You Won't Believe How Much the Average Person Spends on Salon Visits Each Year

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The beauty salon trade is a 20 billion dollar industry to which just about every American woman contributes. Haircuts, blow-outs, manis and pedis — they really do add up. And if you're like the average woman outlined below, your regular salon visits can cost you an average of about $1,800 per year! (And that only includes nails, haircuts, and blow-outs.)

Fortunately, there are ways you can cut down on your salon expenses without compromising your look. Read on for our tally of what you're spending at the salon — then consider using some of our tips on saving big by beautifying at home.

1. Haircuts

The average American woman spends $44 per haircut, plus a tip of $9, for a total of $53 per visit. At an average of four cuts a year, that's a whopping $212 spent yearly ridding herself of dead ends.

You could "clip" this expense altogether by learning to cut your own locks. But even if you're not willing to eliminate salon cuts completely, you could easily halve the cost by trimming at home, and saving the salon visits for major cuts or new styles. Ask your stylist for tips on how to achieve a precise and healthy trim. And for those too skittish to reach for the scissors, you could alternatively go an extra month between salon cuts, which will save you some significant coin in the long run.

2. Blow-Outs

Few among us have the budget of a Hollywood star to maintain red carpet-worthy locks 365 days a year. The average blow-out costs about $40, takes about 40 minutes, and has the effect of making you want them more often. For the sake of our example, let's assume the average woman gets a blow-out every other month, costing her a total of about $240 per year. (Ever heard of a blow-out junkie? These women habitually get three or more blow-outs per week. That's $6,240 a year, not including gratuity!)

Fortunately, you can achieve the same super-sleek look at home using a professional dryer with a wattage of at least 1875. We recommend the Nanoe Hair Dryer by Panasonic, which retails at about $154. And if you do decide to indulge in a salon blow-out, shop around for the best price. Major metropolitan areas and wealthy enclaves tend to charge more for salon services, so look outside those gilded borders for cheaper rates.

3. Manicures and Pedicures

Salons in the U.S. charge an average of $19.50 for a manicure. The average cost of a pedicure is $32.25. The average woman who gets manis and pedis does so every two weeks, running her an average of $1,345 per year.

Whether you pamper yourself with these treatments once a month or just a handful of times during the summer, the cost quickly adds up. But with a little effort and a small investment, you can give yourself salon-worthy nail treatments at home.

To begin, Manicurist Mila Yagoudaief recommends a 10-minute soak using Sally Hansen Salon Mineral Foot Soak ($8.88) to soften the skin and cuticles. You can also use this foot soak for your hands. Then use a clipper to trim your nails straight across so they're about even with the top of your fingers and toes, and use an emery board to round the outer edges of each nail.

Next, remove any remaining dead skin by massaging your hands and feet with a thick exfoliating scrub, like Barielle 60 Second Mani-Pedi ($16.99). Rinse with warm water. You'll want to prevent the skin from drying out by massaging your hands and feet with any cream that contains shea butter. Now, find your favorite polish and paint! Don't forget to apply a topcoat to prevent chips and peeling.

When you add up the average costs of manis, pedis, haircuts, and blow-outs above, it totals a startling $1,797 — and that's just the tip of the iceberg, since many women also get regular facials or skin treatments, hair color, massages, and more. Do your budget a favor by treating yourself at home, instead, and save the salon visits for truly special occasions.

How much do you estimate you spend on yearly salon visits?

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