Hey, babes! I wanted to talk about something today that I think is a pretty interesting topic among women. I’m always interested to learn which beauty services my friends love and justify spending their money on vs. which ones people are skipping on, usually in favor of a DIY treatment. Please leave me a comment to let me know which ones you indulge in yourself! Here is my approach:
Hair:
I personally have only gotten my hair professionally colored twice in my life. I’m pretty “boring” in the sense that I don’t change up my hair, it has been long and brown my entire life! In college I liked to use box dye in a slightly darker color every so often, but that was honestly more for the silky, shiny effect it gave me rather than the actual color payoff. I have wanted to try something new with my hair for a few years now, but never actually made the plunge. I think a lot of people with more dimension to their hair (think Jessie James-Decker, model Jessica Burciaga, etc.) look great, especially when the hair is curled or braided. I promise I will eventually try it out, but I just haven’t really gotten into hair coloring ever to this day and I think my bank account prefers it that way 😉
Nails:
If you read my most recent blog post before this one, you already know my affordable manicure trick! 😉 If not, click here to read! I basically never spend money on manicures at the salon due to the fact that I can’t seem to keep polish from chipping for any more than a few hours. I also can’t justify the cost of gel manicures, not to mention the damage it does to your nails. Hence, why I love my secret trick! I also am a big fan of the SensationNail At-Home Gel Kit ($24 here).
Massages:
I’m a HUGE fan of professional massages! I have been getting them since high school and feel that they are so good for both our physical and mental health. Because I typically travel quite a bit for both work and pleasure, I find that massage really helps to relieve the tension built up from being stuck in airplanes, cars, etc. Also it is great for those who love working out! I’ve managed to always find very affordable options (check Groupon in your city, they read reviews of these spas on Yelp!) In Miami, I have been lucky enough to find an amazing spa that offers a ridiculously affordable massage package. Scape Spa in Miami offers 3 one-hour massages for $85 – that means each massage is only $28.33 per hour! 🙂 This is literally unheard of, and I can tell you that there is no skimping on the quality of the massage! They have tons of massage therapists, but my favorites are Luis (male) & Jidina (female.) They are extremely professional, skilled, and don’t skimp on time. I highly recommend this spa to all of my Miami readers! Check out their website here.
Facials:
I am a big believer in facials too! Your skin is SO important, and the skin on your face in particular is super sensitive. Because of the fact that we are constantly putting makeup on and taking it off, the skin on our face truly does need extra TLC and attention. The same place that I get my massages (Scape Spa in Miami) also offers a package of 3 one-hour facials for $95 – just $31.67 per facial! The woman who does the facials there is very kind and attentive as well as great at extractions. If you are particularly prone to skin conditions or live in a city with high air pollution, I think facials are even more important for you!
Lash Extensions:
I am basically obsessed with is Lash Extensions. Once you’ve tried them, you will seriously wonder how you ever lived without! I don’t wear them year-round, but I can get a set to last a good 6 weeks so I usually plan to have them in times when there are major events such as weddings, holidays, etc. Click here to read my post all about lash extensions and how I get the most life out of them! Also they are great for times when I’m traveling a lot since they cut down on the time I spend on makeup! Especially a beach vacation or something like that where you won’t be wearing much makeup, they help you still feel “naturally” beautiful 😉 These can be pricey at full cost, plus if you start getting fills they are costly too. I would say the only way to justify the cost is if you find a great spa that offers a Groupon deal. I personally get mine done at Wax Spa in North Miami and they offer a Groupon here for a full set for just $52. Carolina who does the lashes is excellent and I would definitely recommend her. If you read the fine print in the Groupons, you can see how often they will let you use the deal. Some offer it only for first-time customers, but my Wax Spa allows me to use one every 3 months so that is awesome!
Brows:
If you missed my post on Microblading, you can read it here! This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I know brow maintenance is relatively cheap so if you have a good amount of hair already, that is the way to go. But for me, I’ve never tweezed or had my brows waxed because I didn’t have enough hair to need it in the first place. Microblading really saved my life, cuts my makeup time so much shorter, and is just so amazing! Clearly, I cannot rave about it enough!
Spray Tans:
I am a big fan of spray tans! I typically use sunscreen whenever I am outside and instead do at-home tanning with my favorite, the Jergens Tanning Mousse. On occasion though, I do love a good spray tan for a wedding or other special event. I usually go to Hollywood Tans which offers a package of 6 spray tans for $120 (so, $20 each) that you can use as frequently or infrequent as you’d like, they never “expire.” Spray tans are completely safe and take only a few minutes of your time, but there are definitely some tricks you need to use in order to get the most natural-looking, long-lasting tan. But that is a topic for another post coming soon 😉
Have a great weekend, babes! xo, Nicole