Beautiful Hair on a Budget
By Cloverleaf
The last time I went to my hair salon for highlights, and a cut and blow dry, I ended up being charged $210! My hairdresser did do a fabulous job of my hair, but after signing away my life on the credit card bill I was left feeling pretty ripped-off. All the way home I kept thinking "How did my bill get to be $210?" instead of thinking "wow my hair feels really great!" This experience was supposed to be a treat for me but instead I was left thinking about my budget and wondering whether my salon "treat" was worth the money.
There was no way that I could afford to continue going to the salon to maintain my highlights, at least not at that price. After all, life gets pretty expensive anyway, what with all the regular bills coming in. So with that, I decided to look for some alternatives to keep my hair looking salon-great without spending a fortune!
Cut Your Own Hair
If you've ever thought about cutting your own hair, but dare not get out the scissors in case of a hair mishap, then you may not have heard about CreaClip. You can easily save hundreds of dollars per year for you and your family, by choosing to cut your own hair at home with CreaClip. Basically, CreaClip is set of two plastic clips formed in a clever design that assist you in trimming hair, or even cutting it into a completely new style. CreaClip comes with awesome instructions on how you can cut and style your own hair at home, even if you have never done it before! See for yourself, and watch the video below.
 | Amazon Price: $32.99 List Price: $31.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $44.99 List Price: $59.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $28.00 |
As you can see in the video, CreaClip tightly holds the hair in place with plastic teeth, so that once you get the clip in place ready to cut, it won't move. You can easily trim your hair and bangs just like a professional hair stylist! Even if you have never cut your own hair before, you will be very impressed with the results of a neat, clean cut to the style of your choice. CreaClip has a built-in level so that you don't have to worry about your hair looking lop-sided or uneven.
If you don't have any experience with cutting hair, then I recommend buying the Creaclip Professional Haircutting Tool Complete Kit which includes 2 Sizes of CreaClips, Professional Scissors and an instructional DVD. Priced at under $50 from Amazon, this one-time investment will pay for itself in just 1-2 uses! Alternatively, you can just buy the basic CreaClip set without the instructional video or scissors for under $35, and then teach yourself by watching instructional YouTube videos. The video below, for example, clearly demonstrates how easy it is to cut layers for medium to long layered hairstyles.
Also, Research Analyst has published some excellent hubs about popular layered hair styles. Check them out:-
 | Amazon Price: $7.60 List Price: $9.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.56 List Price: $14.72 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.49 List Price: $33.45 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.85 List Price: $10.15 |
 | Amazon Price: $6.49 List Price: $9.99 |
Color Your Own Hair
As far as hair color goes, I didn't think that I would be able to achieve professional-looking "highlights" at home, and I was right! A lot of the do-it-yourself "highlight" kits require that you use a hook to pull out strands of hair very accurately and evenly in order to achieve a look that is half-presentable. Unless you have a friend helping you, I wouldn't recommend using these types of highlighting kits for coloring your own hair or it's a recipe for disaster. Even if you are patient enough to apply the hook or brush highlighting techniques then you would have to spend hours in front of the mirror (in fact you would need 2 mirrors, to see the back!) and still not be guaranteed great results.
Having said that, I do love the look of subtle highlights, and wanted to achieve the look of natural, shimmering highlights by myself, without investing too much time or money. I tried L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Highlighting Kit and was completely hooked! To get the natural medium brown shimmer that I was looking for, I chose shade number T53; "Cool Medium Brown/Moonlit Tortoise"; the kit is great value from Amazon at under $10.
Watch the YouTube video below to see just how easy it is to apply Feria Haircolor all by yourself at home!
The results I get with Feria Shimmering hair color are quite amazing. My hair looks very natural and shiny, and the formula softens up and lightens some of the brown tones in my hair to give the appearance of really subtle, shimmering highlights that are not brassy. Best of all, I don't have to spend hours in front of the mirror to achieve this look! I simply mix the formula, apply all over, and wait 25 minutes for it to develop. Wash off, condition, and I feel like I've just stepped out of a salon! Every 8 weeks I reapply the formula to my roots by following the instructions. Now my hair color never costs me more than $60 per year!
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Comments
Hi Escape2Paradise,
How kind of you to stop by to read and comment on my DIY hair tips!
I'm still thinking about the "tasty baskets" hub you shared earlier and how delicious it looked. I am looking forward to following your and reading more of your great hubs.
All the best,
Cloverleaf.
arr you are so sweet :), i'm trying to write more hub and do my best, glad you like my hub :), and your very welcome feel free to visit my page anytime you like :D,
Big Hugs From Thailand :)
I have blond hightlights. When I USE to do my own I could wash it off to see red hair. Never again thank you.
As for cutting my own, sorry I don't have the courage to do cut my own hair which comes down to the bottom of my ears.
I sure you graat hub will help many brave followers.
Hi writer20, it sounds as though you used to bleach your own hair? I'm not a big fan of bleaching at home, it's way too technical for me. Simple dye, wash and done. But don't feel bad because you are keeping the Salons in business! :-)
Cloverleaf.
Well, if you look at my profile picture, you can see that I don't have to worry about a $210.00 cut and blow dry. So I am here to say "voted up, up and away!"
Hi Dex, you're so funny - what would I do without you? You've made me smile this Monday morning :-)
Cloverleaf.
Wow, I must call my friend (a hairdresser) and bless her. She gives me a cut and highlights for $45. Even with all your great suggestions and videos, I would never attempt to cut my curly locks. This is a fun and informative Hub, I enjoyed it.
Hi Hyphenbird, love your new profile picture by the way!
Your friend certainly gives you a good deal and you look great. Keep doin' what you're doin' - no need to change!
Glad you enjoyed the hub.
Cloverleaf.
Hi Cloverleaf, great article. It seems that you are good in writing any topic that you like.
Great hub! You really did a good job of showing how easy it is! This will bless alot of people and their budgets. Voted way up!
It's a great hub Cloverleaf on some brilliant tips on a budget, voting up!
limph3215,
homesteadbound,
Movie Master,
A lot of people think it would be difficult to cut or color their own hair, but I think that more of us should give it a try ... it can be a lot of fun! Thanks for all your great comments.
Cloverleaf.
We can try cutting once of twice if we have long enough hair to work with!!!!
Wonderful and Informative Hub Cloverleaf...I have been cutting and coloring my hair for years...I've never had the patience to sit LONG in a Beauty Shop and Now Prices as you pointed out are so High! I also enjoyed the videos and tips. Thanks for sharing this one!
Great tips! I'm lucky to have great natural highlights so I skip coloring altogether and just go for haircuts a few times a year.
Hi b.Malin, it sounds as though you are very comfortable with cutting and coloring your own hair. I'm like you when it comes to sitting in salons for hours...I get soooooo bored and there are only so many hair magazines that I can read!!! So happy that you enjoyed this one.
All the best,
Cloverleaf
Hi randomcreative, looking at your profile picture, you have great hair. You are so fortunate to have such natural highlights!!
Cloverleaf
Hi, Cloverleaf! I cut my own hair and color it too. Not highlights, though. I like it short during the summer. I watched the video to cut your hair and I don't think I've ever seen that clip thingy in the stores. Is that something that's available in Canada and not the U.S.? I'll have to look more closely. Thanks for the informative tips. Voted up and interesting. Yours, Susieq
Hi Susie, I'm not sure if you can buy it in the stores in the States, but I do know that you can get it online at Amazon.com and have it delivered. It's a pretty neat little device. Probably would have made a fortune if only I had thought of it first LOL.
Cloverleaf
Great tips here Cloverleaf. I have a friend who cuts her own hair with only comb and scissors.
I tried coloring my hair once but didn't get it right. Timing is very important in coloring or perming the hair.
Voted up!
Hi blessings for life,
How are you today? I have tried using only a comb and scissors but I just can't get the back right. The home color kits vary so much - some require the mixture to be left on for only 10 minutes, but I don't get on with those very well. You're right, reading the instructions is important. Feria haircolor is the only home color I will use from now on.
Thanks for your comment and vote up!
Cloverleaf.
Very good hub indeed.
Hi zatalat,
Thank you for saying so, I really appreciate your comment.
Cloverleaf.
I would never have the bravery to cut my own hair. But these are some great tips on being beautiful on a budget.
Hi felicity,
Cutting your own hair for the first time can be a little daunting but once you've done it once you get more confident. Thanks for your comment!
Cloverleaf.
Wow I have got to have that great clips. I have always cut my kids, husband and my own hair but lately I have had to trust my husband to cut the back even for me...and well...it will be great to have this. I have always had the worst luck with beauty shops. Even the day I got married I had the best place in town do it and it was a nightmare. I went home crying and redoing it myself. I have really thick hair but surely that is no reason. I have got to book mark this, thanks so much!
Hi Jackie,
I can relate to your story a lot; every time I used to go to the Salon I always wound up restyling my hair anyway! I'm so happy that you found the CreaClip info useful, and I appreciate your kind comments. Have a great day!
Cloverleaf.
Awesome hub with some great tips! I've never heard of any of the products here so this was nice to learn! Thanks for sharing :)
Hi Pinkchic,
I'm happy you found the tips useful, thanks for leaving me your valuable comments today!
Cloverleaf.
Cool hub! I learned a lot.:)
Escape2Paradise 8 months ago
This is really interesting thing for girls , great hub vote up for you!! :)