5 ways to save on beauty treatments and products

Beauty services don’t come cheap and with the volatile rand, imported products are costing more and more. If looking lovely is breaking the bank, consider these five ways to reduce your beauty budget – but still leave the house with your head held high.

Have your hair styled by a trainee Lots of the bigger hair salon groups – and even some of the smaller ones – will offer you reduced or free haircuts and styles if you put yourself in the hands of a trainee. For example, Carlton Hair offers trainee styles at their academy in Greenside, Johannesburg (call for the schedule and availability). There’s always a senior hairstylist on hand for consultation and fix-ups!

Sign up for Daddy’s Deal’s and Hyperli There are great deals to be found at Hyperli and Daddy’s Deals – and there’s almost always a beauty treatment option available in your city. If you’re not too picky about the salon or the area, you can save a packet on manis and pedis, massages and facials.

If you’re not too picky about the salon or the area, you can save a packet.

Bonus tip: Sign up for RubyBox and get great free products and samples.

Join a loyalty programme – and be loyal Work out which pharmacy group is the most convenient for you to visit, and sign up for their loyalty programme. Dis-Chem and Clicks have great ones. Then make sure you always buy your beauty products at the same place, so that you can benefit from the points. If you save up all year, you might even earn yourself a big beauty product binge by December.

Have a get-together with the girls to do your nails Some beauty services – like a haircut – you need someone else to do for you, but others – like doing your nails – you really can do just as well yourself. It’s the fun and spoiling of a half hour at the nail bar that keeps you paying for this service. Rather than forking out a fortune for shiny nails, get together with a group of girlfriends every second week to do a group mani at someone’s house. It may not be quite as much of a spoil, but you certainly won’t be missing out on the fun – and you’ll save a fortune.

Try home skin and hair treatments You don’t always need to buy an expensive mask or a treatment for your hair or skin. Often, you can achieve wonders at home with products you already have in the kitchen or bathroom. Honey, for example, has great antibacterial and moisturising properties for your skin - mix baking soda and honey for a gentle exfoliator. And apple cider vinegar and egg whites will leave your hair soft and silky. Just remember to always test a new beauty product on a strand of hair or a patch of skin on your arm in case you have any kind of reaction to the ingredients.