The Price of Vanity
5 May
$500.
That is, apparently, the cost of my vanity.
I went for a Japanese Straightening earlier this week. Four hours, $500 later, my hair was sleek, shiny, and pin straight.
It was exactly what I had wanted.
But I felt uneasy. When did I become so vain that I would drop $500 on my hair?
It wasn’t just about vanity, it was also (mostly) about convenience. I may be vain, but I am damn lazy. I want to look like a high-maintenance girl without being one, especially on this Europe trip1.
I used to have zero-maintenance, naturally straight hair, but after I permed it, it became a frizzy mess that required blow drying and flat-ironing every day. It’s been a huge pain in the ass, and the more I flat-iron it, the more damaged it becomes.
Japanese Straightening is supposed to keep your hair straight without requiring any effort – you can step out of the shower and your hair will air-dry straight, you can put it up in a pony tail and it won’t leave a kink, etc. When I researched the effects of Japanese Straightening, many people said their hair actually became healthier, because the straightening lasts for 6-10 months, so the hair is saved from being flat-ironed for all that time. It sounded like the perfect solution.
After the straightening, my hair wasn’t too different from what it used to be before my perm, albeit smoother and shinier. Given that I had naturally straight hair, the hair stylist said that this will last at least a year for me, and it may revert my hair back to pre-perm conditions, which means I may never have to do this again.
So it wasn’t so much about vanity as it was about getting my old hair back.
But I still can’t believe I spent $500 on my hair.
What’s the most expensive treatment/product you’ve ever given yourself in the name of vanity?
- I considered the fact that we would be staying mostly in hostels, sharing a closet-sized bathroom with upwards of ten people, potentially not even having a mirror in the bathroom, etc. and I realized that there was no way I could prep my hair for 40 minutes every morning. [↩]
I know a couple of my friends who have gotten the straightening perm, and they love it. They also looked really chic, pretty effortlessly.
My hair is already straight, so I have it pretty easy in that department. I did spent SNG125 (~CND160 at the time) getting my eyebrows darkened. It was on a whim, and I’m super sensitive about them being so light. Thank god they turned out, so I didn’t look like those ladies with green eye brows (you know, when they start to fade), or super dark scary ones. whew.
I know what you mean by wanting to look effortlessly chic even though you’re traveling. I always put on a bit of make up, even if it’s just eye liner – cuz it made me feel prettier. Pictures can last forever, right? :)
My hair used to be like that too, zero maintenance. I could crawl out of bed and not even comb it and it would look fine. I never had to blow dry or flat iron or use hair products.
Now I’m kicking myself for ever wanting a perm, for ever thinking my hair was “too boring.” I’ve learned my lesson, sometimes, boring is bliss!
I didn’t know it was so expensive to get eyebrows darkened! I mean for that price, you could get your whole head of hair coloured! Good thing it worked out though right? Did you have friends who tried the place first or read any online reviews first? That’s what I did before I went for this straightening, otherwise there was no way I would have been confident enough to spend $500.
I’m not so much worried about the pictures as the fact that I don’t want to be seen as the eyesore American tourist. I’ve heard (and seen photos) of how chic they are, those French and Italian women, and I want to fit in. I don’t even want to be the “fashionable American” while I’m there, I want to be the “fashionable European”!
oh lord, I almost never spend money on my appearance-I did however drop $800 for glasses/sunglasses…and about $60 to get my ears pierced twice each.
Wow, what glasses/sunglasses were these?
Luckily, my parents have extended benefits that covers the cost of prescription eye-wear, so our whole family gets nice frames for our glasses and sunglasses once every two years. Now that I’m graduating, I won’t be able to use my parents’ benefits anymore, and my new job doesn’t cover that much, so I think my frames will have to be downgraded.
I think becoming an adult is really about paying for your own stuff. Kinda sucks, doesn’t it?
I get my hair permed every 6 months or so (costs about $100 each time). I haven’t had any problems with frizz, but I get it done at an Aveda salon so supposedly it’s healthier for your hair. Who knows.
When I walked into the salon, the first thing the hair stylists said to me was, “But your hair, it’s straight.”
It took me 15min to explain to her that I have to straighten it, or else it dries with frizzy ends.
I had “virgin” hair when I got the perm, which apparently causes more frizz because it’s the first time you’re “killing” your hair. Also, since I had effortlessly straight hair my whole life, I wasn’t really used to the high-maintenance of the perm, and then not used to the high-maintenance of getting my hair to be perfectly straight after the perm faded out.
I guess the condition of my hair wasn’t that bad, maybe I’m just a little neurotic about having perfectly straight hair. Even when I flat-iron, the ends of my hair would curl outwards as the day wears on, and since my hair is layered, it’d take on a pseudo-triangular shape. And I don’t want triangular hair.
I probably couldn’t justify spending this amount on my hair, but ohhh you make it sound oh so tempting.
lol I think the more I read about it, the more tempted I was until I couldn’t even talk myself out of it anymore :P
I have not heard of this particular treatment before and I can in no way afford it, but omg, I really really want to try it…
Well, if you have no qualms with your hair, I probably wouldn’t do it. I mean, nothing is better for your hair than doing nothing to it right? But if your hair really bothers you, I guess you can try it in the future! At least you have one testimonial now to show that it works :)
I didn’t know that perms could permanently affect the straightness of your hair. Good to know.
The most I’ve ever spent on a cosmetic treatment was $600 to have my teeth whitened. It really didn’t seem like a lot to me because I was super self conscious about the whiteness (or yellowness) of my teeth, but everyone who asked me how much it cost after I had it done was appalled. Sometimes these things are just worth it though.
Yeah, I think it all comes down to how much it matters to us. I think teeth white-ness is pretty important, but aren’t there a lot of drugstore products nowadays for that? I’ve never used them so I don’t know how effective they are. How long did yours last? Are you planing to do it again?
I’ve gotten my hair permanently straightened before. I remember spending hours in the salon with four women working on my hair at the same time because my natural hair is curly, it just wouldn’t seem to straighten properly.
I got it done in the Philippines when I was on vacation. In fact, I’ve gotten my hair permanently straightened more than once. Each time I had it done, I paid about 100 bucks, which isn’t much. But the plane ticket to the Philippines is like 1,500 dollars, so it evened out. :-P
My friends told me to wait until I was in Asia for it, because of the price difference, but I thought – the whole point of the convenience factor was so I wouldn’t have to struggle with my hair in Europe – so I just went ahead and did it here.
Have you always done it in the Philippines? Was it Japanese Straightening or some other method?
Hey there, Sassygirl. I had to start a new thread on here because the reply button wasn’t working for me.
I’ve always done it in the Philippines because their methods seemed to be less drying for my hair. I’ve seen people get it done here in South Texas and the effects weren’t as great. In fact, the women who got it done here in TX had a very dry look. I really didn’t want that, so I just waited till I was in the Philippines to actually try it out.
I believe the method I had done was the Japanese Straightening. My hair was shiny and super straight! Loved every minute of it, actually.
Thanks for letting me know! Fixed the reply button.
Man, I’ve never even heard of this. But sounds like it’s worth it if your hair reverts back to normal.
I paid $3500 last year for Lasik eye surgery. It was the best decision ever, but I’m suffering for the lost cash now. I’ve had this insanely deep hatred for eyeglasses since I had to start wearing them, I just could NEVER feel attractive. Totally changed my life.
Wow, how was it? I’m kind of terrified of eye surgery, since your eyes actually have to be open for the surgery. Did you know anyone else who’d done it or was it on a whim? I guess you didn’t like contacts either, huh?
Yeah, it was kinda bizarre literally WATCHING my own surgery! Hahaha. But it wasn’t scary at all…just…surreal. Only later did I suffer a little. I kinda talked to a few people who did it, went for a free consultation and all that stuff. Totally happy with my decision. I wrote a blog post if you’re interested!
http://www.thatstangly.com/2009/09/a-gross-discussion-about-my-eyeballs/
Ooh, thanks for sharing! It sounds like the surgery was totally worth it to you though, so it’s money well-spent!
Me? I love wearing glasses. Ooh, I should have put that in my “I admit” post. I admit, I love love love wearing glasses and will never switch to contacts or anything else. I love the way my face looks with a chic pair of frames, it makes me look so smart and sophisticated!
Whoa! That’s a lot of money for one time. I can understand you wanting to do it though, I’m often breaking my hair to have it straight. And at least it lasts for months.
I think the most I’ve spent at once was about £30 on perfume, and that was stuff on sale so the actual price would have been much much more. I like cosmetics etc but it’s something I tend to be stingy on so I wait for sales.
Ah, I do that too. Twice a year, there’s a cosmetic warehouse that has a special sale. For the last two years, that’s where I’ve been getting my makeup and perfume. Although, I don’t wear perfume normally, so I usually buy as gifts for friends. Last time I went, I “splurged” a little and bought a bottle for myself, it was $35 where the retail price was $80. Good deal, but I still didn’t end up wearing it.
I guess my lesson learnt is that money is much more well spent on things that you actually care about, regardless of the price tag.
Love the new layout!!!
I’ve never really spent a good chunk of money like that, but I do spend roughly $80 every time I cut my hair. And I spent roughly $90 a year on tanning for a few years. And it adds up and then I’m like “…oh vanity.” But yours sounds worth it, for sure.
Yeah, I think there are a lot of “regular pampering treatments” that would add up. Even though I don’t go tanning, I’m sure the amount I’ve spent upgrading my flat-irons, or on hair products, would add up to a ridiculous amount.
Glad you like the new look!
So I have stretch marks on my skin from weight gain a year ago when I came to the US. Never having gained weight before and gaining it in 4 to 6 months gave me stretch marks in odd places – my knees, behind my knees, my lower back and of course the usual, inner thighs. And they’re visible.
I’ve fully decided to throw down a few grand in less than two years to have them removed surgically. I wear shorts but I can’t help feeling self-conscious all the time.