much I have it cut and now just get a fringe trim in between cuts. Stopped eyebrows after Covid used to go every 4 weeks and dye them myself. Stopped underarm wax but still get bikini done and won’t be dropping that

I am stretching out my appointments to 8 weeks from December. The rest of the family are going to be 7 weeks instead of 6 weeks. I stopped beauty treatments and nails in salons ages ago as I think it's over priced. I do my own nails, own beauty treatments etc. There not as good but better than nothing. I also have changed to cheaper brands like Aldi face creams etc.

I use an epilator on my pits
No husband required 😁

I already have hair cuts booked until the end of the year, with one colour, will continue with those, as my hairdresser needs to eat too, and I want her to be around next year. However, as it’s the only ‘beauty’ thing I do, I’ll go for a cut every 5 weeks, to every 6-7. Usually colour at home anyway, so that’s not an issues. I don’t do manicures or facials. I sound like a bit of a slob.

Most done at home. Used to have my hair lo lighted,it's dark blond, front is white. Stopped at first lockdown. When I retired the regular nails,hair colour had to be reduced anyway. I don't enjoy sitting in a hairdresser anyway. Past 4 years been going to a lady who works from home, just a wet cut (she does actually blow dry it for free)

I only ever pay to get my nails done. They are so much stronger and longer having them done professionally, and I know I wouldn't stick with the upkeep if I tried to do them myself. So that's my only treat. I cut and colour my own hair, and shape and tint my own eyebrows, always have.

This reminds me I need to book a hair cut. It was last cut in October last year! I’m 40 and never thought about doing it ever six weeks etc, just too lazy to do that!

I'm thankful I stopped colouring my hair over a year ago, I don't have a lot of grey so it's been a relatively easy transition. I started going for fringe trims a while ago to space my cuts out a bit longer.

Not having my nails done will be a last resort I'm fairly low maintenance but I do like nice nails, I have overlays and have infills for as long as possible and rarely have more than most one colour.

I stopped the dye about 6 years ago because I couldn't afford the upkeep then. I've since moved out of the city into the sticks and prices at hairdressers just generally is a lot cheaper for a cut and blow dry anyway. I've reduced it even further by just having a dry trim for £12 which means I can afford to go frequent enough to keep my pixie cut in shape every 6 weeks.

I wax my own with Sainsbury's waxing strips. No other type, even from expensive brands, grips the hairs enough to pull them out.

Hi OP, depending on what your hair is like it may not be that hard to cut it yourself.

I haven't been back to a hairdresser's since July 2016, when a hairdresser made a complete mess of my hair while telling me that the EU was about to collapse and hooray to Brexit.

I was an immigrant from the EU (quite audibly) and he was of immigrant descent. He seemed to think that it was all rather funny...have saved a lot of money thanks to him. Sorry, I digress.

It's quite sad to read this being a hairdresser and beauty therapist it was hard enough durning lockdown 🥲 I can see I might be looking for a new job !
Having said that I do realise that the country is completely messed up if you are choosing between heating your home or your nails then it's a no brainier really.
So if anyone wants to ask any questions or advice on how to diy your hair and beauty treatments then I will try to help you out.
Also please be so so careful about buying products like gel polish from places like Amazon as there have been so many horror stories and bad reactions lately 🙈

Sticking to having my hair done every 8-10 weeks otherwise I look like Crystal Tipps (a throwback for anyone who remembers the kid's programme!). I have my eyebrows done every 5 weeks and will be keeping to that as well. Nails and waxing are a bit more flexible so as and when for those.

I've already changed to cheaper skincare (Aldi primarily) without any noticeable difference and have been using Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner for years. The only things I won't change are Clinique Eye cream, Clinique City Block and also Take the Day off Eye Make Up Remover as anything else irritates.

I've been to the hairdressers 4 times in the last 20 years. I can't imagine spending £10k+ on my hair. I've had mine every colour/ length/ straight/ curly and always had compliments on it. In my 40s and only have a few greys, that are hardly visible.

Nails I've had done 3 times and found it annoying. I do my own Mani pedis.

I'd like to see what a pedicure would be like but have never had one.

Tried DIY waxing once in my teens but was put off by the pain so have never done it since. Just shave.

DIY eyebrows.

Look about 8 years younger than my age so no one's suggesting Botox etc!

I can't get my head around how all this maintenance has become normalised this century

No one did any of this in the 90s. Just a trim at a salon and maybe a splurge on highlights occasionally if well off.

I do all my own stuff. I actually enjoy doing my own nails. I watch Tv whilst doing it and find it relaxing. I do a base coat then two coats of Barry M Gelly polish and a top coat. Lasts nearly a week. I can’t imagine spending £25 a go on my nails.

I get my hair cut maybe once or twice a year if that. It’s long and curly so doesn’t need much doing to it. I gave up dye a while back. I have asthma and found the fumes made me quite unwell. I am just embracing the grey! I’m mid 40s.

I just shave my pits and bits when I can be bothered. Mostly I don’t bother.

It sounds like I’m very low maintenance and I’m not really - I love make up (ex beauty consultant for Clinique and Chanel) but I can’t imagine spending ££££ on my hair and nails etc. Rather save it and spend it on days out / holidays if there’s anything spare.

I loathe painting my own toenails so will happily pay someone for that. They get a neater and more precise finish that lasts a month. Well worth it for me.

Beauty professional here.

You can buy led nail polish on Amazon that comes off with normal remover (French) . Gels are very tricky and damaging to remove at home.
I work for many big brands but I am currently using Aldi face cream. Ditto their dupe lime, basil and mandarin perfume.
My hair is done by my hairdresser niece. I have had laser for red veins.
I am fair so use a razor and have my legs waxed twice a year. I can't find my epilator.
My skin has had 40 years of fancy cream and spf. I don't have any facial wrinkles. I have never smoked. Sunblock and no smoking is the golden ticket ladies.

I also like a nice lipstick.

Sunblock and no smoking is the golden ticket ladies.

agree