Budget Haircare Tips: Have Gorgeous Hair without Spending much Money
Adulting is hard. We have to pay for rent and mortgages, bills, childcare, insurance, and a ton of other expenses that are far more important than having Instagram-worthy hair.
But that doesn’t mean we have to let go of our personal appearance! Hair care is part of self-care: if we look good, we feel good and more confident, and that’s just as important as putting gas in the car. These budget hair care tips will help you maintain your “crowning glory” – from how to do your own hair trims at home with professional Joewell Shears, plus DIY hair masks that you can make with ingredients in your own kitchen. Even simple tweaks to your hair care routine can change your hair texture, growth and quality. Read on for practical and money-saving hair care tips!
Save thousands by trimming your own hair at home
Unless you’re going for a very layered architectural cut, you can cut your own hair at home. There are so many Youtube tutorials that will show you how to trim your bangs, get rid of split ends, or cut a half inch from your hair. All you need are Joewell Scissors or a Barber razor that can give you a very precise cut. You can even get Left Handed Hairdressing Scissor Sets!
Embrace your hair texture
Instead of straightening your curly hair, or perming your straight hair, or changing your hair colour, why not bring out your natural hair’s beauty? Chemical treatments damage your hair, and are very expensive to get and maintain. While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a new hairstyle – after all, you deserve it! – you shouldn’t feel pressured to conform to a hair trend. Instead of working against the hair you were born with, look for cuts that bring out the beauty of your natural hair. Not only are they easier and less expensive to maintain, but you celebrate your own unique beauty. That kind of confidence is priceless!
Make DIY hair treatments
Raid your pantry for natural haircare ingredients that mimic the results you get from the salons! Olive oil, lemon, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, honey and eggs are part of many DIY hair masks and scrub recipes. Before forking out cash for commercial masks that often contain harsh chemicals, try making your own natural hair treatments at home. Your hair will be noticeably softer, shinier, and healthier – and you didn’t spend a single cent!
Take sun and chemical damage seriously
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many of the most expensive hair treatments reverse damage that we could have easily avoided! Sun exposure is one of the biggest culprits, since UV rays wreak havoc on your scalp and dry out hair. Other causes of hair damage: heat styling, harsh chemicals in haircare and styling products, and colouring and bleaching treatments.
If your hair is dry, brittle, and prone to frizz, then it’s a sign that it’s stressed out from chemical and environmental aggressors. Instead of buying expensive hair products to reverse the damage of expensive hair treatments, switch to natural and gentle haircare. Get products that are free of sulfates, parabens and other chemicals, use DIY hair treatments, stop getting chemical treatments, and apply spray sunscreen on hair before going outdoors.
Stop overcleansing hair
Daily shampooing can strip hair of natural oils that protect the strands and nourish the scalp. Dilute shampoo with a bit of water before applying on your hair, and only wash your hair about 2 or 3 times a week. You can avoid greasy hair with dry shampoo, or natural alternatives like baking soda or baby powder. It’s also important to wash hair in lukewarm water, and end every shower with a cold rinse to seal the cuticle. Avoid very hot showers that can strip hair of natural oils and fade hair colour.
Do a scalp massage
Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. Scalp massages can stimulate blood circulation and encourage healthy hair growth. If you do this while applying a hair scrub (mix brown sugar with olive oil and lemon extract) you simultaneously exfoliate the scalp and purge it of dead skin cells and impurities that can block hair follicles. This simple pampering ritual can even help relieve tension headaches!
Eat a healthy diet
Stop crash diets! The low calorie count actually messes up with your metabolism, so you end up gaining more weight in the long term. You also miss out on precious vitamins and minerals that your body needs for healthy hair and skin. Instead of extreme diets that cut out entire food groups and force you to stay within unrealistic calorie counts, eat balanced meals and control your portions. Your body needs a good mix of healthy proteins, fats, complex carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals. To monitor your calorie intake, use a fitness and diet app
Take your vitamins
While it’s still important to get nutrients from fresh food and healthy meals, it’s true that a lot of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can get lost during the cooking process. Try to get a multivitamin that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, Vitamin B, and other hair-healthy nutrients. You don’t necessarily need to buy a separate hair supplement, as long as you meet your daily requirements for vitamin and minerals. Contrary to popular belief, your body won’t send vitamins to your hair just because the product is labeled as a hair supplement – it simply distributes nutrients as your body needs it, and prioritizes key organs first. As long as you eat a balanced diet and regularly take a good multivitamin, your hair (and skin!) will be healthy and strong.
Take a practical, budget-friendly approach to haircare!
These are just some practical tips to help you maintain healthy hair without spending a lot of money and time on a complicated haircare routine. Your hair just needs everyday, sensible care – and if you do it right, you can feel good and focus on what’s more important.