A haircare enthusiast has shared how to save more than £500 on the costs of maintaining her locks.
Keeping on top of grooming can quickly add up, with estimates suggesting that the average British woman spends a shocking £1,188.93 every year on hair treatments.
Fortunately, Cara Bradley has outlined a series of savvy hacks to cut costs, not just your hair. Read below to see what she has to say, as reported by the Mirror.
Cutting costs
A wash, cut, and blow-dry typically costs £48 in the UK, increasing to £130 if you opt for a colour treatment too.
Cara recommends asking for a dry-cut instead of asking your stylist to wash your hair first. She told vivamoney.co.uk that this could prove cheaper because you are not using the salon’s shampoos, conditioners, or treatments.
The 31-year-old said: “A dry cut at popular salon chain Supercuts will only set you back £21.95, compared to a shampoo cut, which costs £25.50. If you have your hair cut every eight weeks, opting for a dry cut could save you around £23.80 a year.”
She added: “Additionally, if you’ve had a dye job without a cut, you could offer to skip the blow-dry and leave with wet hair, although your stylist may want to see the finished result on dry hair to ensure that the colour has set properly.”
Stylish savings
The costs charged by many salons can vary depending on the individual rates of the stylist you select. A senior stylist is likely to charge more, so choosing a more junior hairdresser can offer valuable savings.
As an example, Cara pointed to the prices charged by salon chain Saks. In one branch, a full head of highlights costs £100 with the salon director compared to £78 with a stylist. Opting for the qualified stylist would therefore save you £22 each visit.
Cara explained: “Of course, those who attend the salon regularly probably have a favourite stylist – after all, trusting someone with our hair is a big deal. On the other hand, if you don’t have a preference, choosing a junior stylist could reduce your overall hair bill.”
She also highlighted the free hair treatments advertised by salons and colleges as another way of bagging a cheap makeover. Models can land a complimentary cut in exchange for trusting trainees to practice on their hair.
However, Cara warned: “You’ll usually get the service for free, although you should bear in mind that the stylist may have an idea of the look they want to create – be sure to check this before agreeing to anything. The last thing you want is to go with a simple trim in mind and then come out with a bright purple pixie crop.”
Take care of your hair
Cara stressed that taking good care of your hair will reduce the number of times it needs professional care, saving you money on expensive salon treatments further down the line.
She said: “Good haircare is not only beneficial for our luscious locks, but also for our wallets. The healthier your hair, the less often it will need cutting, although you should still aim for regular trims to maintain optimum condition.”
To keep your hair in top condition Cara recommends steering clear of heat styling where possible, because regularly using straighteners and curling tongues can cause breakage and split ends.
She also suggested a clever trick to curb those split ends: “Keep any lingering split ends at bay by making your own deep conditioning treatment at home between salon visits, using household staples such as olive oil and eggs. Remember to patch-test each item on a small area of skin behind your ear before covering your scalp.”
Cara stressed that this tried-and-tested method yields impressive results.
She said: “”I have been using homemade olive oil masks on my long hair for years. Olive oil leaves my locks feeling just as replenished as any salon treatment.”
Next, the haircare guru shared tips to tackle regrowth and avoid the dreaded emergence of unsightly patches of grey or different coloured hair.
Cara explained: “There are a number of ways to hide regrowth and prolong the time between salon visits. Headbands, ribbons, scarves, and hats are all great ways to cover up roots, although they’re not always practical in every setting.”
Root sprays are another handy option when you want to sharpen your look with minimal cost or effort. Many brands are instant-drying, making them the perfect fuss-free hair hero.
Cara said: “I have very dark, almost-black hair, and root sprays have been a real lifesaver for me.
She continued: “Before I discovered sprays, I was attending the salon every four weeks to get my roots touched up, spending an average of £85 a time. This equated to an annual cost of £1,020.
“Now, I’ve been able to stretch my appointments out to every eight weeks instead, which has cut my yearly salon-spend by £510.”
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