Treat yourself

In a perfect world, nails wouldn't chip and our follicles would never betray us and spit out gray hairs. But in real life, we need maintenance. American women spent enough on that last year to help make U.S. hair salons a $6-billion business, and that's in addition to what we shelled out to spiff up the rest of us. A year ago, grooming costs didn't raise a perfectly arched brow. Now, we're tallying each treatment and taking matters into our own hands.

"The salon business is down 70%, and clients are stalling time between appointments," says Gordon Miller, executive director of the National Cosmetology Assn. The beauty industry -- spas and salons included -- has responded with do-it-yourself alternatives that promise professional results. Here's a sampling from the new flood of at-home treatments:

Prolong a blow-out

A professional blow-dry can be as fleeting as a sandcastle. Put off washing away that perfection with Stila's Jade Blossom Hair Refresher ($28). Sprinkle the fragranced powder on your crown or even onto your brush to add volume at the roots and revive a crestfallen coif.

A sonic boon for the face

Unclog those pores and cleanse thoroughly with Clarisonic's skin care system ($195), which is used by many facialists to prep skin for spa treatments. Made by the people who brought you an electric toothbrush with sonic technology, the brush and cleanser are primed to help even out skin tone and smooth texture.

DIY facial

With Ole Henriksen's Micro/Mini Peel System ($95), you can brighten your face like an aesthetician while paying your bills or, conversely, splurging online. An almond polish, lemon strip peel and camomile cream make up the three steps and deliver 10 treatments, a relative bargain considering that a Micro/Mini peeling treatment at the Ole Henriksen salon costs $125.

Prune that secret garden

Brazilian bikini waxes should be outlawed, like cockfights. Besides, who endures such agony after shelving the bathing suit? The Bikini Perfect Deluxe grooming system from Bliss and Philips ($65) handily handles hair down there with a micro-shaver and trimmer and epilator. Works on shaping eyebrows too. The alternative? A bikini wax at the Bliss spa in Westwood that runs from $35 to $70.

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