5 Tips for Living on a Natural Hair Budget!

[SoulisticBeyouty]

Looking to save money on Natural hair products – what Naturalista isn’t these days? No need to pull your hair out about it, instead, check out these tips for having a pretty nice hair cabinet by stretching your dollars.​

When I bought products and needed ingredients to start a Natural hair/body care line (COMING SOON!) a year ago, this is how I did it without breaking the bank.​

Tip#1- Shop Online wisely!

Natural hair products can be bought at affordable or cheap prices, when you shop with natural hair suppliers online.
There are many online shops that offer deals on natural hair products online. Generally, they offer discounts on many products to encourage online shopping.
Ensuring you choose the best natural hair supplier online, can not only get you discounts or freebies (this one even gives you a free product for purchasing one), but also products that are of exceptional quality.
Tip#2-Save money by Making your Own!

Whipping up your own hair products can be easy and inexpensive, however efficient spending is key.
If you’re looking to make your own hair moisturizers, butters, oils, or conditioners, you can save money by choosing the more economical larger sizes.
Online suppliers often have special deals on popular ingredients like Shea butter-for example, which ship very economically. This can be a great way to get lots of butters inexpensively. Buy Shea butter by the pound. They’re usually 20 percent cheaper than if you buy individual ounce jars. If you don’t need that many you can divvy-up the bulk with a friend or group.
Tip #3: Document your hair spending habits!

One of the simplest but most useful methods for doing this is: keeping a monthly log of every hair expenditure. You can purchase a pocket hair planner or go to the dollar store and buy a little notebook and carry it with you wherever you go. Write down every penny – every single penny – you spend on hair products. It’s as simple as that.
If you do this, you will find something magical happening in your financial life in just a few short weeks.
There is something incredibly powerful about writing down your money activity. It makes the flow of money through your life more real and exact. It shows you simply and clearly just where you are spending your money, on what and why. Once you know that, it becomes much easier to control what you spend on hair products.
Many people who have taken up this practice have not only learned something about themselves which they never knew before, but they are often astounded.
For example, a Naturalista could realize through examining her hair planner that she actually spent nearly $2,000 throughout the year on shampoos, hair accessories and hair appliances! Since her job only brings in $25,000 per year, she realized that 8% of her entire income went towards hair products, alone.
The point is, it was her monthly expense log that helped achieve the insight and clarity she needed to get control of her spending. That’s what a simple record will do for you – it will give you control over your spending, and thus your bathroom cabinets.
Tip #4: Sell Your Stuff!

That’s right, it’s high past time for a cabinet overhaul. Search through your hair cabinet for every single item you don’t need, and could sell at a flea market, natural hair forum or online swap boards- where you can purchase or sell gently used hair products.
Take an inventory. The truth is, most Naturalistas are astounded by what they own – and how much money they have tied up in their natural hair stash. Why let it collect dust in your space while it could collect interest in a savings account? You could easily be $50, $100 … even $500 richer by the end of the week. As an added bonus, you’d have your place cleaned up, and you will have a fresh feeling of starting over.
Tip#5- Try Before you Buy!

Most Natural hair care companies have started offering trial sized products for new customers to try. Take advantage of this! Instead of splurging on the next hot thing, purchase travel sized products to get a feel of the product; often times good for 2 uses.
Take note of what you have learned so far and put this information to good use. Read and reread this article; I bet you will notice a difference sooner than you think.
Hairs to you!

Have you done any of the above to save money on your natural hair staples? If not, what are some other methods you’ve tried?

 

[AwesomelyNappy]

I avoid product bandwagons!

i try to save money by not looking at reviews of new or existing products unless i intend to buy or have a urgent need for it and no product that i currently own is sufficient enough to do the job. There are so many products that i haven't tried and probably wont ever try because i like to remain ignorant to how great it is. Some of the reviews have the same effect as an infomercial to me in that when i see it, i think i need it when i really dont, and in the past i've had buyers remorse and the product is sitting collecting dust, while the merchant is cashing my check. I know i dont have the "greatest" products (most are cheap or homemade), but it works for now (my hair is growing and is healthy), and until i use them up and until i have the money to support another line or two, i just chose to stick with what i know and KISS.

Also, if i see a product from a vendor that can be replicated in my own kitchen and at cheaper or comparable rate, i just diy.