"The TikTok Trend of Transforming into 'Low Maintenance' from 'High Maintenance'"

If you are familiar with BeautyTok, the beauty-focused section of TikTok, you will be aware that it can be a transformative source of beauty tips and trends. While not all of these tips and trends are effective or safe, sometimes something particularly beneficial can pop up that can assist users in achieving a new custom glow while also shifting the process through which radiant skin is achieved.

This transformative trend described by content creators as “high maintenance to be low maintenance” has obtained over 412.5M views at the time of authoring. The premise utilises intense beauty regimes that save time in the long run, applied either in salons or at home, these regimes can include activities like heatless curls, red light therapy masks or laser hair removal. The objective is to reduce routines such as daily hair styling, makeup or shaving.

The high maintenance measures, particularly when permanent, can greatly reduce the need for certain parts of regular beauty routines, for several years or potentially forever. Therefore, indulging in high maintenance routines can result in being low maintenance in the longer term.

Limor Weinberg, a certified nurse practitioner, aesthetics trainer and founder of The Clinic USA, a Miami-based medspa, was first alerted to this trend by her younger staff. She was pleasantly surprised to realise that this trend perfectly embodied her lifestyle. Despite being perceived as “high maintenance”, Weinberg considered herself “low maintenance” which initially caused some confusion.

Weinberg now understands the concept stating “I was guilty of doing all of these high-maintenance things to then be considered low maintenance. Laser hair removal, blowouts, keratin treatments, lashes, highlights, and the whole shebang. I never had to wear makeup, barely had to dry my hair, and didn't need to shave. I was doing all of these things to make my daily grind easier and more ‘low maintenance.’”

We will now delve further into the specific high-maintenance practices you could incorporate into your routine for beauty, hair and skincare to long term save you time and money. This also means your casual look can receive a significant upgrade.

Weinberg suggests selecting high-maintenance beauty routines should depend on your personal needs, lifestyle and financial situation. She sees it as time optimisation stating “Things like eyelash extensions, eyebrow lamination, simple manicures, laser hair removal, and even Botox or fillers, these aren't necessarily daily rituals. That means you can enjoy the benefits of these beauty enhancements without the daily hassle. Your lashes, brows, and skin stay on point with minimal effort.”

Bearing that in mind, some examples of beauty treatments that can lessen the daily beauty burden include gel or shellac manicures or nail extensions, both performed in salons; false lash-like extensions; lash lifts using a technique to curl your real lashes upward; microblading as a semi-permanent brow tattoo or a lamination technique for brows

According to Ridah Syed, Senior Medical Aesthetician at Skinfluencer London, “Microblading and brow lamination can be a better option than tweezing brows and at-home DIY dye kits as the results look better and more polished”. She adds “but with microblading, you need to avoid using retinol in the area as it could fade the color.”

Neuromodulators, such as Botox, can effectively enhance skin smoothness, lasting up to five months. Prisk explains that Botox injections soften fine lines and wrinkles, hence giving your face a rejuvenated look. This treatment works by briefly paralyzing the tiny muscles in your face, thereby inhibiting them from contracting and, therefore, creating wrinkles. These injections are pretty low-scale with regard to pain (most people describe the feeling as a pinch) and are generally deemed safe when performed by a certified provider.

"Anti-wrinkle injections can target multiple areas of the face, including the forehead and frown lines, crow feet, drooping brow, bunny lines near the nose, and around the chin," Prisk affirmed.

Keeping a particular hairstyle, whether short or long, calls for ongoing effort. This is not to mention the removal of undesired hair using shaving or waxing methods. Regular trims, color preservation, everyday styling, and body hair upkeep can be overwhelming and seem like incessant chores. Fortunately, there are means to lessen the hair care burden, making it a more manageable element of your life.

For those considering reducing their daily hairstyling duration, Sam Carpenter, a hair artist and educator at Eideal, advises having bangs or a bob. Carpenter explains that bangs can refresh your look with little effort required for styling. He adds that a traditional bob is simple to manage and style in a short time using the appropriate brush, such as a paddle or flat brush, to aid in shaping it during drying. While frequent visits to your salon will still be necessary, you may find it beneficial concerning the amount of time you save in the morning.

If you're partial to the appearance of colored hair, but are reluctant to visit your colorist every three weeks, Carpenter suggests you can still achieve your desired look. He advises that natural shades similar to your original hair color are usually easier to maintain. Subtle highlights can also be low-maintenance as they grow out more naturally. Carpenter continues that balayage has become a hot commodity in the color service sector in recent years due to its design for a low-maintenance look. Nonetheless, Carpenter warns that home hair care is essential to maintain your color's beauty—this could include applying a gloss treatment or using a root concealer.

Even though shaving seems less time-demanding, it has to be done repeatedly - more so if your hair grows quickly, and you prefer a completely smooth feel. Waxing and laser hair removal offer longer-lasting solutions, allowing you time away from your Everything Shower. Depending on the area, waxing could last up to four weeks, while laser hair removal may last numerous years before requiring a top-up (despite needing to commit to multiple sessions initially). Syed suggests that high-maintenance treatments for hair removal like laser hair removal are a better option, as shaving can increase hair growth, contributing to unappealing rashes and stubble.

Moreover, keratin treatments or Brazilian blowouts can considerably reduce your hairstyle preparation time. "Professional keratin treatments from highly reputable brands, for instance, Amazon Keratin, may curb frizz, making hair management easier hence save you time for daily styling," indicates Carpenter. However, these may need an initial time and monetary investment."

Regrettably, merely washing your face every day doesn't guarantee healthy skin. Thorough skin care, both in the morning and evening, is crucial, including suncare. There exist many high-maintenance alternatives to keep your skin health at its best, such as regular facial treatments, personalized skincare products, and specific treatments availed at a professional's office.

Receiving regular facials is an excellent way to continually nurture your skin. It's a preventive care method that aids in maintaining your skin at its peak. Be sure to locate a certified esthetician who can offer safe and tailored care adapted to your skin needs. The frequency and continual treatment required will vary based on your skin needs—monthly treatments work for most. If this feels like a significant financial undertaking, find a place that offers packages or deals, or make it a treat every quarter.

Facial fillers have become increasingly prominent and can assist you in achieving your dream face without needing any surgical procedures. Nina Prisk, a skin and aesthetics expert from Update Aesthetics, explains: “These soft tissue fillers are applied in clinics through cosmetic injections and are employed to make the face skin plump, resulting in a fuller and younger skin outlook.” She says, "Dermal fillers are not only safe and efficient, but they also typically last from 6 to 12 months."

In the same vein as dermal filler, lip filler serves to plump up the lips for a fuller look. "It can amplify thin lips, rectify an uneven shape, and smooth down smokers' lines and scars," concludes Prisk.

“In-clinic high-maintenance skin treatments {think Botox, Fraxel, and fillers} can be boosted by an at-home skincare regimen that has been tailor-made by a skincare specialist to suit your skin type and help address any skincare challenges you face, as well as achieve your skincare goals,” says Syed.

The expert goes on to explain that as we move into fall and winter, it’s a good idea to add actives “such as exfoliants, retinols, Beta Hydroxy Acids, and vitamin A,” which can be too harsh with sun exposure in the summer. “In addition to a broad-spectrum sunscreen, ensure you have a good antioxidant with vitamin C to use in the morning to boost skin glow and a retinol for night-time use,” she says. All of this will help ensure that you get the benefits out of your high-maintenance treatments and that you keep your skin healthy and protected.