To wonder how people will afford their many beauty treatments?

Had my hair washed, cut and blow dried by my hairdresser who has a salon in her garage. £10. This was yesterday.

Never have facials, nail treatments, spa days, anything like that. Don’t wear make up.

I think I am low maintenance!

Much also depends on how kind nature has been to us. i.e. some of us have very thin hair which needs a good cut, or very bushy eyebrows which needs a good shaping from time to time. I found a Boots face cream which actually performed better on my face than an expensive £52 one which was way to greasy as recommended by a beautician who would have got a good commission cut from it. We live and learn.

Expensive creams are a waste of money and facials are temporary. I’m happy with a large jar of Vaseline. It removes my waterproof mascara too. Long gaps between hairdresser visits, the roots covered with root spray.
I will pinch here and spend there. Nothing will stop me going out for meals or theatre trips, but the teabag will be used twice (or even three) times.
Slug eyebrow wearers should remember that the eyebrows are sisters not twins.

Love that last sentence hollysteers!

I do think it is very different if you are retired and can afford it- but it concerns me that mums who now have to make difficult choices abotu feeding children- are also addicted to false nails, eyelashes, slug eyebrows, facials, botox, hair extensions, etec, etc.

I never had a spa or facials I don’t dye my hair or do my nails. I can afford these things but I would sooner spend money on my family.

JaneJudge

Do you know I haven't seen my dentist since before the pandemic and they sent me a text yesterday, not asking me to go in to have my teeth checked but to invite me to a % off botox and derma fillers

Oh JaneJudge,
I've had such a laugh at this!
I wasn't even aware dentists offered these treatments, and I'd not take them if offered!
Did you?

Redhead56,
It's the natural life for us!

I'd rather keep up my hairdresser who isn't cheap but cuts superbly, and my skin care, (in the £20 per item range, several products) than go for meals or have holidays - electrolysis when needed on face, and the lovely but not too expensive bio-oil for body. Never had a manicure or pedicure in my life!

Long ago I went for facials and learnt there exactly what to do. I don't wear any make up. All my life I hear my mums words, "looking healthy and natural is the best thing you can be". (with a little help from reasonably priced products)

I love this assumption that we are all enjoying many beauty treatments!

It must be meant as a compliment, surely?

I was asked by a previous dentist if I wanted Botox I stopped going there. I haven’t been to the dentist since before the pandemic either I have not wanted to be that close to someone masks or not. I guess I will have to give in when I am in agony.

A lot of this spending has to do with self esteem and the pressure to maintain an image. Smoke and mirrors.

I cant remember the last time I wore make up or had my hair cut in a salon. As a kid I was plain and I spent a lot of money and time "making the best of myself". That sort of petered out when I became an academic as most wear very informal clothes around campus. Elaborate beauty treatments and designer clothes would probably get you (at worst) laughed at and (at best) not taken seriously as an intellect.

I now run a business selling vintage accessories so I see the value of image and marketing. I am also aware of what a shit show it is to be made to feel you need to "look" a certain way. That must be difficult to resist if you are not a strong personality who is centered within yourself.

Many just don't realize that you don't have to spend a fortune to have lovely skin. I get so many comments about mine and people ask me what I use. I even had a nurse comment on the softeners of the skin on my arm as she put the needle in for my jab... I am heading for 72

I have a friend who owns a couple of hair salons. She says the business is recession-proof - when times are good people move up a band or two, when they are bad they move down. But they still have their hair done!

A hair cut is not really a beauty treatment, is it?

Unless you have complicated treatments and colouring, hair extensions and the like.

We are, it seems to be, talking about nail extensions, hair extensions, lash extensions, boob extensions, bum extentions, and lots of 'reductions', botox and 'minor' plastic surgery.

I've a friend who pays for a straightening hair treatment at £200 3 times a year and then a colour £90 every 5wks, plus massages, eyelash tints, facials, etc. I honestly couldn't or wouldn't pay for all that.
I'm for my hairdresser on Thurs after 4 months, I'm lucky I'm not really going grey yet at 56. I do my own nails and use Nivea facial sheets a couple of times a month. I wear a bit of makeup every day, but it's drugstore items and normally when it's on a offer.

Just had to spend £800 yesterday on a gum operation as I don’t want to lose my teeth, ouch ! However it’s as others say, what is important to you. I only have my hair cut when it needs it, and my few grey streaks currently emerging look quite a nice colour …. I shade in my eyebrows everyday, I never buy perfume as my DD and DIL always give me their leftovers ?. I’m still wearing a fake fur coat that DD bought in a charity shop 22 years ago. I walk a lot instead of paying for a gym membership. I revamp my old clothes and my main extravagance is my travelling, that’s what gives me the most pleasure.

Hhmmm.... quite a lot of ‘ virtue signalling’ from the ladies who take pride in doing very little over those of us who do a fair bit!

I have my white hair coloured every 5 weeks and hair cut and straightened at the same time. If there is something special in between I have a wash and blo dri. I have shoulder length hair and prefer it very straight with a fringe. I have my nails done about every 3 months and gels applied if I'm going on holiday or a special "do". I also have a pedicure twice a year to keep my toes healthy and my feet smooth. I enjoy the occasional back and shoulder massage and facial. Extravagant? I don't think so, I don't have a mobile phone, have never smoked and am fairly careful with my money which is now mostly pensions earned from nearly 50 years working full time ( and bringing up children, supporting elderly relatives etc etc that we all do).

I am always amazed at the nail bars, beauty salons being full any time I take a trip into the nearest town. And, there are a lot of them almost the same as coffee shops.

Freeing myself from ‘beauty’ treatments was so liberating! I now go to the hairdresser for a re-cut once a year. I make my own face cream. Do my own nails. Pluck my own eyebrows. I make sure my weight stays within bounds and focus on staying healthy. Good health is the best beauty treatment. Eat lots of protein and fat (not oils) and avoid sugar/carbs like the plague to keep skin, hair and bones healthy.

Forgot to add, wear a bit of makeup every day. Good for your self-esteem. Xxxxx

Just a quick tip - look into your local college training beauty therapists. They do very low priced treatments and are always very well supervised.

Zetacatty

Just a quick tip - look into your local college training beauty therapists. They do very low priced treatments and are always very well supervised.

I was going to say the same thing Zetacatty.. Ihave pedicures and massages at my local college.. they take longer but they are invariably around the tenner price.. and always well done by delightful young trainee beauticians

I think it depends on priorities. I spend next to nothing on beauty products, and occasionally buy good quality clothes so they last. I have a hair cut about every 6 months. I don’t eat out or have takeaways, very rarely have holidays or evenings out because I’d rather use my money on my photographic hobby.

There is no more reason to worry about how people afford many beauty treatments than there is to be concerned about others' meals out, holidays, clothing, or alcohol costs.