Last winter, I decided to change it all up and make weekly hair blowouts part of my beauty routine. I haven't looked back since. It might seem insane to pay $50 a week to get my hair blown out, but the truth is, it's just an old-fashioned thing.
Back in the 1950s, it was not uncommon for women to head to the salon once a week to get their hair "set" and then not touch it for the rest of the week. It's the same for me. As a busy mom of three who is studying to be a yoga teacher and who works part time, I do not have time to wash and dry my hair a couple of times a week. Sitting in a salon chair where I can multitask and read a book or relax while someone else makes my hair perfect is a much better use of my time.
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A salon blowout is also better on my hair. We have hard water at home and the salon has a water softener and high-quality salon products. For me to give my hair the same level of care at home would cost a fair amount. I only refill my shampoo about once a year now since I rarely wash it at home. In that sense, I save some money.
You really can't put a price on how good it feels to know all I have to do is give my hair a brush and it will look professional and perfect with almost no effort. My morning routine is about 15 minutes and people compliment my hair all the time anyway. It's worth every penny.
Of course, there are drawbacks. Water is my mortal enemy. I will do almost anything in the world not to get my hair wet. If it rains, I wear three levels of head protection and carry a giant umbrella. I can't swim. Ever. And I have to use two shower caps for every shower. Additionally, if I am going to be anywhere that has high humidity, forget it. When we went to Disney last month, I surrendered to my hair's natural curl and called it a day. In the summer, I stop this beauty routine and just let my hair be messy and wavy.
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It is a splurge. There is no question about it. But in a world where there is an endless array of beauty treatments a woman can get, from facials to pedicures to hot stone massages and spray tans, it seems like this one is relatively benign for all that it gives back. It's a total throwback to the 1950s and has been worth every penny.
For a busy woman with thick hair like mine, the weekly blowout is as necessary as toothpaste.