Hair Affair

I have big hair.

Those of you who know me personally can vouch for this fact; those that don't will just have to take my word for it. If it helps to convince you, one of my nicknames in high school was Mufasa. I literally woke up one day during my 12th year on planet Earth and had curly hair ("Thanks, puberty!" *sarcastic thumbs up*). For years I waged a losing battle against Mother Nature, doing everything I could to tame the mane, and keep the curl out. That included an ill advised chemical straightening, long before the art had been perfected, that left me with Barbie hairs (translation: super short strands all along my part, where the rest of it was singed off).

Flat irons didn't exist until I was a sophomore in college so I actually used a curling iron to straighten my hair. Long story short (and yes, most of my stories are long so you're lucking out here), I have never been able to trust just ANY hair stylist to care for my coiffure. For the last 9 years or so I have embraced my naturally curly hair and that's how it stays most of the time. However, whenever I can scrounge up the time, I LOVE to blow it out and iron it until it's stick straight (cut to me making crazy googly eyes).

My point?

When it's time to get my "do" done, I need someone who can give me a versatile cut, that can be worn curly AND straight. And after years of spending serious cash to find the right person for that daunting task, I took a chance on an affordable neighborhood hair salon (where my husband, who is, shall we say, rather persnickety about how his tresses are trimmed, goes), and hit the jackpot! The lovely young stylist who cuts my hair now does a SUPER job and handles my hair even better than the last one who cut it and charged me four, yes, four times as much. It just goes to show me, and you, that there are ways to look and feel good without spending a lot of dough!

Your turn! Please share your bargain secrets in the comment section below. Where are you are able to "cut" corners (I know, SO punny!) and save a few bucks in the beauty department . . . and beyond?