'Beauty Tourism' TikToker Saves Thousands By Flying From US To Turkey To Get Hair Extensions

It's no secret that the beauty industry makes a lot of money, and anything from getting a basic haircut to restocking makeup to getting a full treatment is going to cost a pretty penny.

TikToker Bryn Elise enjoys various beauty amenities, traveling abroad, and also working while traveling, and she's enjoyed combining those three things on her TikTok platform.

In 2023, Elise received an email from the hair salon she usually visited for her hair extension appointments, and they explained they were raising their rates, so her hair extensions going forward would cost $4,450 for one appointment with three rows of extensions included.

Elise started trying to think of solutions, and she remembered that she had saved most of her hair inspiration photos from the same Instagram account, specifically by a popular hair stylist in Turkey.

The TikToker was shocked when the stylist not only agreed to schedule her for an appointment but that it would only $500.

Including a plane ticket for under $700, an apartment for the week for $350, and food costs for under $150, Elise only had to spend $1,750 dollars on her hair appointment, with essentially a free week of travel thrown in to boot!

You can watch the video here:

Elise went for her first appointment in 2023, and she usually follows up with hair extension appointments two or three times per year. She just completed her third trip to Turkey for her hair appointments, and she has not regretted a minute of it.

Fellow TikTokers were impressed by the amount of money she saved.

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

They also became interested in what Elise calls "beauty tourism."

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

@bryn.elise/TikTok

Elise's account has largely come to focus on beauty tourism, which, alongside her digital nomad lifestyle, serves as a way to talk about attaining affordable beauty services while traveling the world.

Many people have already agreed that they would love to do something like what Elise is doing with her hair, but since she's also had dental work done, tattoos done, and other appointments, fellow TikTokers are realizing just how much they could see and experience—all while saving money—by adopting Elise's beauty tourism standards.

It sounds like the TikToker might have a very profitable future business on her hands!