How to Cut Your Personal Grooming Budget in Half

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  At the Hair Salon

  Hair salons are probably one the biggest money pits draining your budget. The quickest way to cut costs is to alternate your haircuts. When you’re do for a new ‘do, go to your trusted salon professional. Once you’re happy with your cut, head to a training salon to maintain. If the shape is already there, and all you need is a trim, training salon, beauty schools, or even a less experienced stylist at your usual salon can give your tresses the refresh they need for a third of the price.
  Also, be assertive. Educate yourself so know what you want and what you don’t need to avoid unnecessary add-ons at the salon. Don’t get sucked into buying your beauty products there either—the mark up at salons is often steep. Jot down the name and buy it online later. Many salons offer student discounts and loyalty programs, even if they’re not highly advertised. It never hurts to ask! And if you’re going to a new salon for the first time, do your research on the stylists too. Blindly scheduling an appointment could land you in the chair of a senior stylist, which is fine if you’re willing to spend double.
  
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  EXPLORE: Skin, Makeup, Hair

  In the Shower

  Making your beauty products go the extra mile is really quite easy, given that most of us use way too much shampoo, conditioner, and skincare product as it is. Stop yourself from dumping more than a blackberry-sized squirt of shampoo or cherry-sized dollop of conditioner into your hand. Most serums and face creams only require small nut-sized amounts. And you get more bang for your buck, if you take a scissors to your “empty” tubes. Slicing open your products and scraping the insides will give you at least another three to four uses. Just store it in Tupperware until it’s really gone. Buying your beauty products in bulk will also save you plenty of money.
  
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  EXPLORE: Skin, Makeup, Hair

  At the Nail Salon

  Scour the daily deals sites, like Groupon, Living Social, and Crowd Cut, and you could very well never pay full price for a manicure again. (Waxing deals are also plentiful.) Already loyal to a nail technician? Try to take care of both your manicure and pedicure at once. Most salons offer discounts when you do both. And bring your polish color with you to the salon, that way you can touch up in between appointments to stretch out your visits. Keeping your nails moisturized and adding a fresh layer of top coat every few days will also extend the life of your manicure.
  
  
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  EXPLORE: Skin, Makeup, Hair

  In Your Makeup Bag

  When it comes to makeup, limit your splurges to the products that really matter to you, and make friends with multitasking products. A good cream blush can do so much more than flush your cheeks. Taking care of what you already own is another good practice to employ. One of the most expensive cosmetics to buy is perfume, but if you identify the notes you like in a pricey fragrance, you can purchase an essential oil or two to mimic the scent for a fraction of the price. Storing all of your beauty products in clean, cool, dry spaces, where they won’t break is always a good strategy if you want to avoid unnecessary product replacement costs. And you know those coupons that print at the end of your receipt at the pharmacy (the ones you always lose)—stick them to your refrigerator and you’re guaranteed to end up putting at least one of them to good use.
  
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  At Home

  You can bypass expensive beauty products altogether if you start DIY-ing. You probably already have everything you need in the kitchen to blackhead-busting face mask, a moisturizing coconut oil hair treatment, or exfoliating coffee leg scrub.