6 simple (yet fabulous) ways to pamper yourself at home on a budget
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- The reason why you should budget for pampering and self-care
- 6 Ways to Pamper yourself that are budget-friendly
- Style your hair with extensions that match your natural hair texture
- Find high-quality skincare products that meet your skin’s needs
- Budget-Friendly Body Care
- How to get the lash extension look at home
- How to get salon-quality nails at home
- Conclusion
Intro
No matter the size of your budget, pampering yourself is still important. Regardless of how much disposable income you may have, self-care is one item that should remain a priority. Carving out “me time” has undeniable benefits when it comes to our mental and physical health. Truth be told, you don’t have to fork up thousands of dollars to get it done. We all want to be conscious and intentional spenders! Today you’ll learn six tips for frugal pampering and self-care that fit any budget.
The reason why you should budget for pampering and self-care
When we think of areas to cut down on our spending, we usually look towards our variable, discretionary expenditures. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in high maintenance mode or more laid back and reserve your appointments for special occasions. I’d like to argue that pampering and self-care are concepts that women should prioritize in daily life.
“Why?” might you ask? Because pampering and self-care provide you the platform and opportunity to prioritize yourself. Dedicated time for pampering is the perfect escape from the sometimes mundane and stressful office and classroom life environments we face as women. Having this priority in place can help us to achieve a sense of balance and peace.
Naturally, in managing our careers, we are bound to face some form of stress. The further along we go, the more responsibilities and considerations that we will have to factor in. Things like pursuing graduate education, student debt, bills, relationships, and mortgages are all fair game.
The concept of money management in itself can be stressful if not handled appropriately. Without taking the required amount of time to pour into ourselves, it’s easy to begin resenting our journey. Whether it’s furthering our education, hitting a net worth goal, and so forth. We deserve to enjoy the life we are creating for ourselves!
related: the beginner’s guide to building better financial habits in your 20’s
In reading the book Women with Money by Jean Chatzky, she mentions the idea that as women, we’re taught that some of our expenses, especially those relating to beauty, are trivial and can be a waste of money. However, this isn’t one hundred percent true!
The notion that women should ignore these things entirely isn’t a fair judgment call. Of course, I’m still new to the budgeting and personal finance journey myself. However, I will say that it is essential to evaluate your goals in the short and long term. If your current habits don’t align with your plans, find workarounds to get you to where you would like to go.
And remember that once you have a spending plan in place, there is no need to feel guilty about spending on self-care.
6 Ways to Pamper yourself that are budget-friendly
Style your hair with extensions that match your natural hair texture
This section is written from my perspective of having natural/textured hair. Finding a trustworthy and reputable stylist in your city can be a trying task, but hold onto them for dear life when you find a good one!
With this being said, stylist fees can be hefty, and they add up if you maintain a biweekly regimen. Suppose this is an area that you would like to cut back on; try finding simple, low-maintenance hairstyles for your specific hair texture and type. Some options include braided styles or updos, as well as twist-outs and braid-outs.
If you’d like to take this further, clip-ins and u-part wigs that match your hair texture can be an excellent solution for adding length and volume.
I continue to mention texture, especially for readers with natural hair, to help avoid the touch-ups required with heat for maintaining straighter styles. Using a matching texture is easier to blend and maintain, but this is totally up to your discretion at the end of the day.
I aim to see my hairstylist at least once every month, but if not every three months, to stay up-to-date with my trim schedule. When the budget is right, my goal in life is to maintain a biweekly schedule because there is no more incredible feeling than having your hair laid!
Related: how to create a self-care routine for your mind, body, and soul
find high-quality skincare products that meet your skin’s needs
Of course, we would all love to be in a position where we could visit the esthetician and get facials every month, but this isn’t the most realistic option for many of us, especially those who are now starting our careers. With many Spas charging in the hundreds for just one visit, not including a consultation, going this route can feel a bit daunting.
I will never downplay the importance of skincare; after all, you cannot hide your face. However, we can achieve healthy skin by creating an excellent foundation for ourselves by making simple adjustments from home! Skincare is achievable with a DIY approach; it just requires a lot of thought, patience, and research.
My first recommendation on the vein of thought and research is to dedicate time to this step and not cut corners. As we have Brands charging in the single digits for products, I think it does beg the question of why the products are priced so low. Good things typically don’t come cheap, and while that doesn’t mean that you need to Fork out La Mer or Biologique Recherche Money before you swipe your credit card, you will want to double-check where the products are made, how they’re formulated.
You also want to remember that skincare is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Your skin will have unique needs that may differ from your favorite influencer or even your best friend. With that comes complexity and potential confusion, so don’t be afraid to turn towards a professional.
Google can be great, but a board-certified professional is even better! If you aren’t sure where to start, try consulting a highly rated esthetician or a reliable dermatologist. Ideally, as a woman of color, you will want to see someone specializing in darker skin tones.
There are apps out there that can do this work for you, but I think that a licensed professional who can scope out the scene of your face in person will be your best bet. Remember that skincare is science, so speaking to someone who can analyze your skin’s needs professionally and who understands the basis of product formulations will do you well.
Resources: Black Derm Directory + Brown Skin Estie
Budget-friendly body care
Options for at home body hair removal
Between you and me, I might be waxing’s biggest hater. I’ve tried it many times, and I want to love it, but I’m not quite sure why we’re paying $100 a month to endure so much pain. It hurts! And at the end of the day, it still causes ingrown hairs.
With that being said, if you do have a low pain tolerance and don’t have any significant events coming up, I recommend that you invest in a high-quality razor or trimmer such as the Braun Silk epil-9.
Hair removal creams or depilatories are also a solid alternative for the body. Still, due to their chemical makeup, you’ll undoubtedly want to do a patch test or consult a professional before using them to ensure that you don’t experience any skin irritation or burns.
Or, if you want to take it a level up, I plan to save up some money and invest in a laser hair removal package to be more or less done with the whole thing after a while. But again, this is personal and totally up to your discretion. If it’s not a headache for you, don’t make it one!
how to get moisturized and glowing skin at home
I am a massive fan of body oils, especially when you come out of the shower, and my favorite at the moment is Kiehl’s creme de corps body oil. It is lightweight, not greasy, smells incredible, and makes your skin look fantastic. I have no complaints. It also will last you an incredibly long time because a little bit goes a long way.
I also recommend that you invest in a quality body lotion or cream. To no surprise, my favorite is Kiehl’s creme de corps body moisturizer and Kiehl’s Creme de Corps body butter. I’ve been experimenting, and I’ve been around the block, but this is my number one absolute most favorite body lotion. The good news is that you can usually find it on sale! Kiehl’s frequently has sales if you’re on the email list, or you can check your local Nordstrom Rack, which is where I found my first bottle, but regardless of where you purchase it, you will not be disappointed these two products are top-notch.
How to get the lash extension look at home
Do not get me started on lash extensions! Once you can find a reputable lash tech, lash extensions will be the closest thing you can get to a* cue the Beyonce* I woke up like this flawless look.
If you are going to someone reputable (which you should be…don’t play with your eyes, sis!), the price is $100 minimum for a full set and can usually cost even more. You also have an added $100+ every two to three weeks that you visit your tech for a fill. This price may not even include the tip if you’re going beyond your natural classic set. A hybrid or volume set will cost you even more!
I was obsessed with my lash extensions and always stayed on top of my fill schedule because they gave me that pop. I never really had to wear makeup if I didn’t feel like it because I always looked put together. They make getting ready so easy and will make you look cute even when you shouldn’t.
But with me becoming more and more conscious of my spending and budget, I just knew that this monthly cost would not propel me towards my goal.
So I put on my Sherlock Holmes hat and began to research. From here, I found two options:
The first being Lashify. Lashify is a DIY lash extension kit that is highly beginner-friendly. They come in all styles of volume length and colors so that there is always an option no matter what your preference is. Lashify is almost foolproof, but if you need extra help, this brand provides a white-glove experience so that you can consult with a concierge to assist you with the application process.
My second find and my current favorite is Latisse. I’ve been on Latisse for almost two months now, so I’m nearly reaching the point where I can give a concrete review. But so far, I do feel like I am seeing the results kicking in. My lashes look about the length they did when I had my extensions in, and the fullness is undeniable.
Latisse extends the growth cycle of your natural lashes, allowing them to become longer and Fuller. My thought process going into this was, why pay for a mascara set when I can naturally have the look of one?
Something to note with Latisse is that it is prescription-grade and has to be prescribed to you by a professional. However, it is eligible for HSA payment so that you can finance this with pre-tax dollars.
a win-win if I’ve ever seen one
How to get Salon quality nails at home
One cool thing about the pandemic is that it has turned so many of us into Nail techs! Whether or not you live in a big city, the price of nail maintenance has become egregious. It is sky high! If you’re big on the nail design trends of the moment, you’re looking at spending at least 5 to $10 a finger for designs which is an extra $50 on top of your base cost for, say, an acrylic or gel X set.
As I’ve mentioned throughout this post, it’s one hundred percent up to you where and how you spend your money. So if nails are an area that you want to budget for, you don’t need to feel guilty. But if you want to save some money or cut back in this department and get the salon look at home, there are many DIY options that you can take.
I decided to head in this direction because even though I love the feeling of walking out of the salon with a fresh mani-pedi, sometimes I don’t have the patience for it. Sometimes I want to drop my hands and feet off at the salon and come back to pick them up! Is this too much for a girl to ask?
The first thing that I’ve tried has been Dazzle Dry. Dazzle Dry is a quick-dry chemist formulated nail polish system that is marketed to last at least two weeks. In my experience, I’ve got in one week of solid wear without chip which is still impressive compared to your standard polish, which lasts about 5 minutes. I wish I were joking.
The brand carries tons of finishes and colors. You’ll find everything from your holographic to your solids. They are a bit pricier than a regular polish, with one bottle costing about $20, but I do think it’s worth it, especially in comparison to the salon cost. Even a salon manicure with Dazzle Dry will cost you about $60 in NYC.
Another favorite of mine is the Kiara Sky gelly tips set; this at-home Gel-X system is surprisingly easy to apply and is the closest I’ve come to achieving salon-quality results.
This route has a bit of a steep startup cost that will run you about $100, not including the additional tools you might need, such as:
- An e-file (the electric file used to buff and shape the nail)
- Nail buffer (a gentle option for the natural nail)
- Gel polishes (these colors are perfect for the fall)
However, once you purchase these items, which you can find at a relatively affordable price, you’re looking at a kit that can provide you at least 20 manicures, with each lasting at least three weeks minimum. You also can do a DIY refill using the builder gel that comes with the system.
I highly recommend the jelly tips, especially if you like to wear nail extensions. Kiara sky is quality is the highest of the high, and the nail tips come in every shape and length. So whether you like your nails, square, almond, coffin, or stiletto, you can get each style in short, medium, or long! These nails are durable and easy to remove, and they are the closest that I’ve been able to get to the nail extension Salon look. They are also virtually foolproof since they are already shaped and filed.
Pampering and maintenance on a budget: closing thoughts
Being on a budget or simply being mindful of your spending does not mean that you need to neglect self-care or maintenance. Looking polished and feeling renewed From the Inside Out is a fantastic feeling that every woman should experience.
Whether you decide to get a handle on your spending and budget for your maintenance or decide that you want to cut down, you now have multiple alternatives to add to your locker!
Remember everything it’s fine in moderation, especially if you have a plan. As you can see, whether you want to go to a professional or at-home route, there are options at every level.
And once you get into the habit of taking care of yourself both inside and outside, you’ll notice the amount of peace and clarity you have in your day-to-day life and extra space within yourself that you can devote to other areas of self-improvement and refinement. You’ll also notice some extra room in your budget, which you will indeed thank yourself for – now, what’s better than that?
