Alright beauties, As we get closer to this home order being lifted and businesses to slowly start opening up… I’m going to guess that I’m not alone when I say money may be a little tighter than normal. Maybe not, maybe you’ve been working and things are usual besides the masks and staying home and stuff. If you are reading this and it is NOT April 2020, well… i’ll catch you up to speed … as I’m writing this, it’s the tail end (I think?) of the corona virus shut down. Things have been wild.

So, in the midst of this, our economy sure has taken a dip and our pocket books may have too.

Maybe you’re a college kid who loves getting pampering but needs ways to save.

Maybe you’re a new mama and can’t commit to long hair appointments anyways.

Well, whoever you are and wherever you are in life… this blog is for you. For all of us. And side note- dear hairstylists, don’t get mad at me… I’m not telling our clients to “cheap out” or skimp on the quality that I know we all strive to provide. This blog is the opposite. My intention is just to help think of great ideas to use salon time wisely and get the most out of “in between” services. That is just my personal approach as a stylist, I try to be as open and honest if a guest doesn’t need something. I know that by saving them here and there and keeping their best interest, it will come back to me in full force. And, well, I just know I personally also don’t enjoy a sales-y experience, so I don’t run my business that way. But, truly, to each his own. Okay, so back to the topic at hand. Don’t y’all love my little side tangents? If you’ve been reading my blogs since the beginning, y’all are used to it.

#1: ASK ABOUT REFERRAL PROGRAMS.

Your stylist/salon may or may not have a referral situation. Mine is: Refer me to a friend for any service over $50 and YOU recieve a complimentary haircut. Some of my girls have referred me so many of their friends, that they have like 5 haircuts on file. I love it because it’s such a win-win. Like, I get a whole new client and she gets something free in return. Also, I’ve gotten so lucky that I genuinely have so many amazing women who come to me… I’m like, GIRL, I adore you, please send me your friends because I want more clients JUST LIKE YOU. And, it’s the truth! THAT is how you build your dream clientele, my friends. Well, one way anyway. So, that’s my first thing. ASK about referrals! (even though your stylist should be telling you, maybe they forget)

#2: DO A SMALL REFRESH IN BETWEEN LARGER APPOINTMENTS.

What does this mean? “Okay, Carlie, I’m already doing a partial color in between a full color… this doesn’t apply to me.” Hear me out. If you are a blonde, you should be getting a toner/gloss refresh every 3-4 weeks. This timeline and service OF COURSE is not a one size fits all. What really is anymore, anyways? Besides those old popcorn material shirt they used to sell in the 90’s, do you remember those? Anyway…It depends on the look you have, how often you wash your hair, how often you get your hair done, and how porous your hair is.

& HERE IS WHY: Getting a gloss/toner is actually great to seal down the cuticle of the hair. It keeps you liking the TONE of your color in between also. By the time you get to your 6-8 weeks or whatever, you don’t feel like you’re in need of an entire new look. That’s the goal anyways. We’ve all gotten to like 2ish/3ish weeks and thought… man, my color is already fading. Well, if you are washing your hair a lot, that fade is obvi going to happen sooner… also, if you are very very blonde, your hair is more porous - meaning that color will shoot out of there quicker because there are more microscopic holes in your hair that aren’t holding that color. Get the drift? So this is a very custom thing. The great thing is, a toner/gloss is less $ than a lightening service so this is a great way to maintain the color for less in between those bigger appointments.

#3: OPT FOR A HAIRLINE REFRESH.

So, maybe not all stylists offer this… but I know I offer something called “Few foils” or “Front hairline painting” Which is less than, say, a partial or half head of lighting. For highlights, it’s like 8-10 foils in the front, and for my lived-in/balayage style girls, it’s a “money piece” or front accent piece refresh. This is such a great in-between appointment option because it truly can make you feel like you got a whole new look. AND if you pair this with #2’s suggestions… it’s seriously like a brand new look. For example: I do a ton of lived-in balayage foil looks. One of my long time clients comes in about once a year for a FULL application (All throughout the hair including underneath). We also apply a fun fantasy color over her newly lightened strands and usually a big cut. THEN, every 5 weeks she comes in for a few foils and new color. Then, the time after that is usually just a color touch up (gloss/toner). Then 6-8 weeks we do a partial where we touch up half of her head with foils and we’ll do a cut or trim then also. Then, color refresh, then partial. See the routine?

—>FULL&CUT, COLOR GLOSS ONLY, FEW FOILS, PARTIAL&CUT, COLOR GLOSS ONLY

You get the picture. This is just a single example. Some of my super blonde to-the-root highlight guests need to come every 5 weeks for a highlight. BUT, they too can get on a similar cycle. It does save here and there instead of only having a partial option. But, again, check with your stylist if they offer a small foil. There are sooo many ways to price and an insane amount of diversity from salon to salon when it comes to services offered. What one stylist would consider a highlight, another would consider a “baby light”, etc. Like they say, times… they are a’changin. But the benefit of this change in the industry is, we are able to provide so many amazingly detailed services now as hairstylists. Back when my aunt’s generation was doing hair, it seemed like things were so much more simple… Toners weren’t as much of a thing… it was like perms, highlights, all over colors, cuts and root touch ups. Seasoned stylists, correct me if I am wrong.

#4: LIVED IN LOW MATINENECE LOOKS

This one may be a bit obvious, but thank goodness for low matinenece looks being in style, am I right? Okay, so all the balayage style looks started rolling in during the last recession years and years ago. Now, ironically we’re kind currently in another one, though very different. Except, right now… 90’s chunky front highlights are coming back. Anyways, rooted looks aren’t going anywhere. They are so soft and pretty and last SUCH a long time. Especially if your stylist really blends out the grow-out lines. (For example, where the foil or balayage clay transitions from your natural to the lighted part) The beauty of the “lived-in” looks (which I specialize in) is that they pretty much look good on anyone, and if you want to feel brighter and more to the root, you can have that accent piece in the front that makes you feel more solid… then blend the rest out. Anyways, it’s my favorite vibe, and favorite type of hair to do by far. It’s an investment up front because balayage techniques are SO custom and they are super specialized. It takes work and effort and training to be able to get a decent blend going and have you grow out be soft. Luckily for you, I specialize in that. Once you are done with that initial investment, you could stay out of the salon for months and months on end! Which, is less money then coming every couple months. (But, keep up with your trims if you can, please. Not keeping up with haircuts can make that pretty little balayage you just spent all that money on, break clean off…yikes)

#5: PRODUCT INVESTMENTS

Investing in salon grade product may be difficult if you are in financial hardship. What I didn’t know before, is that salon grade products are so much higher concentrated as opposed to drug store. So, while more of a financial investment upfront, you actually use less… which means you save less in the long run. I have a whole blog on that, though, read that here. What you’ll also find is that if you are using product that your stylist is educated on, they can guarantee your color better. Where as, if you are using something that they are unfamiliar with, say, that may have either harsh ingredients or isn’t color safe, your color is going to strip so much quicker. Hence… you see where I’m going here. Money down the drain that you just spent on color. So, totally check with your personal stylist and see if they agree, everyone is different. I know, for me, I have like my top 2 or 3 products that if you don’t do anything else… I recommend those babies first. Especially before buying a whole set of stuff, when really you may not be able to afford it. Okay, so here’s the deal. Stylists may hate me for saying all of this, but whatever, my opinion is that we should be able to recommend a treatment plan for a variety of price points and lifestyles. For example, Susie might be more established and able to buy a whole regimen at once… investing in 5 amazing products from you. And, thats amazing, susie! Go, Susie! BUT, for example again… Say, you see Susie’s daughter Rachel who is in college and she may only be able to get one or two things to add to her routine right now. Should we be shaming Susie for that? HECK no! We should be applauding Rachel for doing the best she can and offering her suggestions for whats most important NOW for her hair. Tell her next time what she should get… then before you know it, Rachel has a whole set- but has done the purchases in increments. I’m not saying each stylist needs to do this and be this understanding but I am just suggesting that it’s a great space that welcomes all types of clients… if that is something you want. Maybe you only want a luxury clientele and live in beverly… Then, hey… hell yes to you! Wide range of stylists for the wide ranges of people the world has. Wow, I go on some tangents. Let’s conclude this B, shall we?

There are so many other great ways to save, WITHOUT skimping on all the great quality that your stylist has to offer you. Get a system down that works for both of you. Coordinating on pre-booking your appointments is so helpful to ensure you stay up on these routines. It makes it so much easier, trust me. You and your hair will thank me when your hair starts feeling dry or lacking tone and you remember… oh yeah! I already have my appointment set up! Win, win my friends. Give love to your hair, show love to your stylist, we’re all in this together.
xo, Carlie

All photos here are candid shots of me working at @jaydenpresleigh, The Salon. Taken by, @painted.harmony

Ballin on a budget: 5 ways you can save money at your hair appointment