My gel manicure after 2 weeks still looked shiny and chip-free!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The latest craze in manicures – gel nails – promises nail color that doesn’t chip for weeks, but does it save you money? Below I compare the pros and cons of gel manicures compared to a regular manicure and a do-it-yourself manicure.
Gel Nails
I headed to the salon and sat in a chair for one and a half hours to get gel nails, also known as Shellac. Instead of using regular nail polish, the manicurist uses gel polish and UV light to set the color. I chose the berry color pictured above.
She started with a clear gel-based coat and then I had to stick my hands inside the UV nail lamp. She then proceed to add color, making me stick my hands inside the lamp after every coat. She added a gel-based top coat and wiped my nails down with alcohol to prevent the nails from staying sticky.
Pros: There were no chips
I’m not sure when Spa Week morphed into Spa Month, but it has. Spas across the country, from LA to NY, are offering steep discounts to get customers, especially new ones, in the door in February. Start looking for spa deals near you. Here are a few I found.
At Lauren’s Salon Spa in Los Angeles you can get one of the following treatments for $50: 60 Min De-Stressing European Facial, Waxing Package including Full Leg and Bikini Wax, Sassy Highlights for the Holidays, or Wash, Cut, Condition and Blow-Dry. That’s a great price for LA!
At Le Petite Rose in San Francisco you can get a 50 min relaxation massage for $55, normally $65, 60 min relaxation massage for $65, normally $75, or chocolate rose facial for $58, normally $68.
At Salon Roi in D.C. you can get a color or partial highlights with blow dry, or any 50 min facial or 50 min massage for $50, normally $90 – $163, or manicure and pedicure for $35, normally $58.
At the Skin Therapie Spa in Coral Gables, FL, you can get a Valentine’s spa package including a rose aromatherapy facial, full body swedish massage, and manicure and pedicure for $165.
At the Veria Wellness Center in Chicago chose from 10 classes including yoga, pilates, meditation, or mommy and me for $10, or get a 50 min signature facial or massage for $50 each.
You can find the deals I mentioned above and look for ones near you on this page.
Thanks, Tina!
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.
