If you’ve been to the grocery store or tried to buy a used car in the past few months, you already know that the cost of practically everything is going up right now. But just because times are tight, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on self-care. Luckily, we’re all out here trying to do more with less, which is why social media can be an amazing resource for tips on how to maintain everything from your nails to your complexion without leaving home. We scoured Black TikTok for our favorite tips to help you look your best when you’re on a budget.
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Trim Your Split Ends
Don’t tell your stylist you heard it here, but you can make less frequent trips to the salon and maintain healthy hair growth if you can trim your own split ends. Here, Kinzey Rae demonstrates how she gets rid of dead ends on her own by separating her blow-dried hair into sections and trimming with shears.
“As a licensed hairstylist you did great!” wrote someone in the comments.
Who Needs a Brazilian?
If you need to cut Brazilians out of your budget, there are cheaper alternatives to help you get rid of the hair down there on your own for a fraction of the cost. TikTok User @jaliasahm swears by this dual head electric shaver from Akunbem, which gets rid of unwanted hair gently and leaves the skin smooth, without razor bumps.
“She is powerful,” she said in her post. “Girl, when I tell you this is about the best thing you’re gonna get to a Brazilian. All of it’s gone.”
DIY Dermaplaning
We could watch @shedidthat_’s demo of her skin care routine on repeat. In just a few simple steps, she gives herself a smooth, even complexion that glows.
The Best Beard Oil
Let’s face it, no guy wants a dull, dry beard. To keep your beard looking healthy, @dalxusa says forget all the fancy products, Vitamin E oil is the best.
Lineup Tutorial
TikTok is full of tutorial videos for giving yourself the perfect lineup, like this one from @tariklaroda. His advice: use a half guard and take your time so you don’t take off too much.
“You can always take off more hair, you cannot put hair back on,” he says in his video.
Hem Your Pants
If you’re looking for an easy DIY hack to help you shorten your pants without turning to a tailor, all you need is hemming web, a pair of scissors and an iron. TikToker @itsmayraela showed followers how she got the perfect hem in minutes.
“Girl you just changed my life as a short girlie 😂😂❤️❤️love it thank you,” wrote someone in the comments.
A Smell Good Secret
Beauties on a budget, you may not be trying to break the bank on a bottle of Baccarat, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little bit of that luxurious scent for yourself. According to TikTok user KNT Daily, Powered Luxury Laundry Detergent in Enchanted Rouge from Mavwicks Fragrances is the perfect dupe for a fraction of the price.
“Yall out here paying $400 for that perfume for it to be on top of your clothes, when you could be washing your clothes and it’s inside the fabric,” she said.
A Simple Cleansing Routine
There’s no need to spend lots of money to have clear, smooth skin. Rashaad shows his TikTok followers his simple facial cleansing routine, which includes CeraVe cleanser, a facial brush, an exfoliator and Vaseline for the lips.
A Beautiful Blowout
Pink Noire Beauty gives followers her hack to get the perfect blowout – keeping a firm grip on the ends of your hair to get the maximum amount of stretch while straightening. In her video, she shows how she glides her blowdryer (with the concentrator attachment) down the hair, making sure to hit all four sides.
Master a Basic Mani
From filing to cuticle clipping, Tiffani Blu gives the perfect tutorial for getting her nails primed for polish.
“This was the best tutorial, hands down,” wrote someone in the comments.
Or Add Some Tips
If you’re looking for length, @turah loves the press on nail kits from SXC Cosmetics. The kits come with the nails and all of the accessories you need for a salon-quality mani.
“I’m hooked on these nails! Applied my first set yesterday and I absolutely love them, 😍🔥” wrote someone in the comments.
Keep Your Tips Together
Don’t want to throw away your press-ons when you take them off? This nail organizer could change your life. It uses traceless double-sided adhesive to keep your tips together – until you need them again.
“This is genius !” wrote someone in the comments.
Beat Those Brows
Maya Galore gives a master class on filling out brows with a REFY brow pencil.
“If you want hair-like strokes, she’s your girl,” she captioned her post.
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