A penny saved…

Like with everything frugal, sometimes grooming seems too expensive to fit in the budget.  At the same time, looking sharp can help you in your business as well as personal life.  Think back to the last time you had a hair cut…how good did it make you feel?

If you’re anything like me, a good haircut gives a million dollar thrill. 

I love the pampered feeling of the haircut itself and that I feel so much better afterwards.  If I wasn’t trying to embrace frugality, I’d say that a great cut is worth whatever price necessary.  As it stands though, I have to say that there are ways of getting a great cut while still following your frugal budget.

So here’s some things I’ve tried with great success -I regularly get positive compliments on my hair (cut and colour): 

1. Barter.  Love it more than I can say.  If you have a friend or former stylist who can give a great cut/colour  (pay attention to the italics), barter gives you the opportunity to have an amazing treatment as long as you have the goods or skills you can trade.
2. NoFrills Mall Cut.  I used to go for salon cuts that averaged about $50 a cut.  While I’ve always been a slacker and don’t go every 4-6 weeks, my new budget doesn’t allow for that level of indulgence.  Once I was able to abandon my prejudice about MagicCuts, I’ve found that for $11, I can get a great haircut.  If I want to splurge and have my hair washed and styled in addition to the cut, the price tag weighs in under $18.
3. Hair Dressing Schools.  While the quality of cuts can vary with whatever student you get, I’ve found that they are usually fairly good.  The only thing to remember is that student hair stylists take a lot longer to cut than seasoned pros.  Budget more time than you normally would and keep some extra patience in your pocket.
4. Pick Them Scissors Up.  Not for the faint of heart.  I have cut my hair myself a few times and trim it regularly to keep it looking neat.  There was one time I pulled a Sinead and shaved my hair off completely - for frugality and daily maintenance, it was the perfect cut.

If you do decide to test out your hair dressing skills, remember that hair                   grows back.

While part of me longs for the days when someone would give me a hand massage while waiting for colour to take, I also realize that part of being frugal is accepting that my priorities have changed.   The massage would still be nice though!

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