Our hair is our crowning glory when we are young, but as we age, it loses volume, color and shine. We also have less time to spend styling our hair, so more often than not visits to the hair stylist are few and far between. If you have no interest in your appearance, this won’t matter, but if you like to look your best when you step out of the door, here are some inexpensive ways to give your hairstyle a makeover that don’t involve booking an appointment at an expensive hair salon.
Hair Colors
Color is one of the easiest ways to give your hair a dramatic makeover. All hair salons offer coloring services, but home colors are easy to use and give great results. You can choose from permanent and non-permanent colors to lift your current color or add some natural highlights.
Non-permanent colors are peroxide free, so they are safe to use. Some permanent hair dyes contain peroxide, so you will need to take more care, but it’s still fine to use them at home.
If you only want to change your hair color by a few shades, a non-permanent hair dye will work well, but if you want a more dramatic look, your only option is to use a permanent dye. Light to dark color changes are almost as tricky as dark to light, so it is better to go to a salon, but moderate changes can be handled at home. However, always do a patch test before applying hair dye to your head, as some people can suffer from nasty allergic reactions to hair dye that cause the head to swell up.
Hair Braiding
Braiding is fun to do and a great look if you have medium to long hair. A simple French braid is classy, but don’t be afraid to experiment. If done properly, braids will stay in for several days, so you can keep your new look going. It can take a bit of practice to braid hair properly, but there are some great instructional videos on YouTube. It is hard to braid one’s own hair, so if your hair is thick or long, ask a friend or loved one to braid it for you.
Cornrow braids are an ethnic fashion, but anyone can have their hair braided in cornrows. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kyle Jenner have made cornrow styles very trendy. Again, it’s easy to do, but not on your own hair, so ask someone else to put your hair into cornrow braids.
Hair Extensions
Cheap hair extensions are a fun way of adding volume and length to shorter hair. You can pick up hair extensions from many places, including online retailers and eBay stores. Cheap hair extensions are made from synthetic hair and are clipped in. More expensive hair extensions are made from real human hair and are glued or braided to existing hair for a more permanent look.
For a quick party look, use inexpensive hair extensions in bright colors, but if you want your new hairstyle to look more natural, it is better to invest in real hair extensions in a shade that matches your own natural hair color.
Hair Accessories
Hair accessories are a quick and easy way to change your hairstyle. Women with short hair can add decorative clips and grips, but if you have long hair, your options are much wider. You can tie up your hair using colorful hair bands and ties, or clip sections back using decorative clips. Spend a few hours practicing your look in the mirror with the help of a few YouTube videos.
Curls and Straighteners
Is your hair exceptionally curly or poker straight? Switch from one to the other and create a glamourous new look. Curly hair can be difficult to tame and prone to frizz, but with a bit of effort, it is possible to transform your wild curls into shiny, sleek locks. Ceramic hair straighteners combined with styling sprays are easy to use. Simply clip your hair into sections, apply some product spray, and use your straighteners. Work slowly and methodically until you have straightened every section.
Curling is just as simple. You can use straighteners to create gentle curls, or if you have time, use heated rollers and wait for your curls to take effect. Remember to set your curls with hairspray, or they will soon drop out.
For a really cheap new hairstyle, buy some glitter spray and give your hair extra bling. It’s a fun party look!