'It's an investment': Woman spends R5,500 on braids

Would you spend R5,500 to have your hair braided? That’s exactly what TikTok user Lea did, and she’s not regretting a single cent, calling her new look an “investment.”

In a viral video that’s been viewed over 742,000 times and earned 77,000 likes, Lea shared the process behind her stunning boho braids.

She even travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg just to get them done, claiming that Cape Town braiders don’t understand “what size small is and they will play in your face.”

Lea revealed that one reason for the hefty price tag was the use of human hair in her braids.

The process took six hours, but with three stylists working on her hair at once, the time flew by, and she was thrilled with the final result.

“It is a lot of money, but I think it’s worth the investment,” she said confidently.

The luxury experience left TikTok divided.

While many admired her dedication and loved her final look, others were stunned by the price tag.

Some questioned whether the R5,500 included her flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

“R5500 including flight tickets, right?” one commenter joked.

Another asked, “When you say R5500, does that include the Uber to the airport, flight ticket, and Uber to the salon? And where are the welcome drinks and snacks?”

Lea, however, didn’t respond to questions about travel costs.

Others were simply shocked by the amount.

“Girl, that’s someone’s monthly salary,” one person wrote, while another speculated, “She probably meant R550.”

Still, a few viewers defended the cost, pointing out that human hair bundles are expensive and contribute significantly to the price.

“I get it, it’s not necessarily the service that’s expensive—it’s the curly bundles,” one user commented, to which Lea replied, “Yeah, it was actually more expensive to get them done in Cape Town.”

The video has sparked conversations about the cost of beauty and how much people are willing to spend for quality and experience.

Would you splurge on a hairstyle like this?

IOL Lifestyle