LITTLE ROCK — For some women, hair care is their most expensive splurge. The quest for straight hair or perfect highlights can eat up thousands of dollars annually. But there are simple ways to cut corners at the salon without jeopardizing your hair’s appearance. Jean Chatzky, the financial editor of NBC’s Today, stresses the obvious key to saving: Cut down on your salon visits. “Go an extra month between hair cuts, or if you use color, intersperse your salon color with touch-ups at home. That’s how you’re going to end up saving money over the course of a year,” Chatzky says.
But can amateurs really color their own hair? Can you ask a hairdresser to touch you up without all the add-ons? You’d be surprised how much you can save by speaking up, saying no, and taking charge of your flat iron.
Do your research
There’s a difference between Iowa and New York. Know the average prices for treatments in your city before you head to a salon, particularly if you’re choosing a new service such as color treatments. For a drastic color change, you’ll probably need a touch-up every four to six weeks. Can your annual budget take the hit? Don’t try something new without considering the consequences.
Rock the suburbs
Chatzky, who appears regularly on national television, doesn’t hit the expensive salons to maintain her style. “I live in a suburb of New York, and a haircut costs a third of the amount that it costs to get my hair cut in the city,” she says. “It might be worth traveling to a suburb to get your hair done.”
Speak up
We tell our hairdressers everything and should feel comfortable talking about budget restrictions. If you have to extend time between services, ask for help. “You need to ask, ‘What can I afford to feel the way I want to feel?’” Chatzky says. “Your hairdresser is probably on a budget too, and they understand.”
Cutback on blowouts
Some women make a salon blowout an expensive weekly habit. “When you get on a roller coaster of blowout, they add up very quickly,” Chatzky says. “Buy a really good flat iron instead. You can’t spend $30 on a flatiron and expect professional quality, so spend $150 and know you’re getting a tool that lasts a long time.”
Maintaining your cut
If you have a complicated cut, there are ways to reduce salon visits by maintaining it yourself. Ask your hairdresser for tips on how to trim uneven parts yourself (yes, you can trim your hair!) or visit a walk-in hairdresser who will trim your hair between splurges. Many hairdressers, too, will trim your bangs for the price of a tip in between visits to help you reduce your trips to the salon.
Home color touch-ups
While some women fear color from the box — and complicated highlights are best left to experts — there are many salon-quality products in beauty stores. “There’s this product called Hair Mascara, and it’s exactly like mascara for hair. If you’re just starting to gray, touch them with the wand before you leave the house,” Chatzky says. You’ll save money by avoiding the color. A good hairdresser can also teach you to touch up your color between visits (if you have a simple, one-process routine). Trust us, a hairdresser would prefer you ask for tips than return with a terrible home dye job.
Blowout required? Don’t bother
Some salons now require you to pay for a blowout after a cut and color, which can add $30 to $50 to your tab. “I would consider switching salons if that’s a policy,” Chatzky says. If you don’t like the requirements of a particular salon, visit another one. There’s no reason to pay extra for something you don’t want.
Visit a hairdresser in training
On certain nights, many high-end salons have training nights for new hairdressers where you can get a great cut and color for a drastically lower price. If there’s a swanky salon you’ve been wanting to try, call and ask for their best prices or training nights and say what you’re hoping to spend. Since some hairdressers set their own prices, you might find the rate you’re looking for.
Just say no (politely)
When the cashier at Staples asks you whether you want a loyalty card, you say no and move on. You should treat a hairdresser pushing services the same way. “A phrase that works for me when I want to get out of things is, ‘I’m sorry, but that’s not workable.’ No one knows what it means. Or you can simply say, ‘Next time,’” Chatzky says.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Quality hair care can be expensive, and few people have unlimited resources to spend on beauty. We tell our hairdressers everything, so be sure to talk finances upfront. Tell them your budget and what you want to achieve. A good hairdresser will make you a loyal client by giving you a regimen that works within your budget.
High Profile, Pages 44 on 07/22/2012