What I'm doing about gift cards to help budget kind of

[allison443]

The problem is, there are people who are taking gift cards, scanning the numbers, putting them back & then checking the website & when the card is loaded, using the number to buy stuff online. Now I know you're not doing that, but someone in the store might think you are. I'd rather give the kids an IOU for a store. No harm, no foul.

I remember reading that this was a problem a while ago...I think most of the gift cards now have an additional code on the back that is covered with a "scratch off" coating, you have to enter that hidden code to be able to use the card...
Also the cards don't have any value until activated at the register. I would feel funny taking them though.

 

[mjkacmom]

Maybe talk your 13 yr old into less expensive make-up than Sephora! And eye brow waxing at 13???
I bought a card at BAB but had to pay for it then.

Dd14 just had hers done for the first time last month, and she was the last one out of her friends (and she's blonde). All of the Asian nail salons do them for like $5, but she went to my place ($8), and it turns out it's the same place her friends and their mom's go (which is surprising, because there are SO many places for waxing here).

 

[Metsfan520]

I remember reading that this was a problem a while ago...I think most of the gift cards now have an additional code on the back that is covered with a "scratch off" coating, you have to enter that hidden code to be able to use the card...
Also the cards don't have any value until activated at the register. I would feel funny taking them though.

I know some cards have that. And I get what the OP is doing isn't anything wrong. I'm just saying that I'd be worried that the store would think I was doing something wrong. YMMV.

 

[heartsy77]

My DD, almost 15, has had her eyebrows waxed since 11. We are German enough said!

 

[Eastern]

Since this is the budget board, may I suggest that the waxers try one of the home waxing kits you get at the beauty supply store? I have used the GiGi microwave home waxing kit for years. Just read and follow the directions carefully.

I wouldn't recommend it for a large area, or even for eyebrow shaping if one is not talented that way, but for between the brows and upper lip? Definitely. You will save yourselves tons of money and countless trips to the salon.

 

[tinker&belle]

My DH would have a unibrow if he didn't take care of it. One of my DD's takes after this pattern. Although she doesn't have the full blown unibrow yet, you can tell when her hair darkens and thickens it will be there. The moment it bothers her at 6 or 16 I will be letting her take care of it. Kids are really cruel, especailly about something like that.

 

[Robinrs]

Yikes, I'm 54 and never waxed ANYTHING!!

I didn't know that you can buy an empty card. I'm thinking of this for my son since he loves gcs and we're going on vacation right after Christmas and I'd like to add money to them AFTER we come back. Thanks for the info!

 

[disneymom3]

Since this is the budget board, may I suggest that the waxers try one of the home waxing kits you get at the beauty supply store? I have used the GiGi microwave home waxing kit for years. Just read and follow the directions carefully.

I wouldn't recommend it for a large area, or even for eyebrow shaping if one is not talented that way, but for between the brows and upper lip? Definitely. You will save yourselves tons of money and countless trips to the salon.

I would do this but where do you buy it? I have looked several places and never found one.

 

[ceecee]

I bought some home wax kits at Target. I use them, my brows don't need shaping that much. You just heat in the microwave, it's easy. Our salon charges $15 (that's before the tip) and it lasts me only a few weeks, we don't have any Asian nail salons around here!

 

[*love*2*shop]

my daughter is only 9 and Just hadher brows waxed..She is soo HAIRY we had to do it........i think its fine to put a few bucks on the card and then pay when you go in Jan.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

I am a big fan of threading for eyebrows - LOVE it. It WAS very cost effective for me (free!) thanks to working with a large number of women from India. However, now I changed branches, and - alas - no one threads.

I do wax my own lip - it takes little to no talent - bought the kit at Sally Beauty Supply.

 

[Eastern]

I would do this but where do you buy it? I have looked several places and never found one.

I also bought my wax kit at Sally Beauty Supply but any beauty supply store should sell wax. I have tried the no-heat ones and I prefer the Gigi microwave kit. There is also a Gigi kit with a warmer that some people say is easier to use but I haven't tried it.

Just google 'gigi wax'. They sell kits but you basically need the wax, the muslin strips, disposable applicators and the lotion to remove excess wax.

There are lots of reviews on Amazon about gigi.

Video on eyebrow threading...interesting! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIeHYNt-rl4

 

[torinsmom]

Yikes, I'm 54 and never waxed ANYTHING!!

Well, I am 39, but still, I have never been waxed either. Of course, I have only had one manicure in my life and NO pedicures! We did have a lady at my old school who did the threading as a gift to the teachers. I let her do it, but even that made me red and irritated.

 

[LovableGluttons]

I think I spent $20 on an electric wax warmer, then another $20 in wax, muslin, collars, and applicator sticks. That was four years ago. I've bought two cans of wax in the last four years. Dd and I even wax our legs and underarms.

Waxing is supposed to damage the follicle, making the regrowth finer.

It is easy to do it yourself, the results and savings are worth it.

OP, great idea on the gift cards! It would be a great way to ensure it reaches the recipient before it has any value in case it is lost.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Dd and I even wax our legs and underarms.

OMG that sounds excruciatingly painful.

42 and nothing waxed here.... ever. But then I don't color my hair, get pedicures or manicures, or buy a new purse for every season. Lots of money saved for other things for our family!

Great idea on the gift cards. I think putting a few dollars on to load more later is an awesome way to put off that expense.

 

[Callie]

I use a home wax for my upper lip and neck area, and threading for the eyebrows. A good brow makes the face!

 

[pigletto]

Maybe talk your 13 yr old into less expensive make-up than Sephora! And eye brow waxing at 13???
I bought a card at BAB but had to pay for it then.

DD is 13, going on 14 and had her eyebrows waxed this week for the first time. She had been begging for it for awhile. I see absolutley no issue with it.

Op..the giftcard idea is good way to stretch the budget out a little longer so it doesn't hit all at once

 

[disneydreamersx4]

OP here - I bet your DD is so happy!! We have a neighbor girl who is 8 and has a unibrow, my daughter-9 told me about it so if she sees it I'm sure all the kids do. I hope the little girl isn't being made fun of to her face In that case, I would ask DD if she wanted her brow waxed even at 8 yrs old. I would not feel confident to do home waxing of the brows, there's too much risk I would mess it up Funny how this post about gift cards turned into waxing talk

 

[pigletto]

I know.. it's so easy to get off topic
dd's wasn't really bad or anything, but it was starting to bother her and it just wasn't something I needed to make a huge issue. She's happy with it, and I'm happy with it. It's not something that needed to effect her self esteem. It's eyebrows.