The beauty math, done honestly
Does it pay off?
Free calculators that run the real cost of owning at-home beauty tools: break-even, cost per use and lifetime savings versus the salon. We prove the number, summarize what the reviewers say, then point you to the smartest buy.
Savings, provenExpert reviews, digestedPer 2026 data
Find your calculator
Hair
- Dyson Airwrap vs Salon Blowout Break-Even CalculatorSee how many at-home blowouts it takes for a Dyson Airwrap (or a cheaper Shark FlexStyle dupe) to pay for itself, plus cost per use and lifetime savings.
- Blowout Cost Calculator: Salon vs At-Home (2026)Compare a year of salon blowouts (with tip) against an at-home tool (Revlon One-Step, Shark FlexStyle or Dyson Airwrap) and see your break-even and multi-year savings.
- Balayage vs Box Dye: True Annual Cost CalculatorCompare the real yearly cost of salon balayage/highlights against an honest at-home routine (box dye, gloss/toner, purple shampoo), and see your savings, break-even, and cost per touch-up.
- Gray Root Touch-Up Cost Calculator (Salon vs At-Home)See your real yearly cost to cover gray roots (salon vs an at-home kit) and how much you'd save going DIY.
- Keratin Treatment Cost Calculator: Annual & Per-Treatment (2026)See your real yearly keratin (or Brazilian blowout) cost by salon price and re-treat frequency, then compare an at-home kit routine for annual savings and 5-year totals.
- Shampoo Bar vs Liquid Shampoo Cost CalculatorSee your real cost per wash, annual spend, and savings of switching from bottled liquid shampoo to a solid shampoo bar, using the prices and wash frequency you have.
Hair removal
- At-Home IPL vs Clinic Laser Hair Removal Cost CalculatorCompare the total cost of an at-home IPL device versus a clinic laser hair removal package by body area, with break-even and multi-year savings.
- Laser vs Waxing vs Shaving: Lifetime Cost CalculatorCompare the lifetime cost of professional laser, salon waxing, shaving, and an at-home IPL device by body area, with break-even points and total savings.
- Waxing Cost Calculator: Salon vs At-Home (Per Year)Add up your yearly waxing spend (Brazilian, bikini, legs or full body) at a salon versus doing it at home with a wax kit or epilator, with savings and break-even.
Skin
- Dermaplaning Cost Calculator: At-Home vs Salon (2026)Compare a year of salon dermaplaning facials against an at-home device plus refill blades, and see your annual cost, break-even month, and savings.
- At-Home vs Professional Microneedling Cost CalculatorCompare the total cost of a professional microneedling series against an at-home derma roller or pen setup (device, cartridges, numbing, serum) over 1, 3, or 5 years.
- Chemical Peel Cost Calculator: At-Home vs Professional (2026)Compare the yearly cost of professional chemical peels against at-home AHA/BHA products like The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant, per use, per year, and over 3 years. Cost comparison only, not medical advice.
- LED Face Mask Cost Calculator: At-Home vs LED FacialSee how fast an at-home LED face mask (CurrentBody, Omnilux or a budget FDA-cleared pick) pays for itself versus in-clinic LED facials: break-even, cost per use and lifetime savings. Cost comparison only, not medical advice.
Nails
- At-Home Gel Manicure vs Salon Cost CalculatorCompare what a year of salon gel manicures really costs against doing them at home, with your own prices, your break-even point, and your cost per manicure.
- Acrylic vs Dip vs Gel Nails: Real Annual Cost (2026 Calculator)Compare the real yearly cost of acrylic, dip powder, and gel nails side by side using your local prices, plus cost per manicure and how much you'd save doing them at home.
- Press-On Nails vs Salon Cost CalculatorSee how much you save wearing press-on nails instead of salon gel or acrylic manicures: cost per manicure, per year and the annual savings.
Lashes & brows
- Eyelash Extensions Annual Cost CalculatorSee what lash extensions cost per year by type and fill frequency, then compare a DIY at-home kit and growth serum to find your savings.
- Lash Lift vs Eyelash Extensions: Real Cost ComparisonCompare the real annual cost of a lash lift vs eyelash extensions (full set plus fills), see cost per day and total savings, then weigh a cheaper at-home option.
- Microblading Cost Per Year: True Amortized Price (2026)Amortize the real cost of microblading (initial session, perfecting touch-up, and annual color boosts) into a clear cost per year and cost per day, then compare it to daily brow makeup. Cost comparison only, not medical advice.
Makeup
- Wedding Makeup DIY vs Makeup Artist Cost CalculatorCompare the all-in cost of hiring a wedding makeup artist (trial, day-of, airbrush, lashes, touch-ups, and the bridal party) against doing your own bridal makeup, and see the net difference plus a per-face cost.
- How Long Will My Foundation or Serum Last?Enter your bottle size, how much you use, and how often. Get how long it lasts, total applications, cost per use, annual spend, and a heads-up if it'll expire before you finish it.
Teeth & tan
- Spray Tan vs Self-Tanner: Annual Cost CalculatorSee the true yearly cost of professional spray tans versus at-home self-tanner, based on how often you tan, plus savings, cost per tan, and bottles you'd buy.
- Teeth Whitening Cost: At-Home vs Dentist (Calculator)Compare the multi-year cost of whitening strips, at-home LED kits, dentist take-home trays, and in-office (Zoom) whitening: total spend, cost per year, and your savings. Cost comparison only, not dental advice.
Before you buy: what the reviewers say
All review digests →
6 reviewsDyson Airwrap Reviews: What 6 Honest Reviewers SayWe watched the most-viewed honest Dyson Airwrap reviews: a pro hairdresser, a 2-year owner, a head-to-head stylist test and people who returned it, then synthesized where they agree, where they split, and whether it pays off.
4 reviewsAt-Home IPL Reviews: Does It Work? What 4 Experts and Long-Term Users SayA dermatologist, an esthetician and two long-term users on whether at-home IPL hair removal works: the reduction you can expect, the catches, and whether it beats a clinic laser course on cost.
5 reviewsLED Face Mask Reviews: Do They Work? Dermatologists and Long-Term Users Weigh InTwo dermatologists and three long-term users on whether at-home LED face masks do anything: the results, the caveats, and how the cost compares to clinic LED facials. Cost comparison only, not medical advice.
5 reviewsTeeth Whitening Reviews: Strips vs Dentist, What the Pros SayTwo dentists, a hygienist and a 10-year user on whether whitening strips work versus custom trays and in-office whitening: the difference, the gimmicks to skip, and how the cost compares. Cost comparison only, not dental advice.
6 reviewsKeratin Treatment Reviews: Do They Work and Are They Worth It?Six honest, non-sponsored YouTube reviews on salon keratin and Brazilian blowouts versus at-home kits, spanning a beauty journalist, repeat salon clients, a cautious curly-hair user, a DIY-kit skeptic, and a long-term regretter.
6 reviewsEyelash Extension Reviews: Salon vs DIY, Worth It or Not?Six honest video reviews weigh professional salon lash extensions against at-home DIY systems like Lashify, covering upkeep, natural-lash damage, and whether the money is worth it.
6 reviewsMicroneedling Reviews: At-Home vs the Pros, What Dermatologists SayHonest YouTube reviews of at-home derma rollers and Dr. Pen devices versus professional microneedling, weighing what each delivers. A cost comparison only, not medical advice.
6 reviewsAt-Home Gel Manicure Reviews: Does a DIY Kit Beat the Salon?Six honest, non-sponsored reviews, from licensed nail techs to long-term DIY-ers and skeptics, on whether at-home gel manicure kits match the salon on wear, nail damage and cost.
How we work
Every calculator runs on a transparent, unit-tested formula and editable 2026 price estimates. Affiliate revenue never changes the math. A product does not get a better break-even because it pays us.