How much do you spend on your hair in a year?

[Jean]

What is wrong with shampoo? I really like the body and shine my hair has now that I've found a product that works for me. I actually LIKE my hair!

I, too, will be interested to hear the answer to your question. But I suspect it might have to do with the challenges of dealing with very curly hair. I remember that my black college girlfriends had to manage their hair much differently than those of us with straight or wavy hair.

[vicki]

What is wrong with shampoo? I really like the body and shine my hair has now that I've found a product that works for me. I actually LIKE my hair!

I, too, will be interested to hear the answer to your question. But I suspect it might have to do with the challenges of dealing with very curly hair. I remember that my black college girlfriends had to manage their hair much differently than those of us with straight or wavy hair.

This is my experience and may not reflect what others think. Part of the problem is that shampoo actually coats the hair and lets it get dirtier--like when you leave detergent on carpet or in clothes. However, if that isn't the case (depending upon the alkalinity of your water), it strips your hair of natural oil. Then you add more conditioner (most conditioners and hair products use dimethicone which is shiny, but also coats the hair and makes it unable to accept the natural oils). Your hair gets oilier and needs to be washed daily in many cases (especially if it's short and more noticeable).

I can't speak for straight-haired people, but I know that once I started using soda and vinegar (and cheap cone-less conditioner), I only have to wash once a week with soda.

By the way--manufacturers are catching on. They are making expensive shampoo without sulfates and expensive conditioners with "no cones."

This site has some good advice, though I do love my Silkiessence Dollar Store conditioner. http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/10 ... ing_No_Poo

[Kel]

Less than I spend on my nails!

I did my hair myself for many years . . . no makeup, no nail polish, frumpy, and feeling virtuous and frugal by being that way.

It's TIME! I can afford it, so I treat myself. Often.

[Bridget]

I'm closer to Worknmom on this one. Haircut every 2-3 months at $50, foil highlights a couple of times a year at $150, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray - although all of those are from Target. So I'm probably around $800 - $1000 a year. Good grief!!

[vicki]

Haircuts cost $50? I'd be growing out my hair if they cost that much. I think $13 is a lot, and that includes the tip!

[workn mom]

And I confess, I do treat myself to a mani/pedi every month. That's what I do when I need some "me" time. I love it, and I'm hooked. Of course, that's the first thing to go when we're in a tight financial situation, but I do enjoy it! In fact, dh used to give me a hard time about doing it, but I've talked him into going with me, and he's hooked too! That was so devious of me, wasn't it?!?! I very rarely have to tell him when I need my mani/pedi, because he is usually ready before I am. It's one of those things we do together, and it's wonderful!!

[vicki]

And I confess, I do treat myself to a mani/pedi every month. That's what I do when I need some "me" time. I love it, and I'm hooked. Of course, that's the first thing to go when we're in a tight financial situation, but I do enjoy it! In fact, dh used to give me a hard time about doing it, but I've talked him into going with me, and he's hooked too! That was so devious of me, wasn't it?!?! I very rarely have to tell him when I need my mani/pedi, because he is usually ready before I am. It's one of those things we do together, and it's wonderful!!

Never had a pedicure, but I had a manicure in 1977, just before we got Marisa. After I had kids and was changing diapers, I didn't want a manicure. Now I'm not changing diapers, but I don't even remember what manicures are like. And I'm missing one nail, so I think I should automatically get a 10% discount. (20% for my feet because I have no big toe nails.)

[Kel]

I've been getting the new kind of manicures . . . shellac . . . that last a couple of weeks (although they tend to last three weeks for me, even with washing dishes by hand). To get the nail polish off, I have to return to the studio, where they put remover-soaked pads on each fingernail and wrap each finger in aluminum foil for ten or fifteen minutes. Then, they use sort of a mini belt sander to remove the polish. I love these manicures, as I don't have to do anything to protect my nails from cleaning products, dishwashing, etc. The polish just stays on until it grows out.

K . . . I have at least one manicure per month at $25, one pedicure for sure every month at $25, a hair cut every other month at about $25, a facial every month for $85 (includes face, neck, shoulder, and back massage, plus some foot manipulation that's supposed to help rosacea . . . HUGE treat), and eyebrows waxed twice a month for ten dollars each time. I've been doing all that for a couple of years now, and paying for it with money earned myself.

I dye my hair myself . . . never often enough!

A few years ago, I was pretty judgmental about that kind of thing, figuring someone who would even go have a manicure must be pretty shallow, or not have much else to do. I have an entirely different attitude these days. I also often treat one of my girls to the same thing I'm having. Faithie and I went and had manicures on Friday. She chose glow-in-the-dark, green nail polish!

[Ruth]

This is such an interesting thread. I only get my hair cut once or twice a year simply because I'm too lazy and cheap. First of all I dislike having a cut because it always takes me about a week to get it to do what I want it to do and get used to the new set of waves I have to deal with. Secondly I would much rather spend my $30.00 on clothes than my hair.

I have really thick and shiny hair. I've never used conditioner, although I've tried. When I use conditioner my hair goes crazy - unmanageable. My daughters are all jealous that I can get away with just using Suave shampoo and have soft shiny hair.

I wouldn't dare color my hair because it is/was red and cousins who have tried to dye their red hair had disastrous results. I'm getting streaks of grey so now my hair looks more like a shade of brown with highlights. I'm going to go ahead and let it turn grey even if it makes me look 100. Since I dislike spending time and money getting a cut I would never survive getting it colored!!!

As for manicures, some people just LOVE that. I absolutely HATE having someone do my nails. I hate emery boards or any type of file on my nails. EEeeeewwwwww....makes my teeth hurt! I had a pedicure once in high school with my friends. Never ever ever again.

HOWEVER...I love clothes. I the money I "save" on my hair gets spent on clothes.

[vicki]

I spend so little on hair color that it's negligible. I was thinking about it, and I don't go through a whole 2 ounce tube in a year ($4.95). Putting it on with a toothbrush is really easy, so I'll continue doing it. I originally estimated $20 a year, but it's more like $5. That's not bad for someone my age who likes to get rid of the gray.