Did you know that items and services marketed towards women tend to be more expensive? (Source) That’s right, apparently society thinks it’s okay to charge women more because we’re more likely to pay more for the same items.

Next time you’re buying deodorant or a shaving razor, look at the men’s section and compare. Don’t be too shocked that you’re paying more!

Personally, I think we need to give a big “shove it” to the man.

Begin looking at what you’re spending on beauty and try to cut down. Here are some ways you can still enjoy being a woman, but spend a little less.

1. Cut your own hair.

This isn’t as scary as you think it is!

It’s very easy to do if you have longer hair, which is another reason why I consider longer hair to be more minimalist and easy to maintain.

Do your research first. Make sure you have the right materials, and follow a guide.

My favorite tutorial is this one on YouTube, which I have been using with amazing results! This saves me a lot of money and aggravation over bad hair stylists. (I’m cursed.)

2. Stop dying your hair.

This is a given. Dying requires a lot of upkeep and it damages your hair. It also continually takes money out of your wallet, plus you need to buy extra beauty products to heal the damage.

It’s nice to dye for a change, but if you’re short on cash it’s best just to skip this. Growing it out is a pain, too!

3. Check for duplicates.

Sometimes you can buy a cheaper alternative to an expensive beauty product without sacrificing the results. These are usually called “dupes” within the beauty community.

Look around for these duplicates by doing trial and error yourself, or by doing some research online.

Here is a great blog post from Lipstick and Luxury with a list of dupes. Here’s a huge list of of dupes from Fabulously Thrifty. Recommendations are everywhere!

4. Read reviews.

Need a new beauty product, but can’t afford to waste your money on a bad purchase? Always read reviews on a product first to save yourself time and money.

I highly recommend a community like Makeup Alley. I never buy anything without checking there first, and it’s saved me so much money!

5. Stalk for sales.

Mark the big sales on your calendar and save up for them.

For example, you can get away with making a wishlist of more expensive products and waiting for Black Friday (or Boxing Day) sales, seasonal sales, or any quarterly specials a store may have every year.

This way you’ll save big and you’ll still get what you want. This requires the patience of waiting for the sale, but pays off big.

6. Clip coupons.

Saving up coupons and being aware of coupon regulations at your favorite store will help you save money on beauty products.

For example, it’s easy to get drugstore makeup on discount by combining manufacturer coupons with store discounts at places like CVS and Walgreens.

ULTA is another example — you can use ULTA coupons on drugstore makeup to pay less.

7. Try DIY.

There are so many great DIY alternatives out there that you can create with household items.

The list is nearly endless. As featured here on the blog, try a homemade lip scrub or coconut oil hair mask. It’s just one less thing you need to purchase!

Here are a few more tips on going natural and saving more money in the process.

How do you spend less on beauty, and were you aware that women are often charged more?

Image sources: 1, 2, 3

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