Haircare on a budget

With the cost-of-living crisis appearing daily in the news, many are looking for ways to reduce their outgoings and seeking ways to cut back.

Hair care is certainly an area that can bring with it additional costs such as regular visits to the hairdresser, colour appointments, the latest styling tool and product, but great hair care doesn’t have to break the bank.

Here, a media spokesperson for the The Institute of Trichologists, Victoria Scott MIT shares her top tips for cutting back but not compromising on great hair.

 

1. A parade of products

A quick and easy way to reduce your hair care costs is to review the products you use at home. The most expensive shampoo, conditioner and styling product are not necessarily the best. There are many affordable, brilliantly effective products out there, so do your research. You could also try using slightly less product each time to help it last longer.

Review your current selection of products and consider, do you really need them and more importantly do you use them – try to simplify and streamline your hair care routine. It might be more economical to spend on a few key haircare products that do the job well, rather than trying every latest trend or products that promise a quick fix. Also compare the costs of buying your favourite products in larger, salon sizes, it may be that in the long run it works out cheaper, than regularly stocking up.

 

2. Home maintenance

One area in particular to focus on is keeping any split ends at bay. Chemical processing and using too much heat are prime culprits of split ends. Using less heat on the hair also helps your colour to last longer, as the hair is less porous if less heat is used. Regular trims can keep hair looking vibrant and healthier, so try not to skip these. Consider skipping the blow dry at the salon instead and discuss with your stylist natural drying techniques that might be suitable, if finances won’t allow that drying treat. It’s really a Win Win – Less heat = greater moisture retention and condition, and a few pennies saved.

A good conditioner will also help keep the hair looking smooth and shiny. Ingredients such as glycerine are particularly good at hydrating the hair and is found in a range of products.

 

3. Be water wise

Try adding an extra day in between washing your hair, not only will this help your products last longer but it will reduce water usage. If you wash your hair in the shower, aim to reduce the length of time spent with the water running which will also help reduce the cost.

Myths have always circulated about how washing your hair in cold water will help make it shinier but cold water will not make hair shinier, only you colder, and maybe more awake!

If you’re wanting to stretch your products further, look at whether you are you using too much in the first place? You could you try using a little less and see if it makes a difference.

 

4. Don’t give yourself a shock

A great tip to help reduce your energy bills is to reduce your use of a hairdryer and styling tools. Every now and then, gently wrap the hair in a towel or leave to dry naturally. Giving hair a break and using less heat on your hair will also do wonders for its condition.

 

5. Colour clever

Many of us enjoy a trip to the salon for that fresh colour feeling, but it’s often a pricey trip. Try to maintain your colour for longer using the correct products designed to prolong the colour and hopefully skip the odd refresh appointment. The best way to ensure that your colour lasts is to use the right shampoos and conditioners and to avoid using too much heat on the hair when styling as this will increase it fading. So by using less heat on the hair not only will it help your colour last longer, it also reduces energy usage. There are lots of root touch products on the market now to help you to stretch your colour appointment. Take your time to apply them, build the colour up gradually, try not to coat the scalp as this is a giveaway sign that you have been using a home product.

You could also try the occasional at-home colour treatment, but always do a patch test before use and if in doubt, hold out for that appointment as it could prove more costly to fix an at-home error.

 

6. Savvy shortcuts

While we’re all keen to find ways to cut back, try where you can, to use sparingly certain shortcuts. 2in1 and multiuse products can be great for every now and then, but to keep your hair and scalp in its best condition opt to use products which are designed and suited to your hair type and concern.

If you love dry shampoo to stretch your hair washing from daily to every other day, make sure that you wash it out properly, this is a good example of where shampooing twice can be really beneficial. Dry shampoo if not properly removed can irritate the scalp and really dehydrate the hair, so do use it sparingly.

During these difficult times, stress can play a huge role in our overall health and wellbeing. Stress can affect so many aspects of our bodies’ normal functioning and the hair is one of those areas that can suffer as a result of high levels of stress.  Stress can be an underlying causative factor in different types of hair loss. Finding a way to manage your stress levels is key in improving stress related hair loss, whether that’s yoga, meditation, going for a walk, whatever works for you.

If concerned about hair thinning or hair loss do seek expert advice from a trichologist, it can be a long term investment in your overall physical and mental health and happiness.