NEWS COPY
More than a third of women have experienced a beauty nightmare while attempting DIY treatments at home – including wonky eyebrows, streaky tan and green hair.
A study of 2,000 females found fringe trims, leg waxing and applying eyelashes are among the things they have tried to carry out themselves.
But for 34 per cent it only resulted in disaster – including shaving off eyebrows, upper lip burns caused by hair removal cream and DIY highlights resulting in green locks.
Other respondents said they have experienced streaky fake tans, stubborn wax which wouldn’t come off their skin and reactions to homemade face masks.
As a result, 33 per cent ended up having to see a professional to get their mishap fixed.
Kim Priest from centre:mk, which commissioned the research, said: “The desire to get that feel good factor so closely associated with the perfect beauty treatment has created a false sense of security throughout our lives.
"The 'I can do that at home' thought has led to a wide range of epic beauty fails all women can relate to and often with hilarious results.
“Our research has shown wonky fringes, burns, allergies, hair dye and wax dilemmas are just the tip of the iceberg.
“It seems that some simple beauty hacks can go well from home, but for those more challenging, it’s best left with the experts and a trip to the salon is called for.”
The research also found 40 per cent of women have given themselves a DIY pedicure, 15 per cent have attempted to tint their eyebrows – and a quarter tried waxing their own bikini line.
While at home, 27 per cent roped in their partner to help them with treatments, while 12 per cent even asked their child for assistance.
Tasks most likely to require support included dying hair (51 per cent), self-tanning (18 per cent) and waxing (12 per cent) - but a fifth ended up regretting getting their relative to help.
Despite the disasters, 34 per cent said beauty is a quick fix to make them feel good and 28 per cent feel self-care has helped them during rough times.
And more than a third feel lockdown has made them appreciate ‘me time’ more than ever while a quarter have realised they need to take more time out for themselves.
In recent months, women have typically attempted two beauty treatments at home and 22 per cent said they did so in order to do something for their own self-care.
It also emerged that during the typical week, women spend 76 minutes on ‘me time’, including going for walks, practising yoga and even retail therapy.
Other self-care activities include meditation (17 per cent), listening to music (55 per cent) and enjoying face masks (38 per cent).
Following time out and beauty treatments, 47 per cent of the women polled, via OnePoll, feel relaxed while 24 per cent are revitalised.
Chartered psychologist and author Suzy Reading, who has collaborated with centre:mk, [https://www.centremk.com/] as part of the research, said: “Self-care is a life-giving action that tops up our energy bank boosting our resilience and giving us access to our best self.
“While self-care is not limited to pampering acts, beauty rituals have their place.
"There are simple rituals and products that we can engage in at home without great expense, and there are also practices that we leave to professionals in order to achieve the desired effect.
“Nourishing the physical body with touch, like tenderly massaging in products with a scent we love, is a mindfulness practice, calming the mind, soothing the nervous system, lifting the mood and stimulating the release of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone.
“We can dot our day with these rituals and feel better for it.”
The most missed pamper sessions during recent months in lockdown included haircuts and colouring, eyebrow shaping and gel nails.
Other treatments women would get regularly included eyebrow threading, pedicures and waxing.
Such appointments give 39 per cent a confidence boost, while 27 per cent book them in order to feel pampered and 12 per cent to de-stress.
And while 44 per cent said they get excited for regular self-care treatments, 29 per cent have appreciated them more in recent months.
The study also revealed the at-home hacks women swear by including washing their face with cold water, using coconut oil as a hair mask and cold green tea bags to help
with dark eye circles.
Kim Priest from centre:mk added: “It is clear from the research that women are eager to take time out for self-care in order to boost their mental and physical wellbeing.
“Beauty is a quick fix for making women feel good, however the research has also
revealed that walking, yoga, exercise, meditation, retail therapy and good sleep are among many other self-care activities undertaken to boost well-being.
"The demand for self-care will only intensify.”
Top treatments women have tried at home
1. Face masks (64 per cent)
2. Hair removal cream (64 per cent)
3. Hair dye (61 per cent)
4. Hair cut (43 per cent)
5. Fringe trim (43 per cent)
6. Leg waxing (41 per cent)
7. Hair mask (41 per cent)
8. Self-tan (from a bottle) (41 per cent)
9. Pedicure (40 per cent)
10. Foot exfoliator (38 per cent)
11. Face-peel mask (37 per cent)
12. Applying eyelashes (29 per cent)
13. Facial (28 per cent)
14. Removing gel nails (28 per cent)
15. Teeth whitening (26 per cent)
16. Bikini line waxing (25 per cent)
17. Foot mask (25 per cent)
18. Face massage (24 per cent)
19. Upper lip waxing (22 per cent)
20. Steam facial (22 per cent)
21. Applying gel nails (22 per cent)
22. Nail art (21 per cent)
23. Underarm waxing (19 per cent)
24. Removing eyelashes (19 per cent)
25. Removing acrylic nails (19 per cent)
26. Hair highlights (18 per cent)
27. Eyebrow waxing (18 per cent)
28. Eyebrow tint (15 per cent)
29. Applying acrylic nails (14 per cent)
30. Spray tan (13 per cent)
ENDS
