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Style & beauty

Is it just me?

(131 Posts)
Quizzer Sat 27-Mar-21 10:25:37

At the end of a Zoom meeting yesterday the participants were discussing what they would do first when the lockdown ends. Other than seeing family and going to the hairdresser, many said that they would be having facials, body massages, pedicures and other beauty treatments. Am I alone in NEVER having had any of these things?
Just being brutally honest, I don’t think that those who said they needed facials would be likely to benefit from them.
Am I unusual in thinking that all these ‘beauty’ treatments are a self indulgent waste of money.

Peasblossom Sat 27-Mar-21 10:29:52

Probably.

However I’ve come to the conclusion that doing what I enjoy is the purpose of life?

BigBertha1 Sat 27-Mar-21 10:30:15

I dont think you are unusual or wrong however I think after the year we have all had a bit of self indulgence is a) to be expected and b) deserved. I think many of us who have such treatment know we are only gilding the lily/ following a hopeless quest but we gain much in the way of self esteem, emotional well-being and a nice break from the hum drum and or the responsibilites and pressures of work and home. It is also a large industry mostly employing women on low pay trying to keep their hearth and home together.

timetogo2016 Sat 27-Mar-21 10:32:48

Iv`e never had any beauty treatments,but each to their own.
At least it keeps people in work.

Aveline Sat 27-Mar-21 10:38:04

Sometimes it's not a matter of what you look like but how a treatment makes you feel. You might be missing something OP

Ashcombe Sat 27-Mar-21 10:45:16

Apart from having my hair styled and coloured professionally, I don’t have any other treatments but, as timetogo2016 says: each to her own.

Floradora9 Sat 27-Mar-21 10:59:29

Trip to hairdresser every 6 weeks and that is all . I hate that and would hate all the other treatments as well .

Redhead56 Sat 27-Mar-21 12:26:54

No I could not bare being touched by others for faces massages etc. I have friends who have had Botox and face lifts and honestly it’s made no difference. But live and let live if it makes them happy I would sooner spend money on my family.

M0nica Sat 27-Mar-21 12:30:41

And what is wrong with self-indulgence?

Calendargirl Sat 27-Mar-21 12:36:54

I don’t do any of these. Several friends love spa days and suchlike.
Up to them, but not bothered personally.

silverlining48 Sat 27-Mar-21 12:45:53

I had my first pedicure and facial at 50, have had other treatments since. Very relaxing and a nice treat.
Often local colleges do this sort of course and always look fir people to come in for the more experienced students to practice on. Its a really inexpensive way to have treatments and helps the students too.
I have had a mixture of college and salon treatments. Both good.

Grandma70s Sat 27-Mar-21 12:46:24

I would hate it, I need a haircut from time to time, and that’s it.

Casdon Sat 27-Mar-21 12:48:13

I think you are quite wrong in dismissing beauty treatments as a self indulgent waste of money. If they are, so is almost everything we do apart from keeping a basic roof over our heads and eating enough to stay alive. We all spend our disposable money on things that make us feel good, whether a bar of chocolate, our gardens, new furniture, our dogs and cats, collecting china, holidays or whatever. What differentiates beauty treatments from all these other things?

MerylStreep Sat 27-Mar-21 12:53:08

Quizzer
There might be some things that you self indulge in that I might find a self indulgent waste of money
Would you find that offensive that I judge your spending ?
Personally it will be a massage first. Not just because I love them but they are good for you.

Witzend Sat 27-Mar-21 12:57:11

I hate being mauled about, so would never want massages anyway.
I do my own manicures and pedicures quite successfully, I think (she said modestly) but I can’t wait to go to the hairdresser! Last cut was pre lockdown one - I wouldn’t dream of attacking it myself, I know it’d be a disaster - and wouldn’t let dh anywhere near with a pair of scissors, either.

I do envy him - he bought an electric trimmer months ago so every few weeks I ‘shear’ him in the kitchen - easy to sweep up the fuzz there.

B9exchange Sat 27-Mar-21 12:57:49

For those that enjoy them and can afford them, why ever not? I don't need chocolate, it does nothing for me (except for the theobromine effect) but I would never criticise anyone else for indulging, and I really do enjoy the occasional treat.

dahville Sat 27-Mar-21 13:02:09

Why would they be a waste of money? If the person enjoys the treatment and gets a further benefit by feeling they look good then I can’t see it as a waste of their money.

Obviously it would be for you to judge about your own money. If you didn’t enjoy the treatment, didn’t like the way you looked, and didn’t feel good treating yourself then it would be a waste of money to you.

123kitty Sat 27-Mar-21 13:02:14

Quizzer, don't you ever spoil or indulge yourself in anything frivolous?

janeainsworth Sat 27-Mar-21 13:05:02

I hate to reference the L'Oréal strap line, but I think self-indulgence sometimes, whatever form it takes, is important for well-being, as long as it doesn’t impact adversely on your finances or is selfish towards others.
Denying yourself the occasional treat, or failing to acknowledge that you need time to yourself, is basically telling yourself that you don’t deserve these things and you’re not worth it.
It’s part of growing up to recognise that you are.

Kim19 Sat 27-Mar-21 13:10:24

I'm totally up for the feel good factor. If anyone feels the benefit of having a personal treatment to that end then I see nothing wrong with it whatsoever. Happily I'm in the situation of believing that very little can improve upon perfection!

Witzend Sat 27-Mar-21 13:11:55

Should have added, I don’t think anything you enjoy can be said to be a waste of money - unless perhaps you enjoy burning £20 notes....
Just as well we don’t all enjoy the same things, though.

Lucca Sat 27-Mar-21 13:13:47

I would have a massage very very often if I were rich !
I have had a few and never felt I was being “mauled about “?

I like having beauty treatments I admit, and have gone to the same lady for about twenty years!

“Self indulgent “ maybe but so are a lot of things if we are not to live a totally ascetic Puritan life !!

Elusivebutterfly Sat 27-Mar-21 13:15:25

I have never had any of those beauty treatments and would not want them, they're not my idea of a treat. I do know though that a lot of women do enjoy these things.

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 27-Mar-21 13:20:49

DD2 is a Massage Therapist, people come to her for all sorts of reasons, some Medical, some who are now clear of Cancer and want to feel good and some who just want to be pampered, she still can’t work not only due to Covid but because of her recent op and Osteo Arthritis.

As for you being brutally honest,^those who need facials won’t benefit from them^ So very dismissive, what happened to women sticking together and raising us all up?

I would say Quizzer don’t knock it until you've tried it.

Esspee Sat 27-Mar-21 13:24:49

I have occasionally tried a range of beauty treatments and indulgences in the past (usually as gifts from my children) but the only thing I purchase regularly for myself are haircuts. I used to do those myself when I had long hair but now it is shorter I need help.
I have other indulgences I prefer to spend my money on and I’ve never felt any treatment made anything other than a very temporary improvement.