u/the8uddha

₹1000 haircut!? wastage or necessity?

Need some perspective from people here on balancing frugality vs self-care/professional utility.

I work in a client-facing role and make around ₹9 LPA. My job does require me to look presentable and well-groomed. Till date, I’ve never spent more than ₹150 on a haircut, and honestly most of my life I’ve gone to the ₹50 local barber shops.

Now I’m considering trying a proper salon/stylist who can actually suggest a haircut that suits my face/style and maintain it well. Problem is, these places charge ₹800–₹1500 per haircut, and realistically it would need maintenance every 2–3 weeks.

Financially I can pay for it, but mentally I cannot justify spending that much on something I’ve always treated as a basic utility. At the same time, I also understand appearance matters socially and professionally, especially in client-facing work.

So I’m confused:

  • Is this a reasonable “investment” in grooming/professional presence?
  • Or is this lifestyle creep disguised as self-care?
  • How do you guys decide what’s worth spending on when the marginal improvement feels small but potentially important?

Would appreciate honest opinions from people who’ve dealt with similar mindset shifts.

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u/the8uddha — 3 days ago