Shopping for hair care appeals to the senses; the smell, touch, and feel of a product will weigh on your decision to purchase. But when shopping for hair care online, you should appeal to another feeling—money sense—and we have a few saving hacks to help with that.
When shopping at your favorite beauty or drugstore is not possible and you’re doing most of your shopping at home, shopping for hair care online works just as well and sometimes, even better. Your favorite hair care products are literally at your fingertips when virtual shopping. But before you hit add to cart, we have 10 money saving hacks that will get you the hair care you want for less—and that’s a feeling that’ll wake all your senses up.
1. Leave stuff in your cart for a day or two
Playing hard to get with hair care online will have very different results than playing hard to get while dating—in a good way. When you leave stuff in your cart overnight, many retailers will send you a “reminder” email or notification, usually with some incentives such as a discount or offer code to encourage you to complete your purchase. This little marketing tactic builds rapport with the customer, offering a unique discount code for their un-purchased items. It’s a handy little trick to save on hair care online, as long as you don’t mind waiting a day or two to see if you get a little nudge in your inbox.
2. Sign up for newsletters/emails
When visiting a site for the first time it’s not unusual to see a pop-up window inviting you to sign up for the brand’s e-newsletters. Typically, a 10-15% discount code or sometimes incentives on shipping will be shared after signing up. If you don’t mind sharing your e-mail, this is an easy way to take a few bucks off your next purchase.
While a ton of promo emails can get annoying, you can filter emails into a promotions folder (or get Gmail to do that for you) and these newsletters can be good sources for upcoming sales and additional discounts.
Our hair advice newsletter is great if you want to learn more about styling tips and tricks, DIY hair recipes and be the first to know about new product launches and promos!
3. Get the app
Many brands and retailers now have their own apps which not only makes shopping easier, but also gives incentives to those who’ve downloaded the app. Whether this means first access to a new product, extra discount codes, or free shipping, downloading your favorite store or brand’s app is about convenience and access. As more retailers drive their digital engagement, this is the platform that will give brand loyals the most access and sometimes, the best discounts.
4. Cash-back sites
Websites like Rakuten (the former eBates) offer you cash back when shopping your favorite retailers. The percentage of how much cash back you get per retailer fluctuates, but it’s an easy way to “earn” back when shopping hair care online, or really, any other product. Most of these sites work the same way and are pretty easy to use. Basically, you access the retailer’s website through an app or website like Rakuten and shop for the products just as you would normally. After you checkout, the cash-back site will tally how much you’ve earned based on the amount you spent and the cash back offer. For Rakuten, you’ll receive a virtual check every three months. Earning money while buying your favorite things, means more money to re-buy these products again—win!
5. Sales and price comparison apps
This money-saving hack goes hand in hand with the point above. Apps like Shoptagr and Savelist will keep track of the items you’re keeping an eye on and will alert you when they go on sale. Nothing feels better than getting what you want, for less.
6. Buy the travel size
When trying out new hair care online, committing to something full price and full size can make some a bit nervous. If online reviews aren’t enough, test out the hair care product by purchasing the travel size. That way you’re spending a fraction of the full-size price and still have enough product to test out for a period of time. If it doesn’t work, it’s not a big loss. However, if it does work buying the travel size is like getting a little appetizer before your anticipated entrée.
7. Take advantage of points cards/loyalty programs
Ok, let’s be honest. Who doesn’t have a Sephora VIB membership? When shopping for hair care online it’s important to sign into your account or points program. While you may not have a friendly cashier to remind or prompt you, taking advantage of these programs means extra discounts. Through loyalty or points programs, the brand will track your history of purchases to ensure they keep you coming back for more with better incentives. Use up your bank of points, or combine them during special events and sales, this will ensure you’re getting the most out of points and loyalty programs.
Also take advantage of referral programs. Some brands will off you and a friend a discount if a link or product is shared online (like our give $10, get $10 offer). It usually as easy and forwarding an email then you and your bestie can both score on cheaper hair care online.
Did you know Luxy Hair offers a loyalty program? Sign up for Luxy Rewards and earn points for discounts and other perks.
8. Follow hair care brands on social media
According to one survey, consumers who use social media to discover and learn more about beauty products spend more money on cosmetics each month than those who don’t. You’re on their Instagram anyway, you might as well do more than just double tap. Following hair care brands’ and beauty brands’ social media page, not only makes for great content, but is also a good way to keep in touch on any sales and discounts.
It's also the best way to do your research on products. With hair extensions and in particular, clip in hair extensions, shoppers want to know how they work and how they’ll look on them. Luxy Hair has a ton of videos, blogs, and tutorials all to help women choose the best style for them and how to best use extensions. When shopping for hair care online, following brands you’re interested in on social media gives you more insight on the products and the brand overall. We also do regular giveaways over on our Instagram page @luxyhair so you might win some free goodies when you follow us!
Another little hack, familiarize yourself with influencers who rep the brands and check in on their social media accounts too. Beauty and hair care influencers will usually have custom discount codes for their followers (or savvy occasional visitors) to use. Another bonus is these influencers will also create videos or posts using these products. While you have to keep in mind it may not be the most unbiased review, it will give you some idea of how the products work. Social media and influencer discount codes typically range from 10-25% off, so definitely worth a follow when shopping hair care online.
9. Free returns
Whether it’s hair care or clothes, shop from retailers that allow free returns. This will save you money and frustrations, if there’s a mix-up in shipping or if the product simply doesn’t work the way you need it too. With free returns the retailer will usually include a pre-paid packing slip that will allow you to easily ship the item back. Make sure to read the conditions on returns and shipping whenever shopping for hair care online. We believe a woman always has the right to change her mind, especially when it comes to shopping hair care online. Luxy Hair offers 90-day exchanges on our hair extensions so you can find the style collection that works best for you.
10. Shop flash and special event sales
While Black Friday and Boxing Day are obvious sale seasons, retailers like Sephora and Ulta typically hold their own special sale events throughout the year. These sales will include deep discounts on popular items or promotions not typically offered throughout the year. These sales happen seasonally, so we recommend logging on to your favorite store a few days before the sale starts to bookmark or save the items you want to buy. This will make adding to cart faster and way more fun when those discounts hit.
Shopping for hair care online allows you to do more research and price comparisons. While it may not feel the same as browsing the aisles and feeling the product in your hand, there are plenty of resources available to help you make informed purchases. A lot of these money saving hacks can also be applied when shopping for makeup or other products online, keep them close on your next virtual shopping trip, and feel free to share your money saving hacks too.
Written by: Rosalyn Solomon
