The March 2011 issue of Real Simple featured “Five beauty treatments that will change your life,” which promises to save you time, money, and sanity.
1. Keratin Treatment ($150 plus): The keratin treatment promises to turn frizz into docile tresses by sealing keratin, a conditioning protein, into your hair. A common name is the Brazilian Blowout.
2. Lash Extensions ($150 plus): an aesthetician will apply individual hair to your lash line, for a fuller, more natural look. The results last 4-6 weeks.
3. Gel Manicure ($40 plus): Nail polish applied by a nail specialist and “cured” under an UV light – this manicure is supposed to last for 2+ weeks without chipping.
4. Laser Hair Removal ($150+ per session, most people need 5+ sessions): A technician aims the hair-zapping laser at your skin. Hair will grow thinner and smaller after treatment. Some people have permanent hair removal, others might need a touch-up.
5. Hair Extensions ($100 plus): Hair extensions, either applied at salons or at home, can give you the appearance of longer / fuller hair. The results last up to four months. You will have to use special care when washing and styling your hair.
Have anyone tried these treatments before? While I agree that they can certainly save time and sanity, I don’t see how they will save anyone money. All these treatments are quite expensive and require repeated applications for continued results. Not that I am against splurging – I get a facial every 2 months at $90 a pop. In fact, I am a little surprised that skincare is not one of the items mentioned on the list.
It’s funny that most of these ideas center around our relationship with our hair (too much, not enough, too frizzy, too flat, too dull, too oily, etc.). I used to spend $250 on thermal straightening. Since I’ve started embracing my natural hair, I find that my budget is much fuller!
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That's hilarious. All of these are beauty treatments that will need constant upkeep, which will just keep costing more and more. Gel nails may last longer than regular polish, but you need to get them filled every 2 weeks! I'll just stick with nail polish, thanks. And $150 for lash extentions that last for 4 weeks? I think mascara works out much cheaper, per use.
Most of these are just unnecessary, but maybe. nice to have things. So I don't consider them money or time savers – I can just go without. The only things I'd say would be a true time saver is the laser hair removal, if it worked. If I never had to shave again it would save me lots of time. Unfortunately, it's just too expensive, and doesn't necessarily guarantee results.
I think this article is a good reflection of the fact that we are constantly primed to spend money as the solution to everything. Need a fix me up? Buy something new. Want to save time? Spend $ on expensive salon services. Want to save money? Spend some $ to "save" – when in reality you can perfectly go without the treatment.
Articles like this kill me. Of course the object is to help you spend more money, not less…Personally, I keep it simply and I think I manage to still be elegant. I don't fight my natural hair, I get a simple, low-maintenance cut every few months and I keep my nails short and painted with clear polish or buffed. Time and money saved – and I don't think in any way its detracting from my overall appearance.
I've had a gel manicure before, with tips applied because I had broken a few of my nails and they had to look perfect for my cousin's wedding! but anyway, I found it to be incredibly painful. they had to file the tops of my nails down a little bit to make sure the gel had something to grip on to, and I don't know if I had an inexperienced person doing it, or have sensitive nails (they are really thin) but my finger tips were THROBBING in pain for a good 2 days or so afterward. It looked good, and they were super strong, but I didn't want to have to pay for gel fills very few weeks or deal with the pain again!
Ouch! I didn't know about the nail sensitivity. Thanks for the heads-up.
They all sound pretty unnecessary to me except the hair one maybe. I know people who have an awful time with their hair in the morning and they NEED those treatments.
I think another nice to have is a facial.. but certainly not a need.
It would save me money in the long run (those LED light facials) because I use a lot less makeup than I did before to hide my fading acne scars
I am a sucker for anything skincare-related, so I guess we all have our weaknesses! I get facials regularly because – hey – our skin is our biggest organ, right?
I AGREE!It makes a huge difference in my skin for the LED.. the facial itself just removed dead skin but I feel like I could do it with a warm towel and a light scrubbing agent. Even so, it feels great.
I have gotten gel manicures, where I go its 36 dollars then I add a tip. They really do last 2 weeks, I love them, I actually did a post on this: http://jennifersthoughtfulspot.blogspot.com/2011/…
I have not done lash extensions, I have heard horror stories about the allergies some people have, I prefer false lashes, I use Ardell lashes, found at Sallys, $4, works like a charm and I have never in my life had them fall off.
I haven't had permanent extensions in my hair, I have clip-ins that I love, the Jessica Simpson ones, they blend right in and no one can tell I have them in. I am considering getting more 'permanent' extensions but I am going to price a few places in the area first, some salons claim they will last 6 months or longer so I am open to it.
As far as saving money choose the treatment(s) that you would benefit from most, for example with super straight hair, i do not need a keratin treatment, but my no volume hair looks amazing with extensions. Do your research definitely, youtube and blogs are great for that to get an average person's opinion and not an advertisement too.
For me all of these things are not really anything I would consider so I guess I'm already saving money without knowing it. Score!
I know a lot of people who swear by the gel nails though and they look really great.
Laser hair removal sounds intriguing, as I was just contemplating what life would be like if my brows were constantly groomed and legs (etc.) shaven perfectly with no effort. But i'm not exceptionally hairy (nor cursed with dark body hairs) so I doubt I'd ever actually invest the $$ unless I become an underwear model (not likely!)
My nails suck, so I really should get regular manicures, but… meh. No one really cares that they suck. not even me.
I love facials, but don't treat myself often. (maybe twice, ever… so far!) Same with massages.
I just got my brows done, and the lady tells me every time she's dying to tint my eyelashes. I've never even heard of this, but hey, maybe if a big day comes along… Like.. hmm… well, I already had the wedding, so who knows?
As someone with blonde lashes I highly recommend dying your lashes. I find it usually lasts about 6-8 weeks on me. In the morning you use a little tinted moisturizer and a lip gloss and you're out the door.
I would probably love laser hair removal and maybe it could end up canceling out shaving in the end, but I doubt the other treatments would be worth it financially. Time wise they might help. These articles amuse me though.
I think adding just about any of these to my already crazy schedule would make me insane and broke. Not saying I wouldn't love to try some of them. But right now I think it's not my best idea!
Well-Heeled: I had my first facial ever (deep-cleansing, complete with extractions!) about a month ago and I could not BELIEVE the difference it has made in my oily, super-acne-prone skin. It was about $100 with tip, but I'm a believer. I think I am going to try and go at least three to four times a year for maintenance. Spending $200 a year IS ultimately saving you money on products that don't work! And Fabulously Broke: I have to disagree with you that you that the same could be done at home. Not in my case, anyway. She got the gunk out of my face with surgical precision, and my skin was so smooth that it looked 10 years younger.
uhh… LASH EXTENSIONS?!?! They've got to be kidding me.
I certainly don't need ANY of those. I don't think any of those do save time, money or sanity. That's a pretty superficial life if that's the case. O_O;;
I had laser hair removal done on my legs and bikini area. I needed 8 treatments for my legs and had 10 done on my bikini area. That was two years ago and now I DEFINITELY need touch up appointments (especially for the bikini area).
I have the IDEAL hair/skin combination. I am exceptionally fair with very dark hair. So I'm the type of client who would need the LEAST amount of sessions.
So 5 is completely unideal. You'll still be shaving at least every 3 months if you just do 5 treatments.
I think these things (probably not ALL of them for everyone) help people who spend a good amount of a time/money on their appearance. If you take into consideration the time and cost of: daily blow-outs for curly/frizzy hair (could be 30 min+), various expensive hair products/tools, weekly/biweekly manis/pedis, either shaving (cheap but annoying/timely) or waxing ($$/trips to salon), and makeup (takes time/can be costly)…..
well, you get the picture. Personally I'm not that obsessed with my appearance but a few of these things did help me either monetarily or time-wise.
I used to do Japanese Hair Straightening (about $550 a pop!) once a year because it took me 30 minutes per day to dry/straighten my hair and it was still unruly! It wound up saving me tons of time and was the look I wanted. I also did laser hair removal in a few areas because I would wax often (and that can cost around $200 a month or more if you regularly do a couple of areas), so that DID save me a great deal of money. Nails…well, gel does last longer and it IS a pain, but my nails also last for 3 weeks without a single chip versus my friends who paint them weekly or complain about that. So, it's all a matter of what you did before and how much money you have to spend on all these "frivolous" expenses.
Most of these are silly if you really want to save money. Ok, they all are. I recently wrote a post about how I'm investing $4500 on laser hair removal and I believe THAT is a worthwhile investment for me. It's the largest purchase I've ever made outside of my $7k car, but it's something that will pay off over the long run. I'd love to do the hair treatment but I can't fathom spending $150 a couple of times a year on formaldehyde! For my Laser Hair Removal post check out http://hereverycentcounts.com/2011/03/im-taking-t…
Many of the tips given are just unnecessary, but maybe. nice The only things that can be time saver is the laser hair removal, if it worked.