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 :(

Unlike the salons, I don't drill or file my nails- so think they have remained healthier and thicker than when I had regular gel nails. I could find no evidence that super glue was any worse than 'nail' glue- but I'm sure some people will disagree or know more.

I put small blobs/light coating on the actual nail- then stick the fake one on. Any excess that goes on the skin- I wipe off immediately.

If I really had to- I could just pull the nail off, but I find after a week or so, they just ping off when I'm gardening or get them caught and loosen naturally. They do last longer than a week most times though.

Good idea, I’ll look into that.
it doesn’t kill?

I’ve just sat and thought about your question @1WomanWonder and honestly it’s not to do with societal pressure to look attractive or younger which I’m assuming is the point behind your comment. It’s about looking after myself. Prioritising myself. During lockdown I stopped wearing makeup, didn’t bother with nice clothes - stuck to comfy jogging bottoms and jumpers, obviously didn’t have my hair colour done. I ended up feeling really down. For me having my hair done, doing my own gel nails, getting up in the morning and doing my skincare makes me feel like I’m looking after myself as much as making sure I’m eating well/drinking water/exercising. The days I wfh now when I don’t put make-up on or do my hair or make an effort make me feel a bit down. I feel better when I’m taking care of my skin or hair and feel like it looks nice. So no I wouldn’t want to change that. Putting on a hair and face mask on a Saturday morning makes me feel like I’m resetting my sense of self worth and gives me a bit of motivation to crack on with the day. A bit like having a fridge full of healthy food with a good meal plan for the week makes me feel more energised and less stressed. Hope that explains it for you.

First time it does, same as legs to be honest, once you're used to it you're fine.
I even do my bikini line now!

I can't believe what people spend to get their hair cut and coloured on mn. I was told on another post that £110 was reasonable. When I was short of money I found a cheap hairdresser who did a really good job. Needs must etc.

I stopped colouring hair in lock down, still getting hair cut but have grown it longer so just needs a cut ever three months now. Only getting nails done if going on holiday or big event.

I had my hair cut recently. It was around £60. That seemed to be the going rate where I live.
I don't have it done very often!

ive switched from my expensive post menapause vitamins to Asda hair, nails and skin for £2.50 after they were recommended on here. Very bottom shelf at Asda. They are amazing my nails have never been in better condition, I buy 4 tubs at a time as I never want to run out.

That sounds painful. Not sure I would trust someone with no training to pull hairs from under my arms. Could you try a depilatory cream ?

I'm not much for beauty treatments but pre-Covid I used to have my hair trimmed and roots coloured every 4 weeks . I use a mobile hairdresser so less expensive than some - but I have learned now to leave a little longer in between colours, and am quite happy to cut my own fringe .

Isn't spending time on a style and beauty forum a bit of a waste of time for you if you feel like that?

I enjoy having lovely eyebrows personally. I don't care what other people do, and I wouldn't comment about people who don't get their eyebrows shaped, because it's nothing to do with me. I like spending a bit of time on my appearance, I guess it does make me feel better about mysel, but I also find it relaxing and creative, a bit like how I enjoy living in a nicely decorated and tidy space, or cooking a nice meal.

You can pay that round here but you can also pay £20 which is where I went when I had to save money.

Really need to stop having my roots done every 7 weeks. Anyone got any tips on how to go from shop done roots and highlights to doing it myself?

Lower your standards!

That’s a really useful tip thank you.
I use this and haven’t been to the hairdressers since 2019, I cut it myself. Attached is a pic when I hadn’t used it for a couple of washed. I also discovered topcoat for nails- first attempt with pretzel and although I still get my toenails done every month or so that’s my only outside treatment. I spend about £10/ month all in.

It’s a bit like going on the food forums and telling everyone to stop buying cheese because it’s expensive and I don’t like it.

Other people enjoy different things, yet anything around appearances gets dunked on. According to Aristotle, self-care is a virtue as much as anything else.

I have lovely eyebrows. I've had compliments on them my whole life. It's not that hard to learn to tweeze.

Not spending money getting someone else to do it doesn't mean we're walking round with monobrows!

eliza.co.uk/beauty/charlotte-tilbury-dupes?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MN-YOU-Newsletter-020922

I spotted this link to Charlotte Tilbury dupes if any use.

I still have an eyebrow and upper lip wax every month. I get my roots done every 3 weeks and it just costs me £20. I am going to stop having blow dries when I get my hair cut.

I would love to have my nails done but I am going to have a go doing them myself. I had a try a few weeks ago and someone said they looked nice.

I don't buy many clothes and can order from Next and pay it off monthly.

Thanks for taking the time to explain @Cactuslover88. And for those asking why come on S&B, the post is specifically about saving money. Maybe it's useful to have a frame of reference from a different viewpoint and to revisit priorities from time to time. I'm sure there are some people on here that will feel judged if they don't spend money having their nails done every 3 weeks. Not by me!

My friend does our hair and yesterday she said she's glad she's a hairdresser rather than a beauty therapist because even if people lengthen the time between cuts, a lot will still want her to cut their hair rather than do it themselves. But she said how much the salon supplies costs have gone up so it's inevitable that for some things, like colour, she'll need to increase her prices.

No- your post was not all about this other stuff you now mention. Let's put it up again

So much time and money wasted spent. So much self worth needlessly wrapped up in the shape of an eyebrow. My cutting back tip...stop placing so much value in this complete crap. There are better ways to feel good about yourself. Ta da

It was about you implying that women who do this are low in self worth and finishing off with your flourish "ta da" as if you are explaining something to those who cannot think for themselves. Stop backpedaling.

Some people just like having nice nails for themselves. I do my own nails, apart from the occasional gel manicure for special occasions. I can't have my finger nails painted for work, but I do a manicure every week on my days off, and always have my toes done. I do it because I like it: the actual process of doing a manicure or pedicure relaxes me, and I like seeing my painted toenails, even in winter when no one other than my boyfriend (who doesn't like painted nails) sees them. It's not about being judged by other people. It's what I like.

If someone wanted to invest in bits to do their own nails at home, I'd recommend these things. Total cost of just under £50, but they should all last for at least a year or more.

• A glass nail file. These last forever. I have this Champneys one from Boots, it's £10.
• A reusable cuticle pusher. Again these last forever and I have this Champneys one from Boots, it's £8.
• Cuticle remover cream. I got my current one from Boots last year and sadly they seem to have discontinued it. I've got my eye on this Sally Hansen one to replace it when it runs out, and it's £4.90 on Amazon atm.
• Cuticle cream or oil. I use CND solar oil. £7.45 on Amazon atm. I've had my current bottle for over a year and it's still got a bit left. I also use good old vaseline sometimes in the evening before bed, and weirdly it seems work really well and is only like £1 for a tin.
• A base coat, I use this Maybelline one, £5.99 from Boots.
• A colour polish. I like this Maybelline. £4.50 from Boots (but free as it's 3 for 2 in Boots atm, so could get the base and top coat and get the colour polish free).
• A top coat, again Maybelline. £5.99 from Boots.
• An angled eyeliner brush to clean up any mistakes when painting.
• Nail polish dryer spray. £2.99 from Superdrug.
• Cut

I watched YouTube videos about how to shape my nails and paint them years ago, I usually have mine short and squoval.

Totally agree

I'm sorry to read this and had been thinking it reading the previous threads. Well done you for being so magnanimous to offer advice.

I don't have a lot of treatments (haven't dyed for over 20 years due to developing an allergy to dye) but I for one won't be cutting down on haircuts, eyebrows or pedicures. I'm sure I won't be the only one.

Any S&B savings I make will be on buying clothes. I could dress half my street with the amount I've got 😳