How To Slay And Save
Before I went natural, I never spent too much money on
hair care. My budget wasn't high! When I was younger, my hair was taken care of by my mother, and my aunties. I never had to deal with the cost or even the maintenance. However, when I transitioned into adulthood, all the expenses began starting me in my face. As a college student, I never had much money. Of course, my parents helped where they could, but they only gave me the essentials. Things like hair care weren’t included in
the budget. When I wasn’t able to take care of my hair, I started hating being an adult. Everything was so expensive! Hair care seemed so out of reach, especially when products for natural hair were so expensive. If you’ve ever been in this position, don’t worry. Luckily, you’ll be able to see that there are plenty of resources available to you, even when you don’t have money. We’re going to let you know the top three ways to maintain your hair care even without the budget. Let’s get into it!
How Do You Budget?
Hair care isn’t cheap. Products range from $10-100. Even essential commodities such as shampoo and conditioner are expensive. For a college student, such as myself, or anyone that has a tight budget, you can use these ways to save money. First, you can quickly try some DIY methods. Pretty much any essential product such as shampoo, conditioner, or deep conditioner can be created at home. Second, you can opt to buy some
cheap products last longer than usual. Third, you can choose hairstyles that will last a long time. By doing any of these three techniques, you will say your money without losing any of
your expensive hair care. Keep in mind that budgeting requires that you choose options that fit into your financial plans. This means that you won’t have space to get the expensive hair products or tools. However, if you can afford something that would be considered valuable, you should buy it! Tight budget means something different for everyone. Whatever your budget is, make sure that you stay within that. Don’t be afraid to cut some things out so that you can afford what you need. It’s all about doing what works best for you.
DIY Magic
Anyone that’s anyone knows that DIY is one of the best ways to save money, have fun and take care of your hair. When I was younger, I didn’t know that things like
shampoo and conditioner could be made instead of bought. Making your products is a great way to figure out what works best for you. Also, the added benefit is that the ingredients are right in your kitchen. You can play around with what’s in your fridge, and cabinets without ever spending too much money! There are tons of DIY recipes available to you. One of my favorite recipes is the banana hair mask. It’s made from banana, which is excellent for anyone needing some extra protein in their hair life. Making a DIY hair conditioner is excellent for anyone that needs hair care for the low. Conditioning your hair will increase moisture, which will help you maintain your hair for a more extended period. The more moisturized your hair, the more manageable it’ll be when it comes to washing it. When your hair is dry and brittle, you risk needing more treatment to take care of it properly. Making a
DIY recipe makes it so much easier.
Stick With Something Cheap
The second option and the most utilized option is to stick with something cheap. Yes, the cheap hair care products aren’t the best, but they can get the job down. Of course, before you choose to use a more competitive product, make sure you’re not allergic to it. Do a skin patch test to check and ensure that you don’t have an adverse reaction to it. Cheaper products are always fun to use, especially when you’ve been using a specific product for some time, but they’ll help you maintain your budget as you move along. Don’t be afraid of cheap products. They are helpful, and efficient when you need them to be!
Protective Styles
Protective styles are my favorite way to maintain a budget. Protective styles can be worn for long periods of time, and depending on what you get, they’ll be less maintenance. Some protective styles that don’t require much maintenance include crotchet styles,
braids, and wigs. Wigs are my favorite because they are versatile, yet effective. They don’t require much maintenance outside of an occasional light washing and conditioning. Braids are also incredible since they don’t require any styling. You can wake up and go without needing anything. The most you’ll need is some light mousse and some oil for your scalp. Just because you have protective styles, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wash your hair. However, wearing the
protective styles will help you maintain your budget because you won’t need to wash your hair as often. Most likely, you won’t need to use much product either.
Remember This!
All in all, you don’t need to worry too much about hair care if you don’t have the funds. Taking care of yourself, especially your hair is expensive at times. I know some people that spend hundreds of dollars on products alone. That doesn’t have to be you, especially when you’re on a tight budget. The best three ways to maintain your hair on a budget is to wear your protective styles. They will save your life. Also, DIY will be kind to your budget as well. The cheaper products aren’t my favorite option, but sometimes you need to do what you need to do. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to your budget. Just be aware that you’ll need to be mindful of what you’re spending and how as you move along. Your budget doesn’t have to hurt for you to slay your hair! Don’t fret about it! If you have any other tips on how to maintain hair, leave a comment!
