Five DIY Beauty Products that Can Send You to the Doctor

Are you a beauty DIYer? Do-it-yourself beauty treatments often seem like a terrific, money-saving idea, but they can come at a steep price. If DIY treatments aren't done correctly or safely, they can cause severe burns and other injuries. The cost of doctor visits, trips to the emergency room, and prescription treatments far outweigh the money saved by trying to do it yourself. Protect yourself and avoid these painful DIY pitfalls.

At home straighteners and perms. It may seem like a great idea to permanently straighten or curl your own hair, but these chemicals are some of the most volatile of all. At home straighteners are especially strong. Both types of chemicals can cause severe chemical burns, leaving you scarred or badly hurt, and requiring lengthy hospital stays. I've seen first hand the devastating results of leaving a home straightening kit on too long. It can leave blistering burns as well as permanently damage your scalp to the point that hair won't grow back. Your safest choice is to stay far away from these products and have these services done in a salon, it at all.

DIY hair color and bleach. Box color seems pretty benign, but it can cause problems. While at home hair color isn't nearly as caustic as a home straightener is, it can can cause irritation, itching, and severe allergic reactions. Bleach, on the other hand, can damage your hair and burn your scalp if the directions are not closely followed. Also, mixing home processes, such as perms and bleach, hair color and straighteners, can cause your hair to become dry and damaged. It may break off, or become permanently burned away. It is wise to have these services done in a salon, as well.

Home wax kits. I always thought it was pretty cool that you could wax yourself at home. But there are dangers in these little kits. Typically, you heat the wax in the microwave and apply it yourself. It's important to know that microwaves don't always heat evenly, so wax that is cool to the touch could have hidden spots that are hot enough to scald and burn. A wax kit with a small heating unit is much safer, and you must make sure to test the wax temperature on the back of your wrist before applying it to any part of your body. Be extremely careful not to get burned. Always follow the manufacturer's directions, and when in doubt, have the service professionally done.

Professional tools. Using professional stylist tools sounds great, doesn't it? After all, even though they are more expensive, they are higher quality, last longer, and work better. That is all true. However, the average person doesn't need such heavy duty equipment because they are only using it on themselves, not a dozen or so clients in a day. The danger with pro tools such as blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons is that they run at a much higher temperature than civilian tools. Many a beauty school student has burned off a few locks of mannequin hair before getting the knack of the high temperature equipment. Keep that in mind if you use these tools on your own hair. The high heat settings can burn off your hair, scorch it, dry it, or damage it. Scalp and hand burns from professional tools are much more serious then they are with civilian tools, so be extremely careful if you use them. Better yet, stick to the safer versions made specifically for home use, follow the manufacturer's directions, and be very, very careful.

Cosmetic procedures. Not surprising, in an effort to save money, many women are turning to DIY cosmetic procedures. Women are using home kits to do everything from mole removal to botox. But these are procedures that absolutely should be left to a professional, due to their high risk of injury and infection. Always see your doctor for cosmetic procedures, and never be afraid to get a second opinion.

Play it safe and avoid these DIY treatments. You'll be protecting both your health and your budget. Instead, treat yourself to a little bit of time at the salon for some rest, relaxation, and safe beauty services.

Six summer fashion and beauty trends you can wear this fall.
Streamlined weekend makeup.
The secret to soft lips.