Frugal Fridays: Beauty on a Budget - Part 5: Hair care and accessories
Finally I'm getting around to finishing up this series on Beauty on a Budget with the last installment on hair care and accessories. This is by far the very least frugal post of all and it's probably more about simplifying your life and being more efficient than anything.First off, as I usually say, keep it simple. As busy wives and mothers, most of us probably don't have a lot of time to spend on our hair and yet, if you're anything like me, you dislike sporting the perpetual pony-tail or bad-hair-day look either. So, what's a girl to do?
My advice: Find something which works and stick with it. Yes, it's boring to have the same hairstyle forever, but if it looks nice on you and is easy to take care of, why try to change? I learned this lesson the hard way. I spent years trying to find the "right" hairdo. One that was simple, easy, and looked decent. Even if something was working pretty well, I always thought I could find something better, easier, and more decent. To no avail. Instead, I usually ended up with hair disasters that took me way more time to try and fix everyday than I wanted to spend. Oh well, at least hair grows!
After having Kathrynne, I realized that my time in front of the mirror had to be quick and so I finally landed upon a simple hairdo that requires little maintenance, my husband likes, and I am happy with. And I've kept it and probably will keep it for who knows how long.
**Non-frugal content warning**
I've found that, for me, having a good stylist really makes a huge difference. I tried cutting my hair myself for a few years or having my mom cut it and that worked alright but I was never completely satisfied with the results. I went to various cheap hair places, but I always felt like the experience was similar to cattle being herded through and the end result was always rather dismal. I finally realized, just in the last few years, that a good stylist who gives a good hair cut can mean much headache, frustration, and bad-hair-days relieved. Not to mention, it also means spending a lot less time in front of the mirror. And so, this is one of the only areas where I actually do fork over more money than I probably want to divulge to have my hair highlighted, cut, and styled every few months. So, there's my nonfrugal confession of the day. I hope you will forgive me.
Since I do spend quite a bit to have my hair done by a good stylist every few months, I've tried to reduce or eliminate any other costs involved in hair care. I use name brand shampoo and conditioner, but get these free at Walgreens or CVS. I've learned not to be terribly brand-specific, but to just stay away from the cheapie shampoos that are regularly $1 or so at the grocery store. Using high quality shampoo does make a difference for me. I also don't really use other hair products on my hair except sometimes a spray-in conditioner or shine (also which I've picked up free, of course). And I only get my hair done every three months - I can't imagine trying to carve out time or money to have it done more often!
My goal is to be able to be presentable in less than 20 minutes - including showering, dressing, make-up, and hair. I know that might sound like a long time for some of you who can somehow accomplish all of that in five minutes, but I'm happy to keep it closer to 15 minutes. Sticking with a simple hair style has helped tremendously to cut down on "primping" time. I only wash and blow dry my hair every three days and the other days I can pretty much wake up, brush it, sometimes do a quick run-through with the straightener, and I'm done.
So, there you have it. Yes, I spend money on my hair, but the time and frustration saved has been worth every penny to me. And my husband loves my hairstyle - so that's one of the main reasons I don't feel badly spending money on it. I also don't feel badly spending money on it because it doesn't come out of our household budget. You see, I pay for my once-every-three-month trip to the stylist with some of the money I earn from blogging (some of the Blogads revenue and Associated Content blog post submission revenue). So, I guess I have you all to thank for that. :) There are perks to blogging - some which I never would have guessed when I started out two years ago!
As far as accessories and jewelry go, you will probably think me very boring, but, once again, my mantra is to keep it simple. I've found that wearing the same pair of earrings everyday makes things so much simpler and saves money, too. I have a few nicer pairs which I pull out for special occasions, but other than that, my everyday earrings are just that - one pair that I wear everyday until they wear out (usually every year and a half or so) and then I get a new pair. I usually try to buy a nicer brand reduced to $10 or less. For a year and a half worth of wear, I think it's a good investment. I don't wear much other jewelry besides my rings from Jesse (wedding ring/engagement ring and promise ring) as my skin is rather sensitive and I've also found most other jewelry to be a hassle when you're cleaning, cooking, and taking care of babies.
As I said earlier, this is not the most frugal post by any means, it's more about efficiency and what works for me. I'd love to hear what works for you and any great money-saving tips you have for beauty on a budget.
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:09 PM
14 Comments:
I look forward to reading your hair care article. I just can't bring myself to spend a lot of money on my hair...
This is only my second Frugal Friday Entry, but I have been reading all the entries for a while now. Thanks for hosting Frugal Fridays! Debbie J.
I'd be curious to know what your Promise ring looks like.(another term for your engagement ring?)
I've one myself that is worn exclusively, except for the very rare occasion.
I'm hopping around online to find a new one with so-so results.
Thanks!
Single young lady: My promise ring is separate from my wedding/engagement set. Jesse gave it to me when we were courting before he left to go away to college in Virginia as a symbol of his commitment to me. I wore it on my ring finger until he proposed and gave me an engagement ring. I've worn it ever since on my right ring finger. I should take a picture and post it sometime - it's just a simple band made with white gold with three little diamonds in the center.
Sorry this is long - thought it might help those with curls! I have naturally very curly hair and anyone with curly hair will tell you it takes extra TLC. I simply cannot NOT put products in it or not condition it or it will literally turn into dreadlocks and/or break off. So in case any of your readers happen to have naturally or permed curly hair I thought I would offer some tips I have learned after almost 30 years of dealing with it:
1. It is worth every single penny to find a good stylist you can trust and be loyal to. I usually tend to favor Aveda salons, because they have a lot of emphasis on curly hair products and use natural products. When I go to a salon, I ask for the person with the most experience with curly hair and/ or the owner. Anyone with curly hair knows it takes a long time for stylist mistakes to grow out so it pays to to pay a bit more to get the best.
2. Things to never, ever do to naturally curly hair (I have done all of these and it literally took years to recover from)
- Don't ever have it thinned with thinning shears
-Don't ever chemically relax it unless you want it to possibly (in my case it did) fall out and or break off and otherwise be extremely damaged.
3.Things to make it more manageable:
-The longer the better as the weight helps to weigh it down
-Condition even on the days you don't shampoo
-The best way to have defined ringlets is to put conditioner in it in the shower, comb it thru with a wide toothed comb, rinse it out and do not comb or brush or wrap it in a towel. After applying your favorite hair products, try to touch it as little as possible. Curly hair 'frizzes' as the curl pattern is disrupted with things like brushing, rubbing with a towel, combing, etc.
- The less you wash it the better. Obviously you want to be clean, but most naturally curly hair tends to be dry so washing it every 3 - 6 days is usually sufficient. More in summer or if you work out perhaps, but every day will be way too much.
-Conditioner is your best friend! Because I condition my hair daily, even when I don't shampoo, I buy a good but more inexpensive brand (to use 'in mass' and spend a bit more for a really intense deep conditioner.
-As far as products go the best products besides a moisturizing cleansing shampoo and conditioner are:
-Some sort of serum to put on when soaking wet (John Frieda makes a good one)
-Some sort of gel containing silicone (again, John Frieda makes a good one)
-If you choose to, a glossing/ shine spray or squirt ointment is a great touch up to dry hair
-When sleeping putting hair in a very very loose bun on top of head will help keep it from snarling
-Sleeping on a silk pillowcase will also help prevent tangles
-While most of our straight haired friends can wear their hair down all summer, most of us curly headed girls cannot - it is too frizzy with the humidity of summer. Good styles are:
-simple low ponytail
-Classic chignon
-Wide or skinny headbands and hair pulled back into simple ponytail or braid
-French twist
Some of my tried and true tested products (and I've tried pretty much everything out on the market)
-For daily conditioning: INfusium 23 Frizzology
-Neutrogena Moisturizing 'Clean' Shampoo
-John Frieda Anti-Frizz line including serum, silicone gel, intense relaxing cream
-Kerastasse Oleo Relax deep conditioner masque and relaxing serum
Good luck curly headed girls!
I don't think you're non-frugal at all to spend $ on your hair! I think the idea of being frugal is simply making choices about where your money will go ahead of time and, yes, trying to make sure it's not slipping out of your hands for frivolous things! Having a manageable, nice-looking hairstyle is, in my opinion, a worthwhile expense. A man's opinions and love for his wife's hair tells me there's a reason the Bible says it is a woman's glory-- and, therefore, I think a woman's hair style should reflect her desire to please and be attractive for her husband, whatever that might look like and mean! :)
One idea for getting good hair cuts/styles for a better deal:
My sister owns her own appointment-only salon. She's a great hair stylist. Recently, a client came in and mentioned that she does some cleaning to add money to their otherwise-one-income household. My sister asked her if she would be interested in "swapping services," and the arrangement began of free hair styling for free cleaning of the salon! This is a woman my sister didn't previously know, but she was available and interested. So maybe there are some who would like a nice hairstyle but literally don't have the $0.02 to rub together to get one, but who can be creative!
Ask your stylist (discretely) if he/she does hair our of his/her home. Sometimes stylists will have their own little side business out of the house to make extra money. Stylists have to pay the salon for supplies and chair rental, which cuts into the profit a stylist makes! Having a little side business for "preferred clients" means the stylist can make money (or swap services like Brietta said!) without having to pay the salon. The savings gets passed down to you, especially if you bring your own product.
But again - be discrete when you ask. Salons tend to frown on such things because it takes away from the business, and you don't want to get anyone in trouble!
Can I just say, I am so glad you said something about not buying cheap shampoo. I have learned my lesson from doing this. For the past month my hair was falling out and breaking off. I though my thyroid was acting up or it was just post-partum hormones taking way to long to balance. I went to the hairdresser and she gave my scalp a tea tree oil treatment with Paul Mitchell Shampoo (not so frugal but wonderful!) The stylist told me that my hair was breaking off because the cheap shampoo causes wax build up on your hair. Sorry for the long story but my point is...if you are buying junky shampoo your hair will split & break and you will eventually have to get a more expensive brand to look pretty agian.
I agree so much with your posting about spending money where it's important. It's important to be frugal with TIME also, not just money!
With two little ones under the age of two, it's hard--very hard--for me to find time to go and have my hair done professionally. I am a brunette, so getting highlights put in was very, very expensive, especially since I have longer hair. So I've stumbled upon an excellent product that I'd like to "plug" for all of those who have dark hair and would like some highlights, but shudder at the salon prices.
Garnier Breakthrough highlight kit is amazing and I use it every couple months. It couldn't be simpler to put in your own highlights, since it comes with detailed instructions and a mascara wand type of applicater so you don't end up with chunky streaks. It looks very natural and complimentary for brunettes, and you don't have to worry about the highlights being light blonde or white--it gets to be a lighter, golden brown. Because it is distributed in thin pieces throughout your hair, you don't have that "root look" when it starts to grow it and I can stretch it to last four months between highlights. The best thing is it costs under $7.00!
So that's how I save money. Every few months I get a good quality hair trim at a salon and do the highlights myself. I keep my hair longer so that I can pull it back in a ponytail or bun when I'm cleaning or cooking. I rarely blow dry it, but once it's dried, I usually find the time to sneak into the bathroom and quickly turn the ends and my bangs under with a curling iron--that takes about 3 minutes! I also agree with other posters who mentioned buying good hair care products. I have to shampoo my hair daily, but have found that the better shampoos last a LONG time, so a little goes a long way and a bottle lasts quite awhile.
One tip I have for busy moms is to rise a bit earlier than your children and set aside 15 minutes to shower, get dressed, and apply makeup (if you wear it) first thing in the morning. It's made such a difference now that I do that, because then I truly feel ready to take on the day. It's so much more pleasant to make breakfast when you are dressed rather than in your robe! It's a better way to send your husband off to work, too. Even if I'm not planning to leave the house, I still try to take those few minutes every morning to put myself together. I feel better, look better, and perform the daily tasks better!
I have two brands of shampoo and conditioner that I switch between (they smell different and some days one will give me a headache and the other will not, yes, I am weird!) I WILL not use cheap shampoo or conditioner because the first ingredient in many of them is ALCOHOL which will dry your hair out severely and cause lots of damage. I have curly hair and I keep it long (I have a great stylist that understands LONG, Curly hair many of them do not and knows that when I say to take a 1/4 inch off that is all I want taken off) The longer my hair gets the curlier it gets (my dd's is the same way), I finally stopped trying to work against the natural curl and found a good style that works with my hair. My stylist uses A razor comb on it to layer it and define the curls (it is thick but baby fine!) I color and highlight mine at home (she showed me how and what products to use, anyone can walk into a beauty supply store here and buy products you just pay retail price for them.) Saves me tons of money and time (both my kids love to watch me color my hair, the color you put on it is ntpothe color it comes out and it amazes them!) Also to hot oil treatment my hair I use warmed (to body temp) olive oil that I put on (not alot) and cover with a shower cap for about 20 minutes and then shampoo out, works great and it alot cheaper than the ones you buy at the stores!
I don't think you are being non frugal by your hair care. Since you scrimp in all other areas, it is fine to splurge now and then, especially if your husband has no problem with it. My husband is the same and always appreciates when I put a little effort into my daily appearance...not just when we are going out. It shows that he is worth the few extra minutes in the morning to dab on a bit of makeup and brush my hair. It sure makes a man feel loved and valued when his wife tries to be clean, attractive and available.
I suppose everyone's hair acts differently... I've tried all brands of shampoo - expensive, cheap and in between - and found out it does absolutely no difference to my hair. Therefore I use the cheapest shampoo I can find. But if you do see a difference, it's better to use a more expensive brand of shampoo to take care of your hair, instead of spending your hard-earned money on fixing it later.
To BethySue:
I buy the generic for Paul Mitchell tea tree oil shampoo at Sally Beauty supplies. They have a great line of generics for most of the popular salon products. You might try those for a more "frugal" option - the last time I bought it I think the bottle was $6.
Jennifer
I agree with the need to find a good hairstylist. I have very, very thick hair that alternates between straight/wavy/curly depending on the weather and its mood. :) It behaves much better when it's had a good cut! I use some product but no blowdryer, straightener, curler, etc. I wash it at night so it dries overnight, and then just comb it, usually wear it half up, and condition/spray it in the mornings. It takes about 10 minutes. It's nice to read about your simple routines with hair care and jewelry and such. I'm 20 and I often feel so much pressure from girls my age, even Christians, to be a fashion plate, when all I really want is simple and feminine.
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