Is it just me?

I have had a couple of spa days with my sister. Indulgent, definitely! A waste of money? Absolutely not, we felt relaxed, soothed and so good. I don’t know if it made me more beautiful but the hydrotherapy pool and the massage definitely made me feel a lot better. My aches and pains melted away.

Am I unusual in thinking that all these ‘beauty’ treatments are a self indulgent waste of money

How are "beauty treatments" different to going to the hairdressers to have your hair cut? You could cut your own hair at home if you're so disinterested in your appearance or unwilling to be seen as "self indulgent". What's the difference?

I love having have these treatments.
I can’t wait to have a chocolate body wrap

I defy anyone, including, the OP to say they have never permitted themselves to treat themselves to a self indulgent waste of money at some time in their lives. It doesn't have to be beauty treatments, it could be an extra cup of coffee, a favourite food, a packet of seeds.

When it comes to beauty treatments, I am among those who do not particularly enjoy massages, but DH, DD and I love a day at a spa, one of those which is a water playground with indoor pools, outdoor pools, jacuzzis, different hot and cold showers heat rooms, saunas. We have no interest in any other facilities they may have. Actually that is a good idea, why do we not celebrate the end of lockdown with a spa day at our favourite spa?

I am looking forward to a haircut and getting my brows shaped and tinted, but that is just normal self maintenance contracted out.

There is no virtue in never having beauty treatments. but perhaps a bit of virute signalling, which, of course, is also a self indulgence.

I'd be asked if the place had been still closed ----on exiting the beautician's.

I more or less agree with you Quizzer. I do love a massage, but although I can afford to, think they are mostly an unnessary extravagance. And I don't indulge in any of the other treatments.

Fine I guess if you can afford them and enjoy them. I think mostly the things I enjoy don't have a financial cost. A day on the beach with my GS. Reading and enjoying the sun on my body. Sitting or walking by a river, watching the fish and the ducks.

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.

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.

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.

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 !!

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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

And what is wrong with self-indulgence?

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.

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