Armed with the right tools and products, you can achieve and even exceed the benefits of salon and spa treatments in the comfort of your home, for a fraction of the cost. Set aside an hour or two, one day a week, to pamper yourself. The small investment in high quality products and a few tools will pay for themselves in no time at all. An at home spa day is not a selfish indulgence: It's ESSENTIAL.

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The price for a facial at a spa or salon can vary depending on the service you are receiving. A basic deep cleansing facial can easily cost $ 50. But if you have a good daily skin care regimen, you really don't need to pay for a high cost spa facial. Acne breakouts and congested pores can be avoided with weekly facial steaming followed by a detoxifying clay or mud masque.

Another costly salon / spa service is a chemical peel. For safety reasons, very strong alpha hydroxy acid solutions are only available to licensed professionals. But, remember, if you have a good daily skin care regimen, there is no need for a harsh, intensive chemical peel. A mild, at home AHA peel can do wonders for your skin's texture, appearance and overall health. Do-it-yourself alpha hydroxy peel kits are available on line and in drugstores. Look for one that includes a recovery masque as well as a post peel recovery serum: Both are essential for the safety and effectiveness of an AHA peel. With regards to any at home peel: FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LETTER! Performing a chemical peel incorrectly or too frequently can result in severe scarring and serious skin damage.

A restorative deep conditioning treatment at a salon can easily cost $ 50 to $ 125, sometimes more. To maintain healthy hair, regular deep conditioning is absolutely essential. After shampooing, an "instant" or daily conditioner closes the cuticles of the hair and restores proper pH balance. A restorative deep conditioner, on the other hand, strengthens and nourishes the hair. Strong, nourished hair is less susceptible to damage caused by heat styling, sun exposure and chemical treatments. Regular deep conditioning also helps hair that has been colored retain its vibrancy longer.

Do It Yourself

In order for a restorative deep conditioning treatment to penetrate the hair's shaft, an external heat source MUST be used. The gentle heat causes the cuticles of each strand of hair to "open", allowing the nourishing ingredients to saturate the hairs core and coat its exterior. You can use a traditional hooded dryer, an inflatable hood blow dryer attachment or heat cap (corded or cordless). My personal favorite is a cordless heat cap, because it allows me to do a deep conditioning treatment in the shower.

When shopping for a deep conditioning treatment, look for one designed specifically for your hair's condition. Organic, naturally derived ingredients are your best choices for restorative deep conditioning. For newly colored hair, don't perform a deep conditioning treatment until you have done your first post coloring shampoo/conditioning. The heat necessary for proper deep conditioning opens the cuticles, so a great deal of your new color will leech out. Wait until it's time for your SECOND shampoo and then, instead of using your instant conditioner, do a deep treatment. This will prolong the vibrancy and intensity of your color. It will also replace nutrients and moisture loss during the coloring process.

To get the most out of your at home spa day, shampoo your hair, put in your deep conditioner, cleanse, steam your pores and apply your masque. Heat your deep conditioner while your masque is drying. If you really want to multi task and pamper yourself, use this time to remove your nail polish, file your nails, apply a conditioning cuticle treatment and/or soak your feet in therapeutic bath salts.

I hope you found this article useful.

If you are looking for an at-home spa treatment, please take a look at the products below.