Money worries leading to longer locks

Low-maintenance hairstyles are growing in popularity. But reportedly, this trend isn’t the result of the latest catwalk cuts but rather a reaction to growing financial pressure.

According to the Guardian, people are opting for styles that need fewer visits to the salon in a bid to keep costs down.

Since 2020, the average price of a haircut in the UK has jumped by more than 30%. For many, regular trims, touch-ups and colouring are luxuries they simply can’t justify during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

And we heard firsthand from extreme frugalist Toni Graham that letting her hair grow out was one of the first things she did to reduce her spending. But she didn’t stop there:

“Letting my hair grow was just the start - now I look at every beauty buy and ask myself, ‘Do I need this?’ More often than not, the answer’s no.”

Inspired by Toni’s example, we’ve come up with five simple ways you can cut the cost of your health and beauty fixes.

1. Let your hair grow (and keep it healthy)

• Choose low-maintenance styles like a taper fade, long bob, or balayage colouring. These grow out naturally, meaning fewer salon visits.
• Consider trimming your own hair - you can find countless DIY tutorials online for fringe trims and split-end snips
• Use multi-use hair products - conditioning masks can double up as styling creams to smooth frizz between washes.
• Space out treatments by using root touch-up sprays or hair glosses to refresh colour temporarily.

2. Ditch pricey skincare brands

• Simplify your routine - most dermatologists recommend just a gentle cleanser, SPF and basic moisturiser.
• Try supermarket own-brand skincare - products from Aldi and Lidl are a fraction of the price, so it’s worth seeing if they do the job just as well as the pricier alternatives.
• Streamline your make-up bag – use products with multiple uses like a tinted moisturiser with SPF to reduce the number of items you need to buy.
• Avoid beauty subscription traps - those monthly boxes can quickly add up.

3. Cut makeup costs

• Focus on the basics - foundation, mascara and a lip tint can go a long way.
• Shop budget-friendly brands like e.l.f, Revolution or Essence.
• Make your products go further - diluting foundation with moisturiser can make it last longer, and adding a few drops of facial oil can revive dried-out mascara.
• Try second-hand platforms - unused makeup is often sold at big discounts on apps like Vinted.

4. Save on healthcare essentials

• Buy generic over-the-counter medicines - the active ingredients are identical to branded versions.
• Get free NHS prescriptions if you’re eligible for help through schemes like the NHS Low Income Scheme.
• Consider pharmacy own brands for vitamins, painkillers and basic first aid items.
• Look for dental and eye-care vouchers via work benefit schemes or local council support.

5. DIY beauty treatments

• Learn at-home beauty skills - YouTube tutorials can teach you everything from eyebrow shaping to gel manicures.
• Swap beauty services with friends - take turns doing each other’s nails or facials.
• Use kitchen staples for homemade treatments: coconut oil as a hair mask, sugar scrubs for exfoliating or cooled green tea bags to reduce eye puffiness.
• Stretch professional treatments further - if you colour your hair, root touch-up kits can delay the next salon appointment.