I have a confession to make: On Friday, I had my first haircut in….wait for it….

13 months.

And no, I wasn’t sneaking in trims here & there to maintain any semblance of style. I basically had a mane of long, unruly hair that I tied into a ponytail every single day (or hid underneath a hat).

Why on Earth would I go so long between haircuts?

Haircut & Makeup Free and Loving it

The truth is, I don’t really care about looking “good.” Yes, I want to look put together, and yes, I will dress up for important meetings, date nights, etc. There are even some times when I want to get all dolled up. But overall during the day-to-day, I don’t put that much emphasis on my appearance.

As long as my hair is clean, my teeth brushed and my clothes match and don’t have holes in them/stains on them, I could care less about anything else. As I sit here typing this, the only makeup on my face is a bit of Carmex on my lips–and I’ve already been out in public!

But before a collective cringe and/or sigh of disgust rings forth from the blogosphere, let me explain what I mean by this. Especially because if my BF is reading, he may be the first to object after sometimes waiting for me to slap on some makeup before we go out for the night (sounds like a contradiction, right?)…

Value Your Appearance without Breaking the Bank

I value my appearance in terms of NOT looking like a dirty or disheveled mess, but I don’t put so much emphasis on it that I spend a small fortune maintaining some ideal of beauty that’s attained only by models and celebrities.

I also believe that natural is the most beautiful look a woman can wear. I have honed a simple, inexpensive routine to keep myself looking my best without breaking the bank and without falling victim to product overload or having a closet that’s bursting at the seams.

Vanity Keeps Us Poor

I once read an article in Siren Magazine that was based on the premise that vanity keeps the average woman poor. In it, the author alluded that the average cost of looking good for a female can hover between $10,000-$12,000 each year! Even typing that now nearly causes me to fall out of my chair as I did while reading that article 4-5 years ago.

While I think it’s much more realistic to think that sum should be closer to $3,000-$5,000, you can’t argue that all of these figures are significant sums of money. Think about all the haircuts, manicures, treatments, clothes, makeup, shoes and jewelry you buy each year. Now add up those individual costs to get an annual sum. Surprised by what you realize? Looking good costs a lot of money!

Or does it?

Looking Good Without Spending Money

It’s actually possible to look like a million bucks…without spending a single dollar. Here are some ways I keep my style and appearance fresh while still maintaining a natural approach to beauty:

• Borrowing or swapping clothes. Consider pairing up with a sibling, friend or neighbor who is the same size as you. Trade and share your wardrobes for an instant influx of “new” clothes without spending a dime.
• Practice good hygiene. As I mentioned above, showering, brushing teeth and keeping nails trim/free from dirt are paramount. Brushing your hair is a quick and easy fix to refresh yourself midday, and it’s great for your hair because it helps distribute those much-needed oils it naturally produces.
• Be a sample Queen. I’m not too proud to ask for samples in stores such as Sephora and CVS. I’ve also scored great freebies from Mary Kay and Avon. Instead of tossing them away, I put the samples to use for me, often creating an entire look for a night out…for free!
• Make your own products. Sure, this might be cheating because you still have to buy the ingredients, but I most likely would have them from cooking or baking anyway. I’ve taken oatmeal baths, scrubbed a lemon on my face, and washed my hair with beer. I’ve saved thousands of dollars on beauty treatments, and I get compliments on my skin at least weekly.
• Sit up straight. Or walk straight with your shoulders back. Both of these exude confidence and confidence always looks fantastic!
• Exercise. Being active is good for more than your muscles and heart–it paves the way for glowing, clear skin that can’t be produced from anything that comes in a bottle.
• Smile! This goes hand-in-hand with confidence–when you’re smiling, you draw attention away from anything you are physically wearing. It’s truly one of your best accessories.
• Speak kindly of yourself and others. I once wore a pair of pants that was just a bit too short as a last-ditch effort to get one more wear out of them (sorry, I loved them!). I was a bit uncomfortable thinking how short they were when I sat down, but did I complain or mention it to anyone? Nope! In fact, I paid a few extra compliments to my co-workers and nobody was the wiser. Yes, the pants went to Goodwill the next day but by not drawing more attention to my perceived flaw, I was able to relax because nobody noticed!

 

Overall, I think the key is realizing that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to look good. While I won’t go another year without a haircut, I’ll continue to keep my down-to-Earth approach to maintaining my appearance. Considering that most people think I’m in my early 20s when they look at me (but I’m really in my 30s), I think something must be working!

**Edit: In no way do I want this to seem as if I’m passing judgement on those who do spend more to maintain their appearance…it’s just a case of “different strokes for different folks” and some food for thought!

How much do you spend on looking good? How do you save money on maintaining your appearance?

 

This post was written by me but made possible by Save1.com, a site where you can score great deals through coupons at your favorite retailers. The best part is that for each coupon you use, Save1.com donates a meal to a person in need!

Photo credit: Cour10e Fox