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How often do you wash your hair? Would you wash it less if you knew how much money it could save you?
I used to wash my hair everyday. Now I wash it every three or four days. I slowly began stretching out the days in between washings after my sister told me my body – and the oil it produces – would naturally adjust. Fewer washings = less time spent cleaning and drying my overly thick hair. (Having wet hair for hours in the winter is not fun. If I blow dry it, it gets dry and frizzy. If I air-dry it, I get cold. If I put a hat on, it dries flat.)
Grossed out? (more…)
I hate cutting my hair. Why spend money on something that is immediately going to grow out? But my hair is so ridiculously long and tangly that it’s time. There are many options for cheap cuts that I wrote about a few months ago, refreshed for you below.
- Do it yourself. Consider trying snipping your own locks if you want a simple cut or are extremely adventurous. I figure if I mess it up I can always run to Supercuts, lesson learned. eHow.com has a cautious 7-step overview. Howtodothings.com shares a free 12-step guide to cutting your own hair. Or you can pay $20 for a detailed guide to home cuts. A variation on this is having a trusted friend cut your hair.
- Look for specials. Many salons offer first-time customer discounts that can really pay off. One near my home charged $20 for a cut that normally costs $60. Of course, these deals rarely include blow dry and styling, but that’s fine by me.
- Turn to the almost-professionals. Yes, folks, I’m talking about students. Hair cutting schools across the country offer low-cost cuts that are often less than $15. Students lack experience, but they are eager to please. After all, you are a potential client once they graduate and get a job. Why not consider a student for a trim or basic cut? You can test them out without great risk. When you want to make a dramatic change, go to someone with more experience.
- Host a hair cutting party. This is easiest if you already know a stylist who is looking for business. Invite over friends who also want to get their hair cut and negotiate a discounted rate ahead of time based on volume. You may be able to get 20% off or more per person, especially if you can pay in cash.
- Find high-end salons that offer classes for professionals who want to learn a new skill. You can sign up to be a “hair model” for them to work on at a fraction of the cost these folks would normally charge. Sometimes it is free. I used to get cuts through the hair model program at Bumble & Bumble in NYC. For $10 or $20 I got fabulous cuts overseen by a B&B instructor. Only bad thing was that the cuts took two hours (every snip had to be approved) and they were scheduled on weekday afternoons. Looks like the program is free these days and includes styling and coloring! Next time I’m in NYC…
Here are a few online resources to find beauty schools near you.
