Looking your best does not have to be expensive. Although there are many ways to achieve a desired look quickly, they are often unattainable due to financial constraints. In this blog, you will learn 4 ways to look and feel your best without spending unnecessary money.
1. The Sock Method
If you own an old pair of pantyhose or socks, you might want to bring them out of the drawer for this hair hack. The blowout look has been an iconic hairstyle for decades. In recent years, it has become more popular and is trending again, almost like it was in the 1990s.
How do you achieve this look without paying for it each week? There are several ways to achieve a blowout look, including heatless, heat, overnight, and the traditional blow-dryer-and-rolls option. However, for simplicity, the sock method is perfect.
Steps:
- Take 3 socks.
- Dampen your hair, or apply a product such as oil or a leave-in conditioner to dry hair. Heat option: If you don’t mind using heat, blow-dry your hair to make it more likely to hold a curl.
- Section the crown of your hair and roll one of the socks inward towards your head. P.S. When you finish rolling, make sure to “lock” the section in by covering it with the sock.
- Divide your hair in half, leaving one side on the left and one on the right.
- Roll another sock outwards towards your head on one side. Repeat on the other side.
- Leave the socks on overnight.
- Wake up and voila! Your hair should have some curl and bounce to it that will eventually fall into a “blowout” look throughout the day.
For visual learners, there are many videos on TikTok and YouTube that go in-depth on how to achieve this look. Just look up “Blowout overnight sock method”.
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2. Press-On Nails
You have likely heard of press-on nails and may have worn them at some point. But, whether you’ve had a good or bad experience with them, you probably haven’t used them to their full potential. Press-On nails have come a long way, and continue to surprise everyone in the beauty industry. They can be applied “as-is” and will last around 3-5 days on your nails, but the reality is that a good press-on application will make them look like you got them done at the salon. Here’s how to make sure of that:
First, compare the brands. Some of the most popular Press-On brands in the United States right now are Kiss, Olive & June (sold at Target), Glamnetic (sold at Ulta), and other brands on Amazon.
Now, PREP! To ensure your Press-On nails last 1-2 weeks, proper preparation of your nail bed is crucial. You can also look up videos of this if you’re a visual learner, but here are the steps:
- Lightly file your natural nails to create a rough surface for fake nails to adhere to.
- Dehydrate your natural nails with some acetone or alcohol and a paper towel.
- Glue application. You can either use a drop of a strong nail glue like Glamnetic’s brush on nails glue, sticky tabs, or both for extra strength.
- Apply the nails. For this step, make sure not to press the nails too harshly to avoid glue spreading outside of the nail and creating air bubbles inside. Additionally, before applying the nails, you can file all corners of the fake nail to perfectly fit your natural nails.
- Optional: Apply some UV-curing top coat for a fresh manicured look.
Pro tip: If you want nails that you can easily remove for sports, work, or any reason at all, get sticky tabs. Just make sure not to wet your hands/nails for 2-3 hours after application.
Image via Pexels
3. Dye Eyebrows
Stop spending more money getting your eyebrows dyed by someone else if you can do it yourself. Dyeing your eyebrows is one of the easiest ways to instantly elevate your look. Did you know that eyebrows are widely considered the focal point of the face? This makes eyebrows especially important for physical appearance. Whether you have them professionally waxed, threaded, or plucked, you can give them extra attention by temporarily dyeing or bleaching them.
So, how do you decide whether to dye or bleach your eyebrows? A good starting point is to assess whether you want to soften your overall look or make it bolder. Here’s a quick guide:
- You want a softer, more feminine look: bleach your eyebrows only one to three shades lighter (i.e., leave the bleach on for less than the recommended time on the box).
- You want a bolder, darker, more feminine look: dye your eyebrows one to three shades darker.
- You want to cover gray or white eyebrow hairs: Dye eyebrows.
- You just dyed your hair and want your eyebrows to match: Dye or bleach, depending on the hair change.
- You want to fill in gaps and make eyebrows appear fuller: Dye eyebrows one to two shades darker.
What products to use for eyebrows:
- Just For Men: Men’s Beard Dye (under $10)
Note: Please be advised that this product is not meant for areas near the eyes. Allergic reactions and skin irritation are always possible when using dyes and chemicals. Perform a patch test on a small area first as a precaution.
Tip: Use Vaseline or Aquafor on the surrounding skin to protect it.
- Eyebrow Tint Kits. There are eyebrow tint kits, though they may be a bit over $10.
Image via Pexels
4. Cheek and Lip Tint
This is one of the easiest ways to step out of your house feeling blushed and feminine. Cheek and lip tint/stain is a liquid you can apply anywhere on your face; it instantly adds color and lasts for several hours. For example, you might apply the stain to your lips, then blend it out with your fingers. You can also apply it to your apples of the cheeks and blend upward with your fingers toward the temples for a natural flush. Another great way to use it is to apply a dab to the nose, where the sun would naturally burn or tan. Lastly, apply some to your eyelids to create a subtle, monochromatic eyeshadow look.
There are many ways to use cheek and lip tint for a cute, easy look. Here is one cheek-lip tint for under $7:
- E.l.f. Sheer For It Blush Tint
Image via Pexels
The truth is that true beauty comes from within. And, before you try all these tips and tricks, remember to speak kindly to yourself. Beauty is subjective, and what works for some people may not work for others. These are just general suggestions to try and to have fun with.
You are beautiful!
