Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Ways to save on hair and beauty products and treatments
Yael
15th May 2024
In need of a makeover for 2023 but feeling the pinch? Then you may benefit from finding some beauty bargains at a fraction of the price.
With the current cost of living crisis, it will come as no surprise that everything has gone up, from food to hairdressing, and even our favourite hair and beauty products.
The UK hair and beauty industry is worth £2.5 billion annually and British women spend on average £400 on cosmetics every year while owning at least 24 products at any one time. But this has risen by 10.1% since 2022 and is set to go up further this year.
Shampoo is one of the more costly products with a rise of 18.2% while eye-makeup (an essential for those bleary-eyed mornings!) has gone up by approximately 16%.
But is there a simpler way to find quality hair and beauty products at rock-bottom prices?
We think so. We’ve curated some of our favourite ways to save money while still looking preened and polished. Simply read on, or click on one of the links below…
- Become a hair model
- Take advantage of beauty colleges
- Find online beauty bargains and deals
- Save money with a mobile hairdresser
- DIY hair hacks
- Au natural home remedies
- Affordable hair growth alternatives
- Proper product storage
Become a hair model
A survey of stylists who used the booking app Pamperbook found that their female customers in the UK spend an average of £150-300 on hair appointments each month, and that’s before they’ve forked out on nails and other treatments.
Being a hair model can cut the cost drastically and there are plenty of options to choose from.
Many places offer a cut, colour or blow dry for free or at product cost.
There are lots of Facebook groups devoted purely to being a hair model including one of the biggest Hair Models Directory UK which posts regular salons that are looking for models.
You can also try Gumtree.com or Nextdoor and search for your local area.
Beauty colleges
Whether you love regular beauty treatments or just an occasional treat, a beauty college can be the stuff of dreams for a quick and easy refreshment. It is also a hive of beauty bargains from tomorrow’s next big stars of the beauty world.
While you will have your appointment with a practising student many are at the end of their qualification or doing a test. Many colleges offer a variety of treatments including facials, massages, nails, pedicures and radiofrequency.
If in London, the London College of Beauty Therapy is a great place to start with prices starting at £7.
There are also Facebook groups with newly qualified aestheticians looking to practice or gain portfolio shots for social media. In the capital, the London Models for Beauty and Cosmetic Treatments group features lots of beauty and hair treatments to cover all bases.
Online beauty bargains and deals
Got a little extra time but want to save some pennies? If you have a flexible schedule then booking a last-minute appointment is often cheaper and you can even find exclusive deals online.
Wowcher, Groupon, Voucher Codes and Living Social all cater for bargain hair and beauty deals that can save up to 90% off the original price.
Treatwell also offers last-minute appointments which can be cheaper than a normal booking at a salon. It is also a bonus that you can search by location which saves money on transport costs too.
Mobile hairdressers
Do you have a busy family life and find it difficult to travel to a salon? Maybe you work full-time or unusual hours and find that salons are either fully booked or closed when you need them?
Or maybe you just wanted to have your hair perfected in the comfort of your own home? Well, booking a mobile hairdresser may be the best solution for you.
Most mobile hairdressers have reasonable rates as they don’t have many overheads and frequently use your own shampoo and conditioner, which also helps if you have a preferred product you use.
Try the Yellow Pages for local mobile hairdressers or NextDoor.co.uk. There are also a few apps that offer hairdressing services including Ruuby, Blow Ltd, and Glow and dry.
DIY hair hacks
If you want to visit the salon less, and save more money in the long run, then experts recommend looking after your hair well at home.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by applying regular hair masks, which can give the hair extra shine and gloss. You can find some at reduced prices too including Pantene at £2.50 and a Banana hair mask for £1 at The Range.
When styling, protect hair by using heat protective spray, serums and leave-in conditioners and give the hair regular breaks from styling tools such as straighteners or curling tongs.
There are many rave reviews online that a silk pillowcase is a great investment, as it helps your hair retain moisture. Silk is also a friction-free material that allows your hair to smooth the follicle while sleeping and has even been hailed to help with fine lines and wrinkles.
Had a fabulous blow dry but want to make it last longer? Then a dry shampoo can help absorb any grease and keep it looking fresh for a few more days.
While many stylists don’t recommend cutting your own hair when you’re in need of a little TLC, basic cuts can be done at home.
If you want to freshen up your split ends, then the trick is to start off slow and only do a very basic trim straight across.
When washing hair always make sure to rough dry hair with a towel and pat it dry. And always wash hair after the swimming pool to avoid chlorine damage or after a workout when there may be more sweat.
Use a shampoo that is recommended for your hair type. If you have colour-treated hair, dry, or dandruff then there are many suitable options that come in under a fiver at Boots or Superdrug.
Au natural home remedies
If your hair is in need of some extra help, then look no further than the fridge. Homemade products can give your hair some much-needed shine and extra conditioning, and in some cases even promote hair growth.
Coconut oil, avocado, and eggs can all be blended and applied as a hair mask for 20 minutes (just don’t forget to use lukewarm water when it comes to washing eggs off rather than hot).
Some also cite apple cider vinegar, bananas, and yoghurt as beneficial ways to make your hair perfectly shiny in a mask form.
Hair growth
Rosemary oil, mixed with a carrier oil such as olive oil or almond oil, has received rave reviews on TikTok with many claiming its hair growth properties.
Never use pure rosemary oil without a carrier oil as it can be too irritating for the scalp. Mix three to six drops of rosemary oil with one teaspoon of carrier oil instead. Leave to sit for a couple of hours then wash off.
Some people also try rosemary water for hair growth in a spray bottle.
For this, you simply boil several sprigs of rosemary with water for 15 mins then drain and put the remaining water into a bottle. Then you spray on the roots of your hair daily.
For already mixed rosemary oil, one of the cheaper brands is from Sephora or if you prefer to mix yourself with a carrier oil try Nikura.
Proper Product Storage
This may sound obvious, but the better you look after your products, the more they last. Therefore keep certain products in the fridge. Often skin fanatics claim that toners, facemasks and aloe veras etc retain more potency when kept refridgerated. Whilst some people claim that this is a fad, I personally love both how they feel cool and also feel they do last longer.
The fridge I personally have is the STYLPRO Four Litre Beauty Fridge (Black) £44.00, exclusive to Argos
It is super cute and contains a suprising amount of space. With a “built in low-temperature protection for product cooling optimisation (20 degrees below room temperature), built-in noise reduction and a sizeable 4 litres to hold all your goods”, there’s a reason the STYLPRO Beauty Fridge has been a bestseller for years. Products will never spoil or freeze, plus you can switch your fridge to a heating setting to keep warm if needed.
We also round-up our top 10 beauty saving websites here. Let us know in the comments where you find your own beauty bargains…
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