How Much Do You Spend on Hair Care?

bargain huntress on 20/03/2021 - 16:25
Last edited 20/03/2021 - 16:51 by 1 other user

I tried a sample and then a small bottle of a new shampoo and conditioner, and I like them. the problem is they are $80 per Litre! (up to $160 per litre if you buy the smallest bottles!) which I feel is a ridiculous amount to spend, especially on my income level and with starving people in the world. I don't really have any other hair care costs though - I don't use other hair products, or go to the hairdresser, or use hair appliances. but it still seems like it might be wrong.

How much do you spend on hair care (and styling etc)? How much do you spend on shampoo and conditioner?

Health & Beauty Hair Care

Comments

  • DingoBilly on 20/03/2021 - 16:37
    +2

    $15 every 2 or 3 months for a haircut.

    I buy the $2 500ml shampoo/conditioner at woolworths. Lasts about a month and seems to be the same as all other haircare products. Dont know why you'd spend more as the basic ingredients across all of them are going to be the same.

    • Ughhh on 20/03/2021 - 17:37
      +8

      Dont know why you'd spend more as the basic ingredients across all of them are going to be the same.

      It's the additional non-basic ingredients that makes the difference and makes it worth the extra money. Maybe it doesn't make a huge difference to people with short hair, but I have definitely noticed which ones make my hair too greasy, dry, increase hair shedding etc.

      Not everything is about the basic/main ingredients.

  • apsilon on 20/03/2021 - 16:42
    +8

    $0. Shaved head makes things simple and cheap. Not for everyone obviously.

    • cynicalmike on 20/03/2021 - 23:31
      +1

      almost skinheads represent yo

  • kanmen on 20/03/2021 - 16:48
    +2

    I have curly hair so I have like a 5+ step hair care routine when I wash my hair. There are specific products I have to use, however I only wash my hair once a week and I manage to find products I can use from Priceline or Chemists Warehouse. I think it's completely possible to buy good skincare products for a reasonable price.

    A lot of the expensive brands are just hype imo.

    • Quantumcat on 20/03/2021 - 17:24
      +1

      What's your routine? I have curly hair too and it is usually a mess

    • bargain huntress on 20/03/2021 - 20:07
      +1

      I would also like more details if you don't mind

      • kanmen on 21/03/2021 - 00:05
        +4

        So I loosely follow the Curly Girl Method, I haven't used shampoo in years, instead I use what is called a co-wash, basically a conditioner with cleansing agents in it. At the moment I use the Goat Oatmeal Conditioner from Chemist Warehouse, or MooGoo conditioner as my co-wash, then I use a few deep conditioners like Loreal Botanicals, OGX Curl Butter (this is not strictly CGM.) Then I use a microfibre towel on my hair to stop the dripping when I'm done, put some RPR curl cream and then the Organic Care Extreme hair gel which is $3 from Coles. I either finger curl my hair individually in sections or use a denman brush with the curl cream and gel in it. Then I either let it air dry if I have time or use a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment on it. Typically this process takes me about 2 hours because I like to let products sit in my hair in the shower. There might be a few other products I use that I've forgotten to mention too, honestly I just forget I use them.

        I havent mentioned the oils I put in my hair as a pre-oil so before I shower, and I only wash my hair once a week :)

  • c64 on 20/03/2021 - 16:54
    +2

    from the forums i'm led to believe that some people spend $1000 on a single hair styling

  • pharkurnell on 20/03/2021 - 17:04
    -1

    cheap shampoo, 1 haircut a year - maybe 2 if the right chick is working the hair dressers.I'd want a punch in the face if I spent 80 bux on shampoo… which is probably the same as the $2.00 stuff with different smell

  • dust on 20/03/2021 - 17:07
    +3

    No shampoo and free spouse hair cuts so pretty close to zero.

    Edit: Also should this be a poll?

    • bargain huntress on 20/03/2021 - 20:10

      No shampoo

      Do you only use conditioner? Or only use water?

      Also should this be a poll?

      I thought about it but I couldn't work out what the options should be. How would you do it?

      • dust on 20/03/2021 - 20:54
        +2

        Just water. It's bad at first because hair gets a bit oily but then it stabilises and it's okay. I've used shampoo less than 5 times in the last year for when hair was actually dirty (like oil got in my hair or equivalent) and it has been fine.

    • SF3 on 20/03/2021 - 22:21

      close to zero

      A zero cut? Won’t need shampoo or any product, a quick wipe with a towel should suffice.

      • dust on 20/03/2021 - 22:39

        No, not a zero cut. As in close to zero cost to maintain hair (close to because hair clippers cost money to purchase initially and they also use electricity which isn't free).

  • morse on 20/03/2021 - 17:13
    +1

    About $150 - $200 on highlights and a cut about every sixth month. I use various supermarket shampoos and conditioners, luckily these work well for me.

    My husband gets at $15 clipper cut every 4weeks and uses cheap shampoo.

    If the products make a significant difference to your hair and your can afford them, then I think it’s okay. There’s a bunch of hair outlet places that do some of these premium brands a bit cheaper.

  • Quantumcat on 20/03/2021 - 17:25
    +1

    $150 on cut and colour about 4 times a year
    Shampoo and conditioner is whatever is half price in the supermarket

  • Wystri Warrick on 20/03/2021 - 17:34
    +4

    Styled skin fade cute every 2 weeks for $18. I'm young, and got to maintain my sexy look (please ignore the eye bags). Shampoo, conditioner wise I use whatever is cheapest per ml at ColesWorth.

  • Puglife on 20/03/2021 - 17:55
    +3

    Lmao @ all the males answering this poll.
    If this was a poll for men: What hair products do you buy? Whatever is half price at Coles
    What skincare do you use? Whatever is half price at Coles or soap….

    • MissEm on 20/03/2021 - 22:53
      +1

      Now if the brands would drop the "for MEN" label like it's some cryptonite that supposedly turn people into frogs if they get clocked as wrong gender by the marketing :O

      but seriously.. men's cosmetics, beauty and manscaping to name a few is pretty serious business these days ;o

      one would think if marketers forgo the gender stereotypes and go neutral they would make less money? 🤔

      • Ughhh on 21/03/2021 - 10:43
        +1

        Now if the brands would drop the "for MEN" label like it's some cryptonite that supposedly turn people into frogs if they get clocked as wrong gender by the marketing :O

        But there are guys out there who think they can't use beauty/skincare products unless it's stated its for men!

  • MissEm on 20/03/2021 - 18:06
    +4

    TL;DR: Priceless

    Now I'm a gal and long enough hair considering I frequently find my hairs down my buttcrack (waist length)

    I started to study the science motivated by my sensitive skin and became a bit of hobbyist chemist and found less is more….

    Your needs if you bleach/color/highlight/whatnot hair type has heavy influence on what you need to "mask" any defects that arise from chemical treatments/mechanical stress etc.

    Then in addition the styling matters and how much convenience you want… do you do wet set or use some tools and how much effort you want to put vs gain and these start to cost a lot.. like say buying a Dyson dryer for 500$ for the sake of it :)

    Then finally there are the factors you don't necessarily control like weather/environmental/chlorine/hard water/skin sensitivity/allergy factors and one can go big down rabbit hole say after reaction to a product and then fighting with the product to return it after and having to use different products between winter dry cold/summer hot humid.

    But on the other side…

    The industry is full of affliates and influencers with bogus marketing claims as these are not regulated like say health products are where benefits need to be clinically proven.

    Most of the money goes to marketing like if you look at this 100% pure argan oil thing:
    50ml branded bottle costs 75.00$ from Mecca
    https://www.mecca.com.au/josie-maran-cosmetics/100-pure-arga…
    While you get 100ml bottle from New directions for 15.00$
    https://www.newdirections.com.au/100-ml-Argan-Certified-Orga…

    Now oil is simple due to it having no water content, if we add proper formulation the cost goes up even more and there are testing that has to be done.

    A lot of mass market stingy manufacturers may focus solely on marketing may skimp on material and formulation quality which often one can educate themselves to learn to read the INCI, study EWG skindeep/Paula's as a start and disregard the marketing b.s.

    The best ethical products are who offer sample packs or small versions of their products until committing so one can try on their own hair type (the "for all hair types" claim is just rubbish IMO)

    Then there is also the sensitivity/allergy factors often people come across product that gives reaction which may be due to things for example supply chain abuse where the manufacturer has aggressively found the cheapest supplier where the supplier adulterated say some expensive essential oil which has been used as the "halo ingredient" but in tiny small amounts in order to keep material cost down whilst still advertising this "halo ingredient"

    I spend my fair share on New directions and other raw/cosmetic grade suppliers but my problem to selling the product to others would be again lack of marketing and preservative testing to start with so I guess I get away pretty cheap with some risk involved considering I am using products with unknown preservative efficiacy?

    For keeping my split ends in check with search & destroy I bought my own scissors after researching the materials and coming with good value proposition for my own need in addition using products to help this aspect - I visit salon maybe once a year for cuts or trims but no color/highlight etc. all natural hair.

    But the time spent if thinking cost for all this we get the TL;DR answer …

    • SF3 on 20/03/2021 - 22:23

      Now I'm a gal

      🤔

      • MissEm on 20/03/2021 - 22:25

        do you have a problem with it? 🙄

        • SF3 on 20/03/2021 - 22:27

          No, just that you had to call it out.

          • MissEm on 20/03/2021 - 22:30
            +6

            @SF3: There were other people calling out the dominantly male answers for this question.

            Pretty straightforward?

    • MissEm on 21/03/2021 - 02:39
      +2

      I just thought cost conservative guesstimate analysing what it would cost if I go with some clean formula bare minimum commercial set I otherwise like for my wavy fine but lots of it hair that has to survive the Sydney climate besides using my umbrella to protect it from the harsh sunrays afternoon and neck sweat.

      Products I would use in the routine

      • Shampoo - 30$ per 226g Inahsi - non-clarifying once a week (25 uses) - ~2 bottles / yr
      • Shampoo - 30$ per 226g Inahsi - clarifying twice/once month (25 uses) - ~1 bottle / yr

      Shampoo per year: 90$

      • Leave-In Conditioner/Detangle-Refresh - Curls blueberry blizz - 25$ per 236ml twice a week (20-30 uses) - ~4-5 bottles
      • Masks - Inahsi Mango Hemp balanced moisture/protein - 32$ per 226g once a week (20 uses) - 3 jars

      Conditioner/Mask: 221$

      Notes on formulas and application

      • Formula wise I believe I should buy the ones that needs more water emulsified
      • Whilst also using proper application technique to distribute properly in order to avoid wasting the product like often happens with conditioners/masks etc. at lengths.
      • Most people do the conditioner distribution wrong by not using comb and not sectioning and not emulsifying the product in water to better activate it thus using more of it.
      • If your formula is overly diluted then this ofcourse costs more as you use more compared to volume of product.
      • Shampoo key is to use very little but enough for scalp and roots only and small bottle will last ages and most people use too much too far.
      • Conditioner only from mids only.
      • Mask I use both scalp and hair and I ensure the mask if good for the scalp as well
      • I might use the Living Proof dry scalp treatment especially during winter
      • Oils are nice and they can help moisture loss during
      • My hair hates glycerin in leave-ins during hot/humid SYD summer dew points and glycerin seems to be in a lot of products

      Finally,

      Proper hydration is the key element and that's water which mostly is free… seaweed hair for the win!

      Some people do talso the mistake by putting heavy coating oils (there are the hair penetrating ones good for pre-poo too) first which then block the moisture goign into the hair..

      or in another sense some don't use shampoo and then wonder why it's dry coz all that gunk is stopping hydration going in to work as water and having proper balance of it is the most important thing for hair condition to retain it's elasticity.

      • kanmen on 21/03/2021 - 15:44
        +1

        Some people do talso the mistake by putting heavy coating oils (there are the hair penetrating ones good for pre-poo too) first which then block the moisture goign into the hair..

        Which oils do you recommend? I've stopped using coconut oils but am playing around with a few others

        • MissEm on 22/03/2021 - 17:18

          I like mixtures consisting of EVOO/Coconut mainly

          If you google "science-y blog oils" is a great source of how to go finding oils that work on individual basis and other info about.

  • SF3 on 20/03/2021 - 18:17
    +1

    How Much Do You Spend on Hair Care?

    Only the half prices specials from ColesWorth.

    • cynicalmike on 21/03/2021 - 07:05
      -2

      i especially like the ones tested on animals.

      with every wash, a vegan cries.

  • th123 on 20/03/2021 - 18:35
    +3

    If you like it and can afford it, just go for it.

    Everyone is going to spend differently. You'll get people spending $50-100 every second week and those that do a $15-20 cut every few months with $1-2 shampoo packs.

  • PizzaBoy on 20/03/2021 - 19:56
    +1

    Finasteride: 25c per day.
    Cut: $40-50 for a fade every 3-5 weeks.
    Products: some fancy wax that the salon sells ($20-30) and whatever shampoo wifey has usually.

  • onetwothreefour on 21/03/2021 - 07:40
    +1

    Not much, I use whatever shampoo my wife buys and she cuts my hair every 6 weeks or so.

  • andrek on 21/03/2021 - 07:57
    +1

    $11 every 3-4 month

  • fenikkusu on 21/03/2021 - 12:03
    +2

    Dove shampoo plus 100% coconut oil to coat ends only. Both from ColesWorth. No other hair products used. Have lots of greys, but don’t care. I’d cut my hair every 2-3 years. Thing is my hairdresser is awesome and the style retains its shape as my hair grows.

    Used to get De Lorenzo when they go on special from Hairhouse Warehouse, I think $160-$200+ depending on their pack, every 3 months. That was pre-kid and I had more time to shop and sit around in cafes and look at myself in the mirror…

    • MissEm on 22/03/2021 - 23:47

      I got some greys as part of D-vitamin deficiency (had a blood panel) but they got reversed when I got the deficiency under control.

      I was going to embrace those greys - well wait few years stress will get me eventually as stress creates apparently the non-reversible kind greys ;o

  • AS2035 on 21/03/2021 - 18:46
    +1

    I buy a soap bar. Costs me $11. or $9.50 when on sale. As I am the only one using it, it lasts 3 months. Organic, natural shampoo soap.

    Hair dresser tells me to use a conditioner.

    I wash my hair once a week. The hair never feels oily nor dirty.

    • MissEm on 22/03/2021 - 23:49

      May I ask how long is your hair?

  • Brendoo on 22/03/2021 - 02:36
    +1

    $25 for a haircut every 2-3 months. Bottle of shampoo or shampoo/conditioner combined from Woolies (whatever happens to be on half price special, like Schwartzkopf, Palmolive etc) - about $3 every 3 months. Once approx every 5 years a hair dryer for about $80.

    Rounded off and averaged, about $10 a month total.

    I get regular comments at how soft and shiny my hair looks and feels (with basically zero effort).

  • Pelicannn on 22/03/2021 - 09:54
    +1

    I need to get a haircut every 3-4 weeks but I’m a guy so $20.

    When it comes to actually washing my hair, i just use the little shampoo and conditioners I acquire from hotels when I travel. Haven’t actually bought some in years.

  • tulip99 on 22/03/2021 - 19:37
    +2

    I'm a girl and get a $35 haircut every 4-5 months. I can't use shampoo or shower gel with cocamidopropyl betaine in it as it makes my scalp flaky and itchy, and my body itchy with the shower gel.

    I'm currently using Eco Store normal hydrating shampoo from Woolies, which is making my hair look pretty good. I don't bother with conditioner. I try to buy Eco Store when it's at least 40% off.

    I used to use Desert Essence coconut from iherb.com but lately my hair wasn't looking good - like I hadn't washed it the day I'd washed it. I wash my hair every 2nd day unless I'm going out as it gets greasy quickly.

    • MissEm on 22/03/2021 - 23:29
      +1

      May I ask is your hair straight, how long do you keep your hair and how much weight your hair is if you manage without conditioner? luckily your shampoo doesn't seem to be either the most drying thing there is - most consumers always think they need to use conditioner no matter what but on short straight lightweight hair (more movement though) it isn't always that dramatic as less hair hitting each other strand plus conditioner proper use only goes beyond mid lengths anyways ;o

      with curly/long/thicket hair the natural greasy stuff doesn't "get down" and distribute to all those strand thickets that easily either

      • tulip99 on 23/03/2021 - 10:30

        I have fine, straightish hair. Sometimes it goes a little wavy, depending on the weather. The length is just touching my collar at the moment. I haven't had it cut for 5 months but it's grown slowly since my last cut in October.

        My hair isn't very heavy. It would be more lightweight.

  • Hugh G Rection on 27/02/2023 - 09:49
    -1

    haircut ever 2-3 weeks $20. other barbers nearby are all $25+. use to get it for $15 before covid.

    i use a little gel, so a bottle last a long time. maybe a year.

    shampoo and conditioner: whatever is 1/2 off at woolies when i need to buy. invest more in conditioner, but shampoo is whatever is cheapest.

  • Motek Benzona on 27/02/2023 - 09:56

    Since most barbers jacked up theirt prices to levels i would not pay even if i was Elon i have cut the kids hair myself. I have dfone mine for a number of years on and off. Yesterday i saved $50 by doing theirs myself and it looks great ($50 for 2 kids is cheap around here) . up yours barber

    The wife waits until she goes home to Thailand and gets full treatments done there.

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