The quarantine of 2020 allowed many people to experiment with their own ‘homemade’ versions of beauty treatments; many even being successful. Doing things at home has also allowed us to save money. Americans spend billions of dollars annually on cosmetic procedures (both surgical and nonsurgical) and beauty treatments. Even though we’re no longer quarantined, you can still save money by trying these beauty and cosmetic procedures right in your own home.
Brighten your skin
Microneedling
Microneedling is a slightly invasive at-home procedure that uses a tool that punctures (ever so slightly) the skin. These tiny punctures stimulate collagen creation in the skin and allows for better absorption of your skincare products.
Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning uses a small bladed tool that removes the peach fuzz, or fine hairs, off of the face. This technique is also used to remove impurities and dead skin cells, resulting in a softer and smoother complexion. Doing this before you apply your makeup can make a world of difference.
For a healthy skincare routine, you’ll need a good cleanser, a toner, a good moisturizer, and a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. It’s also a good idea to have both hydrating and detoxifying facial masks in your skincare routine as well.
Brow treatments
You can shape your brows yourself with an eyebrow razor that looks similar to a dermaplaning tool. Of course, if you’ve never used anything like this before, you should probably watch some tutorials online before you attempt it yourself. You can also use a brow tint to darken your brows and make them bolder.
Hair treatments
You don’t have to be a hair expert to successfully wash, condition, dry, and style your hair. All you need is a really good shampoo; moisturising if your hair is dry, and clarifying if your hair is oily, and dry your hair with a T-shirt or microfiber towel to avoid frizz. Curlier and dryer hair types may need a deep conditioner after washing, and also a leave-in conditioner to keep the hair moisturized and frizz-free. As for styling, you should do what works best for your hair; whether it’s using mousse, gel, a cream, a spritz, or blow-drying/diffusing.
When it comes to more advanced hair treatments, such as dying your hair or other chemical treatments that drastically alter your hair, it’s important to use extreme caution and follow the directions carefully and exactly. Of course, you should only attempt these types of treatments if you’re confident in your abilities.
Improve your smile
Whiten your teeth
One way to whiten your teeth is to visit a dentist or orthodontist that specializes in teeth whitening. However, these are very expensive procedures; especially when there are OTC (over the counter) teeth whitening products. You can also find whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes that are effective in removing surface stains.
Perfect your smile
White teeth aren’t the only makings of a perfect smile. Oftentimes, the “perfect” smile includes no missing or broken/chipped teeth and straight teeth (some cultures consider gaps to be perfect). More often than not, you’ll have to visit a dentist or orthodontist to correct these issues— but now you don’t have to. You can get an instantly perfect smile when you order snap-on veneers.
Manicure and pedicure
There are a lot of things that you may not know about nail salons, which is a good enough reason to D.I.Y. your manicures and pedicures. You may be thinking that painting your fingernails and toenails at home with a simple bottle of nail polish isn’t going to cut it— and it’s true that you won’t get the same results you would at a nail salon. Fortunately, there are gel nail kits that come with LED lamps (use caution with these) and other salon tools to help you get that nail salon look.
Waxing
While laser hair removal hasn’t been safely done as a home D.I.Y. project, waxing is perfectly safe to do at home. There are several at-home waxing kits that are as simple as heating up and stirring the wax before you apply it to the problem area(s).
Of course, if you’re not comfortable with doing any of these treatments on your own, you should visit a professional. However, you’re pretty safe with attempting simple hair treatments and with making dental imprints for temporary teeth coverings. Still, you should stick with the DIYhome treatments that make you feel the most comfortable.
David Tobin did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
