HAIR CARE ON A TIGHT BUDGET

I always ask: Why not style smarter instead of styling harder? You can definitely style smarter and save some money while doing so. I know that hair care can be expensive, especially if you have natural hair or if you are a student or not really doing great in the financial department.

By spending on a few key hair care items, you will be able to prolong haircuts, colours, and hairstyles. The purpose of this article is to help you look fabulous on a tight hair care budget.

Here are some tips for you to consider.

Keep it basic

I always advise people to begin with the very basic products. The truth is that you don’t need a whole shelf of products to grow healthy hair. The basic things you must have in your hair care routine includes shampoo, conditioner (leave-in and deep conditioners), sealing oil, hair butter, hair gel (if you are a naturalista), and of course water. While there is no harm in trying new products, do so sparingly if you are on a budget, especially after finding products that work for you. Stay with those.

DIY

When you find that you are on a budget but need quality natural hair products. You can make your own natural hair care products where you can, including hair masks, conditioners and sealants. You will be surprised to find out that most of the stuff in your kitchen cabinet are great for making hair products for your afro or curly hair.

Avoid split ends

If you get split ends, the only way to completely treat it is to cut those ends. If you, therefore, want to avoid spending money on cutting split ends at a professional salon, the best thing you can do is to avoid getting split ends altogether. This will require you to use moisturising products that keep hair ends healthy. Check for ingredients such as castor oil (helps with anti-breakage) and mango butter (nourishes hair).

If you have your colour-treated hair, take extra care of it

Coloured hair requires special treatment and not treating your coloured hair with extra care will cost you more money in the long run. First, while I recommend you have your hair colour done by a hair professional, you could prolong your hair colour for as long as possible by skipping a few salon visits and using at-home hair dye. A word of caution, box colour can cost more in the long run if you want to change your hair colour or made a mistake and your hair needs colour correction and you end up at a hair salon. If you are doing this, make sure to use hair care products that are designed for colour-treated afro or curly hair, that are sulfate-free and phthalate-free.

Use a silk pillowcase

A silk pillowcase helps to keep your hair moisturised and we all know the important of moisture for hair, especially naturally curly hair. A silk pillowcase prevents bedhead in the morning and also preserves blowouts, meaning less cash spent at the salon.

Use heat protectant

I always advise against using heating tools, and infrequent and sparing use where you absolutely have to use heat. If you have to use heat, however, make sure you use a heat protectant. It prevents major damage and fewer salon visits.

Have a go-to protective style

Every head of hair needs some time off once in a while, even if you wear your hair natural. I advise that you have one or two go to protective hairstyles if you are on a budget and realise you will not be able to visit a salon sometime soon. Spend a pretty penny on the protective hairstyle, knowing you can have it in for weeks (even months), thus saving money in the process.

Buy multi-functional products

If you are a DIY kind of girl (which most people on a tight hair care budget are), it is advisable to buy products that can be used for more than one purpose. For example, coconut oil and Shea butter can be used for both skin and hair.

Try a new style once in a while

If you are feeling bored and want to look different but don’t want to spend a lot achieving this new look, how about try out a new hairstyle instead of spending a lot on new styling products or on a new cut?

In conclusion

Who says your hair cannot look great on a small budget? Of course it can. And you can look fabulous doing so. Stay you, stay beautiful.