From something as simple as a slick-back bun to wearing curls and coils naturally, hair care can come with a surprising price tag, especially for a college student. Managing curly hair can seem challenging. From personal experience, the maintenance of wash days to restyles can be taxing, especially when, as a college student, one would typically want to maintain both academics and social life. 

Maintaining curly and coily hair isn’t a mere act of beauty; it serves as being tied to culture, identity, and confidence. Yet, between the cost of products, the time commitment, and the trial-and-error nature of finding what works, one has to ask: Is managing healthy curly hair truly affordable and attainable for students on a budget? To be candid, I don’t believe so; college atmospheres often involve students making trade-offs with academics and personal life outside of school. For those with textured hair, these trade-offs can affect time for personal hair care. 

Curly and coily hair types typically require more moisture and less heat manipulation, in other words, specialized products like deep conditioners, curl creams, and leave-in treatments. Freshman Zoey Rodgers is no stranger to this, as she typically purchases her products at the campus’s nearest Walgreens, typically spending anywhere from 70 to 80 dollars.

“I’d say I go to Walgreens because it’s the closest, but two curly hair products can be equivalent to 80 dollars, which is insane considering it’s something I need every month,” said Rodgers. 

While a standard bottle of conditioner at a drugstore might cost $5, a curl-safe version often doubles or triples that price. A leave-in conditioner from a trusted brand can easily reach $15–25. Multiply that by a multitude of products used in a wash day routine, shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, oil, gel, mousse, and the total can top $80 a month. While senior Hope Campbell spends a similar amount on the basics for maintaining curly hair. 

“I’d say I spend around 80 dollars, because my shampoo and conditioner are $30 each, then my gel. Along with my edge control, certain styling and dentangling brushes. It’s just a nuisance at times because when I run out of products, it’s just expensive because it’s a constant need every single month,” said Campbell. 

And that doesn’t account for accessories like diffusers, microfiber towels, satin bonnets, or wide-tooth combs. Many students turn to protective styles or styles saving on finances. Styles like braids, twists, silk presses, or sew-ins allow easier upkeep during the semester. 

But those can cost anywhere from $100 to $300, depending on the style and location. It’s an expense that few student budgets comfortably absorb. Not to mention the rise in curly hair prices, sophomore Olivia Sierra is familiar with prices for curly hair care increasing. 

“I’d say, especially since my curls are longer, it’s more expensive, and you see that rise in prices. So I used to cut my hair super short just so I wouldn’t have to use as much product as I would normally do, which would be half the price that I spend now, which is around $80, so I wouldn’t have to spend as much money. So there is definitely a big difference and jump right now, so I definitely would want to use that extra 40 for other necessities like food or other items I need,” said Sierra.

Beyond the finance aspect, there’s time, a more subtle but equivalent cost. A single wash day can stretch to several hours, depending on the curl pattern and the texture of the hair. From shampooing, detangling, deep conditioning, drying, and styling, it can become very time-consuming or even exhausting after a busy day. For busy students juggling work shifts, classes, and deadlines, it can feel impossible to fit into a week a curl hair routine. 

The effort to uphold one’s natural style or keep it healthy becomes another task competing for scarce hours. Managing curly hair in college then becomes more than just day-to-day maintenance, but about the self-care aspect. For many college students, including myself, learning to manage a budget mirrors the broader aspect of college life, making do with limited resources. In a similar sense, the real struggle isn’t necessarily styling curly hair. It’s affording to maintain it in a world where every curl seems to come with a cost. 

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