Avoid The Upsell! - Tips On How To Stay Within Budget At A Salon

Going to the salon for a fresh, new hairdo is lovely. Who doesn’t like to go in the door looking busted and come out feeling like a Beyonce-worthy background dancer? It’s a great feeling. Many stylists talk about the most rewarding parts of their job coming from being able to make ladies look and feel amazing.

The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Why is that? Well, two main reasons. One is what I mentioned above. The ability to change a person’s perception of themselves on the outside and what that subsequently does to make them feel amazing on the inside.

The other reason is why this post exists. The upsell. As women, we are often sucked into the future payoff a product promises to deliver. How many times have you fallen for the upsell? A sales associate absolutely convinces you that the fabulous product their hawking will change your life. Or at the least, make your life easier and make you more beautiful in the process.

Sounds great! But, we all are also too familiar with the letdown that comes when we look over at the proof of our amped up hope. A half-used container or the new this or the improved that, that left us unimpressed. The percentage of times our lives are actually changed by a product is low, in the real world. However, we continually find ourselves lulled back to spending by the same false hope.

This is not to say that awesome products don’t exist. The truth is, they do! The trouble in that truth is being conscious enough with our dollars to take the time to research a bit and purchase in a way that increases our odds of finding that one life-altering product.

Going to the salon is much like going to the Target. You go in for one thing that costs less than $20.00, and you come out with a $150.00 cart full of ‘How Did This Happen?’ Stylists and salon owners are there to provide us with a service. And they are there to make money. Beauty is a business.

Below are some helpful tips that will keep you on a budget when you go in for your next salon visit. Take heed and your pockets will thank you in the long run.

Avoiding the up sell

Impulse buying is the downfall of many. Those in sales know this. They evoke a certain emotion that drains us of common sense and we impulsively act. That act is to buy! It feels great. You get a rush and the excitement lingers for a while.

When you’re at the salon for a simple wash and style, understand that you will likely be introduced to a product that will help maintain your new look. It may be in the form of a great conditioner or setting spray or edge control product.

There is nothing wrong with this interaction. It is what a good stylist does. They want to help you maintain your hair when your hair isn’t in their hands. But if you want to stay on budget, keep in mind that this is an upsell and that you do not have to feel compelled to say yes to the product.

Always graciously decline, at first, pay for your intended service and tip the hair care professional who has taken care of you. It may seem awkward at first, but you will get used to it. And if you truly want the product, think it over and budget for it. Then the next time you visit the salon, make your purchase.

Do what you can at home before you go

Another great way to keep the reigns of your hair budget tight is to do whatever you can at home before you go to your appointment. Products are not the only upsells in salons. Many times an upsell comes in the form of an additional service.

If you are comfortable deep conditioning* your hair at home, then do that. Do it before you go and make a note of when you did it and what products you used. This way you can advise the stylist accordingly so that he/she is aware of what complimentary products to use while they’re providing your service.

There are other quick tips, similar to these, that you can implement to ensure you remain on track. Just take a few minutes and jot down some ways you can stay focused when visiting a salon.

Think about it like this, if you overspend and blow your budget, you may be forced to look for cheaper alternatives to maintain your hair later. Those alternatives may not be in the best interest of your hair health or your aesthetic.

At the end of the day, you will have remained mindful, remained on budget, and you will still leave the salon feeling beautiful.