Salon Services That Are Actually Worth The Splurge

With the stresses of everyday life, it's important to make time for some self-care, and there's no greater pick-me-up than a trip to the salon. Whether it's time for a fresh trim or you want a maximalist design for your next manicure, it always feels nice to splurge on yourself. However, while it may be tempting to try all the services, some are just a waste of money. Hairstylist Nicki told The Financial Diet that folks should skip deep conditioning treatments, stating, "I get that it feels great to post your new shiny hair on your Instagram right away. But if money is really an issue, I would skip it entirely because they usually cost like $20 or more, depending on where you go." Her advice? Get a salon-worthy bottle at a supply store and pamper yourself at home.

Of course, there are plenty of other services that you can't DIY, and that's when a salon visit is warranted. But how do you choose which ones are worth the splurge? It all depends on your needs, and what may be a necessity for you is a waste for others. Still, some services are definitely well-received across the board, and many have touted them as money well spent, from keratin treatments to lash lifts.

If you have frizzy or coarse hair, you're likely spending a lot of time doing at-home blowouts or straightening your strands with a flattening iron. Not only is too much heat damaging to your hair, but the precious time you spend could be drastically reduced with a simple salon solution. Enter keratin treatments, which will leave you with smoother, more manageable locks. Expert Abraham Sprinkle explained to Byrdie, "Keratin treatments fill in the gaps where keratin has been depleted, so humidity is combated and hair is left with a healthier appearance. Think of it in the same way spackle deals with nail holes in sheetrock: The surface is left smooth."

Sounds alluring enough, but a treatment could set you back anywhere from $300 to $600, at the time of writing. However, if you're wondering if keratin treatments actually do anything, folks have sworn that they're fans for life. "My frizzy dull dry hair is now soft and shiny and straight. Sometimes I miss my natural curls though, but my hair is so much easier to blow dry and brush and I can just let it air-dry ..." a Reddit user shared. Another wrote, "My hair was very damaged after 10+ years of bleaching. I started getting keratin treatments over a year ago (I've had 3 so far) and I have seen a significant improvement with my hair." Our advice: To save money, try to find a Groupon for a local salon or go in during novice training days for a steep discount.

Those who want super-long eyelashes regularly turn to lash extensions, but there's a risk of damaging your natural eye fringe. On the other hand, lash lifts give you the illusion of length and volume at a fraction of the cost. They're still spendy, though, and cost around $100, depending on where you live, but they leave you with lifted lashes that don't require any curling before you apply mascara. Content creator LeighAnnSays showed before-and-after pics on her YouTube channel, and her lashes went from stick straight to having a natural-looking curl in about an hour. "It's like I have the lashes I wish I was born with, basically," she raved.

Lash lifts can be time-consuming if you get them done regularly, but they can last up to eight weeks, while lash extensions need to be touched up every two to three weeks. The only caveat is that you can't wear waterproof mascara, but you can apply the regular kind. However, if you get a tint along with your lash lift, you'll be left with a darker color that will make you appear as if you applied a coat of mascara. We think being able to skip a step while getting ready in the morning is definitely money well spent.

For those who want to lengthen their nails but don't want the heavy feeling of acrylics, gel nail extensions are the perfect option. "Acrylics tend to be harder than gel. [The treatment] is typically done by mixing a powder (polymer) and a liquid (monomer) to create that dough-like consistency that can then be filed and molded into shapes," nail expert Brittney Boyce told Allure. Meanwhile, gel is more lightweight, which means it's forgiving on your natural nails and easier to remove. Gel extensions do come with a hefty price, however, and you can expect to pay around $135 in urban areas. But with a three-week lifespan, they're totally worth the splurge as you won't have to worry about chipping or fading polish.

YouTuber Satshya Tharien showed off her set of gel extensions after getting them for the first time, and she couldn't be happier. "I was really, really happy with how it came out ... I didn't feel like I had fake nails on. I've tried press-on nails before, and that was very uncomfortable," she told viewers. "It's quite natural, it's very light, I don't feel like there's something heavy on my hand." The content creator revealed that she had gotten her extensions about four weeks prior, and while you could see some separation on her nail bed from growth, there was nary a chip. "I absolutely love it," she declared.

With the cost of living rising everywhere, many are cutting back on their self-care spending habits. For example, you can learn how to cut and style your curtain bangs at home or give yourself a quick mani-pedi. But while you can attempt certain treatments at home to save money, the services we chose require a professional to get the best results, safely. The price tag may be high, but we considered how long you can go between appointments, which is a minimum of three weeks for gel nail extensions and months for keratin treatments. The services we chose are also low maintenance when it comes to upkeep, unlike lash extensions, which require daily grooming. Furthermore, they received rave reviews, with many users being repeat customers. All in all, these services may be costly, but they're definitely worth the extra splurge.