There are a few things we willingly turn a blind eye to. Like, all the seriously unhealthy ingredients that are probably in our weekly order of takeout, or how both staircases on Full House could bring the family to the same entrance on the second floor. And when it comes to our beauty routine and the amount of dough we shell out to maintain and refresh our mane, we prefer to hold a “what we don’t know can’t hurt us” mentality.
But when you’re on a budget (and aren’t we always?) we’re kind of forced to examine each and every one of our expenses to effectively see where we can make any trims. Our findings? Completely frightening. You know all those bottles of Oribé texturizer you’re always restocking, or the almost monthly highlight touchups you say your locks require? Turns out those “necessities” add up to be quite the luxurious expense.
And so, to help you be a more responsible adult, and you know, be able to put some of your money into a savings account, we’ve put together five easy ways to cut down on your hair costs, without sacrificing your strands in all their glory. From the new way to dye your hair that will require only biannual visits to the salon, to being a smart shopper when it comes to products, flip through the slideshow for easy ways to spare some serious expense in the hair department.
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#1: Go for “lived-in colour”
There’s a new hair colour trend in town, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to your bank account. It’s called lived-in colour, and only requires biannual visits to the salon for upkeep.
Trademarked by Johnny Ramirez, an L.A.-based hair colourist with a serious cult following (like Alessandra Ambrosio and Jessica Alba), it’s all about a subtle way of highlighting your hair that’s not quite balayage, and not quite ombré. Often referred to as “bronde” or “blondette,” “lived-in colour” features your natural hair colour as the base, and employs an impressionistic blurring technique to create a beachy brown-to-blonde waterfall of colour.
The results? The perfect amount of highlights without the nagging worry of roots.
(Instagram.com/johnnyramirez1> ).
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#2: Use the proper amount of product
It’s easy to be a tad wasteful when it comes to hair product – even if you don’t realize it. We have the tendency to slap on a little too much product and rub it all over our strands.
The problem is, not only will the product likely weigh down your mane, it’s not often not necessary to use any more than a quarter-size amount for shampoo, and a nickel-size amount for conditioner and styling products. To make each bottle last as long as possible, start with just a touch of product, and rub it in from the ends up. If you need more, add more, but just a little at a time.
A great pick is Moroccanoil’s Hydrating Styling Cream. It may be more than your average drugstore version, but it’s a two-in-one. With a lightweight formula, it hydrates hair to fight frizz while helping to hold your blow-dried hairstyles. Plus, a little product goes a long way, so one bottle should last awhile.
Moroccanoil’s Hydrating Styling Cream ($38>, moroccanoil.com> ).
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#3: Use colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner
Another way to limit the amount of trips to the salon is by using a colour-protecting shampoo and conditioner, which is particularly essential for blondes.
Our pick? Unite Therapy’s Blonda Shampoo. It will keep your colour vibrant while preventing it from going yellow or brassy. Plus, it’s free of parabens and sodium chloride, meaning it’s gentle on fragile, colour-treated strands.
Unite Therapy Blonda Shampoo (US $27>, unitehair.com> ).
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#4: Consider the product volume
When deciding between two products both with great reviews, take the volume of contents into account along with the price.
For example, L’Oreal Elnett’s Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray is a favourite pick among the style set. Although it’s more expensive than Dove’s Style + Care Flexible Hold Hairspray, the L’Oreal pick contains double the amount of product as Dove, making it a worthwhile purchase.
L’Oreal Elnett’s Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray ($15>, ulta.com> ).
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#5: Only use 1-2 styling products
Another key way to save is by sticking to only 1-2 post-wash products. Figure out what it is you want out of your style (volume, shine, frizz-control, hydration, etc.) and find a product or two that focus on that, or, as per the previous slide, a single product that targets a couple of your needs and desires.
To help you find the products that work best for you, here’s a general guide: Mousse is great for volume, wax for a choppy and piecey look, serum for shine or de-frizzing, styling lotion for a soft and moveable look, and hairspray to add texture and help hold your style.
For a budget-friendly option to achieve a voluminous, bouncy style, go for L’Oreal Paris’ Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse. It’s ultra lightweight and adds hi-definition to curly and wavy hair, while providing 24-hour hold without stickiness or residue build-up.
L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse (US $5>, lorealparisusa.com> ).
The post How to save money on your hair: 5 ways to cut back on products and salon appointments appeared first on FASHION Magazine.
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