I HADN’T SEEN MY REAL NAILS FOR TEN YEARS
ALEXANDRA ABRAHAMS, 40, lives with partner Cev, 40. Together they run a property management business, Myhomesorted. She has saved €3,685 during lockdown and says:
ONE of my biggest extravagances, pre- lockdown, was weekly blow-dries at a very high-end salon, which cost €55 a time.
We run a customer-facing business and, in normal times, regularly have meetings with clients at exclusive hotels and restaurants, so it’s important to look my best — and to feel confident — and having bouncy, groomed hair certainly helps.
I would also have my hair cut and coloured every month. But, for the past 12 weeks, the only hair treatment I’ve had has been the odd €7 Nice’n Easy root touch-up, which covers the greys but fades very quickly. I also made a dreadful mess of our pristine white bathroom trying to apply it and stained my forehead.
If this goes on much longer, I’m going to have to take the kitchen scissors to my messy hair.
I’ve told my partner he’ll have to do the back, which he’s understandably nervous about. I guess I need to be prepared for a bit of an uneven style.
It was quite a shock when my Shellac nails broke off a few weeks ago. I hadn’t seen my real nails for ten years and they looked awful, chipped and peeled.
I honestly didn’t know how I would cope without all these treats at the beginning of lockdown. But, although I’ve missed them terribly, I have managed. Cutting back has been a big help as our income has dropped because business has been much slower.
Once it picks up again, I will be tempted to go back to having treatments but I’ll try to resist.
When I complain about my appearance, Cev says: ‘You always look beautiful!’ Now he knows how much money I’ve saved, I’m sure he’d say I’m absolutely stunning!
WHAT SHE’D USUALLY HAVE SPENT:
Blow-dries: €720. Hair conditioning treatments: €330. Hair cut and colour: €500. Root touch-up: €310. Massages plus spa trips: €830. Make-up: €500. Shellac nails: €330. Spray tans: €165.
TOTAL OVER THREE MONTHS: €3,685 (€14,740 a year).